Lifestyle

Wisdom versus Intelligence

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Article contributed by Dr Ong Tien Kwan (Klinik Ong)

A wise action – whether through bodily action, verbal action or mental action – is an act that is beneficial to the doer, the recipient and the community. For example, an act of generosity is a wise action because it brings benefits to the doer, the recipient and the community. A wise person is one who acts wisely.

In contrast, a foolish action is one that is harmful to oneself, to others and to the community. For example, a raging (angry) action brings harm to oneself, to others and to the community. A fool is one who thinks that his or her foolish action is beneficial to himself or herself, when in fact, it is not. Often, this is because he or she is only able to see the short-term gain but unable to see the long-term loss.

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Healing a Broken Relationship

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Understanding a Relationship

Article contributed by Dr Ong Tien Kwan (Klinik Ong)

Before we talk about healing a relationship, it is important that we understand what a relationship is, or rather, what makes a good relationship.

  1. A relationship is a mutual responsibility. A relationship can only happen when there are at least 2 people involved in it. A relationship is like a clap. It can only occur when two hands clapped. One hand alone cannot produce the clap. Therefore, a relationship is a mutual responsibility.
  2. A relationship is a privilege. It is a privilege because one can always choose not to have a relationship. One always has this freedom of choice. A relationship is not one-sided, coerced, or compelled. One must be free to enter into or walk out of a relationship.
  3. A relationship must be mutually beneficial. We choose to have a relationship because we see its potential to enrich our lives, to make it better, and to flourish together. Therefore, both sides must benefit from it. Without these mutual benefits, the relationship will eventually fail.
  4. A relationship is a mirror. We like someone or fall in love with someone because that person mirrors something in us that we like, admire or want. At the same time, we must bear in mind that he or she will also mirror our fears, insecurities, weaknesses, and limitations. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, this offers us ample opportunities to recognize, acknowledge and heal our own fears and limitations, that may otherwise go unnoticed, unacknowledged, and therefore unable to be healed. It is here that you can turn a crisis into an opportunity for growth. Use it well.
  5. In a relationship. honesty is the best policy. At any time, a relationship can go bad, go sour or become broken. This often happens because one or both in the relationship fails to or is unwilling to face his or her own inner fears, and therefore ends up unable to communicate truthfully or effectively with each other. In fact, the most common reaction is one that looks for someone to place the blame on. Most ego understand this but cannot seem to help itself. Unfortunately, this is not only unhelpful but often worsens an already bad situation. It is here that honesty is the best policy. For any relationship to flourish, truth must be the foundation of that relationship. Honesty is needed for truth to be upheld.

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Dysmenorrhea (period pain / menstrual cramps / menstrual pain)

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Dysmenorrhea refers to lower abdominal pain felt during menstruation. It is divided into two broad categories, which are primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea.

  1. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to the presence of pain during menses without any obvious gynaecological disease that could account for these symptoms. The pain is typically recurrent, crampy pain that starts just before or with the onset of menses and then gradually reduces over the next 24 to 72 hours. It is more often seen in adolescents and young females. Physical examination and an ultrasound scan of the pelvis is usually normal.
  2. Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to the pain before and/or during menstruation in females with a gynaecological disease that could explain the symptoms. These could be endometriosis, adenomyosis, or uterine fibroids. The cramping pain can be in the lower abdomen, lower back or radiates to the inner thighs. The pain may even persist after menstruation has stopped.

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Stress and hormonal imbalance in women

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Life is full of stress. It is common to everyone. Some people are able to handle stress better than others while many cannot cope with the stress that comes with everyday modern living. Stress can affect the well-being of both one’s physical and mental health. Physical stress occurs when a person does not have enough rest, engaging in exercises to the extreme limit of bodily endurance, has a poor diet, or suffers from illness and disease. Mental stress may arise from worries about matters such as money, jobs, retirement, marriage, or the death of loved ones. Sometimes the stress that arises is subtle, and a person may not even realize she is experiencing it. For example, one may feel tired and overwhelmed after a hard day’s work. This fatigue may be a result of either physical or mental stress or a combination of both. Either way, the body is taxed to some degree.

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Sunscreen – what you need to know……..

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Article contributed by:
Dr Ch’ng Chin Chwen
Consultant Dermatologist
Subang Jaya Medical Centre

1. Why is applying sunscreen important?

Sunscreen is the most important skincare product. If you can only afford one skincare product, choose a good sunscreen. Sunscreen protects our skin from harmful sun rays and reduces skin cancer risk. It reduces the flare-up of most skin problems from acne, eczema to rosacea. Not to mention when skin damage is reduced, we are reducing pigmentation, wrinkles and skin sagging.

2. Do I still have to apply sunscreen while indoors?

Yes, particularly if you have large windows or indoor fluorescent lighting.

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Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

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Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation. It can occur as early as age 40 or as late as nearly age 60s. The average age of menopause is usually about 49 to 51. It is normally diagnosed in females after 1 year of absent menstrual flow. Menopause does not occur suddenly. It is a slow transition and peri-menopause usually begins a few years before the last menstrual period. Menopause is only one event in the transition period involving changes in the female body between the mid or late 40’s, when the production of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) begins to decline. Most of the signs and symptoms of menopause arise from this decrease in estrogen production. Therefore, MHT (referring to both the EPT and ET) is often given to women who have significant symptoms that have an impact on their daily activities.

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Breast Cancer: The importance of Self Breast Examination

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Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women. In Malaysia, the overall lifetime risk of developing Breast cancer is 1 in 27, with 1 in 22 for Chinese, 1 in 23 for Indians and 1 in 30 for Malays.

Breast cancer is curable if detected early and treated appropriately. One must be mindful of how our breast feels. What is normal for one person, may not be normal for someone else. Only YOU know what is normal for You. Hence Self Breast Examination (SBE) is particularly important. It is quite easy to do and can be done by any woman independently. Self Breast Examination is best done 10 days after one’s period or if you are post-menopause, then pick any day of the month as a routine.

 

Steps to check your breast

Step 1 – Stand in front of the mirror and look at your breast (picture 1). Look for changes in shape and size, any dimpling in the skin, any hyper pigmentation. Look at your nipple and look for skin changes. Raised both your hands above your head and look to see if your breast moves symmetrically. Then bend forward to see the shape and size again

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