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Why are Singaporeans living longer?

Keeping physically active can help you to be disability-free and as healthy as possible in your senior years. (Thinkstock photo)
Keeping physically active can help you to be disability-free and as healthy as possible in your senior years. (Thinkstock photo)

Efforts put into early prevention and detection of chronic diseases, as well as close monitoring by doctors, have paid off. Singaporeans now have longer life expectancy, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. In Singapore, men can expect to live up to 78.8 years and women, 83.3 years.

“One reason why Singaporeans are living longer is better chronic disease management. Primary and community-based healthcare providers have taken a bigger role in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure”, says Dr Nguyen Minh Ha, Associate Consultant, Department of Geriatric Medicine at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Chronic disease management – key to living longer

Poorly controlled chronic diseases reduce life expectancy unless patients receive long-term medications and follow-up. Cancer, heart and hypertensive diseases are among the top causes of death in Singapore.

"Primary care doctors are now able to provide better patient-centered care because of improved communication between doctors, patients and caregivers through our integrated health care system, thus ensuring patients are cared for efficiently,” adds Dr Nguyen.

Related article: Do you know which cancers Singaporean men and women are most at risk of?

Medical advances improve early disease detection and treatment

Singaporeans have also benefited from medical advances in diagnostic testing and cancer treatment. Dr Nguyen highlights two specific examples where medical advances have enabled longer life expectancy.

  • Early detection of tuberculosis
    At 40.9 cases per 100,000 in 2012, tuberculosis remains a disease under control in Singapore. But rising numbers of the infectious lung disease among immigrants in Singapore are a cause of concern. Early detection is critical in stopping its spread in the local community.

    Singapore doctors are already using an advanced molecular diagnostic test, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that allows early detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

  • New medical therapies for cancer treatment
    Patients with malignancies or cancers affecting the blood, lymph nodes and bone marrow have benefited from the use of a new chemotherapy agent, Rituximab.

    “This is a monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20 which has significantly improved treatment outcomes of haematological malignancies, particularly, lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia,” says Dr Nguyen.

6 tips for a healthier life expectancy

Although Singaporeans are living longer, they are running the risk to spend the last decade of their lives in poor health and disability, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.

Singaporean men can expect to enjoy 68.1 years of good health and the last 10.7 years coping with poor health. For Singaporean women, it is 70 years of good health, plus 13.3 years with some sort of disability.

Related article: Why do women live longer than men?

Dr Nguyen advises Singaporeans to start making the following lifestyle changes now so they can be disability-free and as healthy as possible in their senior years.

  1. Choose a healthy diet
    Include more servings of fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods in your diet. Reduce your intake of sodium and saturated fats.

  2. Maintain a healthy weight
    Asians should aim for a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 22.9. A healthy BMI for Caucasians remains at 18.5 to 24.9.

  3. Stop smoking
    Smokers are more prone to heart disease and stroke, and have a 30 to 40 per cent chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

  4. Limit alcohol intake
    Men should have a maximum of two alcoholic drinks per day (maximum one a day for women). Heavy alcohol intake is linked to chronic diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

  5. Keep physically active
    Exercise at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week, or 150 minutes every week. Walking, climbing the stairs and doing household chores are simple ways to get the body moving.

  6. Manage stress and maintain good mental health
    Keep mentally fit even as you age by staying connected with your family and friends, and learning new things like a new language or musical instrument to continue growing and maintaining neural connections.

Related article: Is work stressing you out? Here are 10 strategies you can use to manage negative emotions at your workplace

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By Teresa Cheong for HealthXchange.com.sg.

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