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Dear all,

The Department of Pharmacy in SGH are currently organising a publichealth forum for 3 health topics on

1) Heart Disease - Managing Heart Disease with medications
9.30 am -10.15 amSpeaker: Mr Teo Siew Chong

2) Lung Disease -Smoker's Cough and Asthma, UnderstandingMedications for Lung diseases
10.30-11.15amSpeaker: Mr Peter Yap

3) Quitting Smoking using Nicotine Replacement Therapy -Who can help you? Stop before your Heart and Lung suffers.
12.00-12.45pm
Speaker: Ms Tan Sue Kim

Date: 10/06/2006 (SAT)
Venue: Singapore General Hospital (SGH)Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) Pharmacy, Block 3, Level 1
Light Refreshments would be provided.
Abstracts of the various talks is included below:
"Quitting Smoking- Know more about Nicotine Replacement Therapy",Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the world. Smoking has been associated increased mortality and poor quality of life inboth patients and the ones around them. Thousands of chemicalscontained in a stick of cigarette are hazardous to health and affectmany parts of the body such as the lung, the heart and brain, thus, increases the risk of cancer, heart problems and stroke. NicotineReplacement Therapy (NRT) is considered a viable option to helpsmokers kick off their nicotine addiction which deters from quittingby purely cold turkey method. NRT is the use of various forms of nicotine delivery methods intended to replace nicotine obtained fromsmoking or other tobacco usage. These products are intended for usein smoking cessation efforts to help deal with withdrawal symptomsand cravings or urges. Several forms of NRT have been marketed, including the nicotine patch, inhaler, gum, and lozenges. Researchshows that smokers using NRT were more likely to be abstinent fromsmoking at followup than those using placebo or cold turkey method.This lecture encompasses the general information to build patients' awareness in the hazards of smoking. This lecture will also coverthe correct techniques and safe usage of using NRT in order tomaximise its benefits. In addition, basic steps to help patientsquitting smoking will also be discussed.

"Lung Disease-Asthma and Smoker's Cough
"The talk will look at the more common lung diseases such as asthmaand chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the causes for theseconditions.
The talk will also look at the various modes of treatment of these conditions and focus on the medical treatment forthem.
It is hoped that after the talk, the audience will be able tobetter appreciate the different types of lung diseases and how thesecan and are presently being treated.

"Heart Disease-knowing more about your medications".
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or heart disease is not a singledisease or condition. Collectively, it is a group of different disorders that affect your heart and or the blood vessels orvascular system. These abnormalities may be caused by degenerativechanges in the blood vessels, extraneous infections, or congenitaldefects. Common types of cardiovascular disease include:
Atherosclerosis,
Hypertension,
Coronary Heart Disease, frequently accompanied by angina,
Heart Attack,
Stroke,
Heart failure,
Congenital Heart Disease,
Arrhythmias.

Heart disease is the second top killer in Singapore, accounting for 25% of our total deaths in the year 2000.

According to Ministry of Health's 2004 statistics, heart disease(ischaemic heart disease) is ranked third most common reason forhospitalization, after cancer. Many heart patients return home after being discharged from hospitals but continuing care e.g.medications, changes in lifestyle, diet and managing stress isnecessary to better manage their heart conditions.

The principal causes of death due to heart diseases are rank number sixth killer in Singapore in 2004, as reported in Health FactsSingapore 2005.

Medications form the integral part of cardiovascular medicine ofheart disease management and together with lifestyle modifications and various treatment modalities; one can reduce the risk of a firstor repeat heart events that can be detrimental to health. Multiple medications are often needed to control symptoms and risk factors.Therefore, a better understanding of current medications you are consuming may assist in better managing of disease condition andwhich may translate into better quality of life.

Please do not hesitate to revert back to hotline 63213521 (Audrey)or 63214110 (MingChai) or email pharmacist_public_education@yahoo.com.sg for registration or shouldyou have any enquires. As seats are limited, please rsvp by 30 May.Thank you very much.