Chronic Disease Management

Polypharmacy—the regular use of five or more medications—is increasingly common, especially among older adults and people with multiple chronic conditions. While many medicines are essential, unnecessary or interacting medications can increase the risk of side effects, falls, and medication errors. Regular medication reviews help ensure that every medicine remains necessary, safe, and effective.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is more than loud snoring. Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep can reduce oxygen levels, disrupt restorative sleep, and increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and daytime fatigue. Recognising the symptoms early and seeking appropriate treatment can improve both sleep quality and long-term health.

White coat hypertension occurs when blood pressure is elevated in a doctor's clinic but normal at home. Often triggered by anxiety during medical visits, it should not be diagnosed from a single reading alone. Home blood pressure monitoring or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can help confirm whether hypertension is truly present and guide appropriate treatment.

Cholesterol remains an important marker of heart health, but it is only one part of the picture. Modern cardiovascular risk assessment considers multiple factors, including blood pressure, blood sugar, waist circumference, family history, kidney health, lifestyle habits, and, in selected individuals, newer tests such as Lipoprotein(a), ApoB, hs-CRP, and coronary artery calcium score to better estimate heart disease risk.

Inflammaging is a term used to describe the chronic, low-grade inflammation that develops with ageing. Although it often causes no symptoms, it may contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, fatty liver disease, and certain cancers. Healthy lifestyle habits—including regular exercise, good nutrition, quality sleep, and stress management—can help support healthier ageing.

Could your waist size reveal more about your heart health than your weight? While body weight and BMI are useful, excess abdominal fat—especially visceral fat—is a stronger predictor of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. Learn why measuring your waist circumference is a simple yet powerful way to assess your health risk and what you can do to reduce it.