Holiday Stress & Autoimmune Flares – Why Your Body Reacts
When “Season’s Greetings” Feel More Like “Season’s Fatigue” The holidays are meant to be joyful — yet for many living with autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis, December brings a different kind of challenge. When life gets hectic with social gatherings, late nights, and endless to-do lists, stress can feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, […]
Gout and Festive Feasting: Enjoy the Holidays Without a Flare-Up
When Celebration Meets Inflammation The holidays are a time for warm reunions, delicious buffets, and joyful toasts. But for those living with gout, indulgence can sometimes mean more than just a fuller plate — it can bring swollen toes, burning pain, and restless nights long after the celebration ends. If you’re navigating this, know you’re […]
Don’t Ignore Chronic Joint Pain This Holiday Season & See a Rheumatologist
Festive Cheer, Aching Joints The holidays are a time for joy — and for many, a chance to finally slow down. But amid family gatherings, travel plans, and year-end fatigue, that nagging joint pain you’ve been ignoring all year often becomes noticeable. Whether it’s aching knees after shopping sprees, stiff hands while wrapping gifts, or […]
Autoimmune Flares in Winter: Why Lupus & Raynaud’s Worsen in the Cold
When Winter Isn’t Just Chilly — It’s Painful For most people, cold weather means sweaters and hot chocolate. However, for those living with autoimmune rheumatic diseases like lupus or Raynaud’s phenomenon, winter can bring much less pleasant symptoms — joint pain, numb fingers, fatigue, and flare-ups. Cold climates, reduced sunlight, and lower temperatures can all […]
Travelling with Arthritis – How to Prevent Stiffness, Swelling, and Flare-Ups on the Go
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist Wanderlust Shouldn’t Hurt There’s nothing quite like the thrill of travel — new sights, new foods, new memories. But for those living with arthritis, long flights, cold destinations, or crossing time zones can sometimes turn adventure into ache. The good news? With proper preparation and self-care, you can definitely […]
Why Cold Weather Makes Joint Pain Worse – What Happens to Your Body in Wintry Climates
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist The Vacation Buzzkill You Didn’t Plan For You’ve packed your coats, scarves, and thermal socks — but as soon as you arrive some place cold, your knees begin to ache or your fingers stiffen. Sound familiar? For many people with arthritis or joint sensitivity, cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable […]
Tips by a Rheumatologist for Strong, Healthy Joints!
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist Why Prevention Matters More Than You Think We often think about joint health only when pain sets in — like that first hint of knee discomfort, morning stiffness, or aching fingers after a long day. But just like caring for your heart or skin, looking after your joints works […]
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Linked to Morning Back Stiffness?
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist Recognising When Back Stiffness Means Something More We’ve all woken up with a stiff back and blamed it on a bad night’s sleep, an old mattress, or poor posture. But what if the stiffness doesn’t fade after a few stretches — and instead greets you every morning? When back […]
When Joint Pain Isn’t Just Ageing: Early Signs of Arthritis
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist When “Normal” Aches Aren’t So Normal… We often dismiss it with a casual “Aiya, it’s just age lah.” But what if those persistent morning aches, stiff fingers, or sore knees are not merely signs of ageing? In Singapore, too many individuals delay consulting a doctor, mistakenly believing joint pain […]
The Difference Between Osteoarthritis & Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Dr Anindita Santosa, Consultant Rheumatologist Arthritis Isn’t Just One Disease! Many people believe “arthritis” is a single disease — but in reality, it is an umbrella term for more than a hundred joint conditions. Among these, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common, yet entirely different in cause and treatment. If […]
