Pro-Uro™ Community Outreach
Miraco Nutripharm recently collaborated with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) doctors on an educational webinar regarding Women’s Health. We work closely with healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based therapies and to improve the level of health literacy of our community. Read on to find out more about the public health forum.
Miraco Nutripharm collaborated with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) in organizing a public forum on women’s health. This public health forum was promoted at polyclinics and urology clinics, attracting close to 1000 participants in both the English and Mandarin sessions. Expert doctors such as 1) Dr Chua Hong Liang (Head & Senior Consultant of Urogynaecology), 2) Dr Khazila Bhutia (Consultant of Urogynaecology), 3) Dr Jill Lee (Consultant of Urogynaecology), 4) Dr Sharmini Su Sivarajah (Consultant of General Surgery), 5) Dr Eugene Huang (Consultant of Urogynaecology), 6) Dr Li Xinyi (Associate Consultant of Urogynaecology), 7) Dr Cheryl Chong (Associate Consultant of General Surgery), and 8) Associate Professor Han How Chuan (Head & Senior Consultant of Urogynaecology Surgery Unit) shared their knowledge on common health issues faced by women. These include prevention and treatment of chronic constipation, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), and other urinary problems in women.
Dr Chua & A/P Han kicked off the public health forum with the topic of pelvic organ prolapse which is a common condition, particularly among older women. Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, bladder, or rectum become weak or loose. Dr Chua, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, noted that most women are usually embarrassed about this intimate health problem and are reluctant to seek help from doctors. He added that affected women are also unaware that pelvic organ prolapse can lead to more health problems down the road. Thus, it is important to seek medical advice so appropriate treatment can be received. It was also mentioned that preventive measures such as Kegel exercises can be employed to strengthen the pelvic muscles and reduce the risk of pelvic organ prolapse.
The second topic was an animated discussion by Dr Khazila and Dr Li on urinary incontinence. If you think that it is a rare medical condition, think again. Dr Khazila remarked that urinary incontinence affects about 50% of adult women. Aside from childbirth, did you know that chronic cough and constipation can also be risk factors for urinary incontinence? Both doctors recommended prevention tips such as practicing pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercise) or cutting down on bladder irritants like caffeine, alcohol, and citrus fruits.
Dr Jill and Dr Eugene presented on Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) which is a very common health problem in women. Dr Jill stated that women are 10 times more likely than men to be affected by UTIs due to the shorter urinary tract in females which is easily infected by bacteria. However, both doctors assured there are ways to prevent or reduce the recurrence of UTI, which includes drinking adequate water and wiping from front to back in the toilet. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1™ and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14™ are clinically shown to reduce the risk of recurring UTI. GR-1™ and RC-14™ probiotic strains work by producing antibacterial agents and reducing the adhesion of harmful bacteria in the urinary tract. These probiotics do not increase the risk of antibiotic resistance, hence are safe to be taken long term.
As for the final topic, Dr Sharmini and Dr Cheryl talked about how chronic constipation can lead to the weakening of pelvic floor muscles. Both doctors stressed that lifestyle changes, good bowel habits, and a healthy diet can help manage chronic constipation. A few key points they brought up include eating more dietary fibre, exercising, practicing regular toilet habits, and reducing intake of tea, coffee, and alcohol.
It was exciting to collaborate with KKH on this online public health forum and even more so to share valuable knowledge on women’s health with the community. A big thank you to the specialist doctors for the informative sharing on these interesting topics.
Miraco Nutripharm is glad to be the supporting partner of this public health forum with KK Hospital. We promote health and wellness in women through Pro-Uro™, our flagship brand of clinically proven probiotics containing GR-1TM and RC-14TM specifically targeted at women’s urogenital health to help manage urogenital conditions like UTI. Look out for more of our educational webinars and let us take charge of our health together.