NHG Heart Institute

25/08/2026

𝗙𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆? 🏃‍♂️

More Singaporeans are signing up for marathons, HYROX events and endurance races than ever before. That enthusiasm is worth celebrating. But fitness and cardiac readiness are not the same thing, and knowing the difference could matter more than your training plan.

Dr Bharat Khialani, Consultant Cardiologist at NHG Heart Institute NHG Heart Institute @ Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), spoke to Cheryl Goh on CNA938 The Wellness Hour today to talk about exactly this. Here are a few things worth knowing before your next race.

⚠️𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀. Chest discomfort, dizziness, palpitations, or breathlessness that feels out of proportion to your effort are not normal training sensations. If something feels different from your usual sessions, stop and get checked. It is always safer to stop than to push through.

📅𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿. If you are preparing for your first marathon or HYROX, or significantly stepping up your training intensity, aim to get a cardiac assessment several months before the event, not weeks. That window allows time to investigate anything that needs attention before training reaches its hardest phase.

🩺𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. For most healthy adults, the starting point is a consultation with a GP or family physician. Basic checks include blood pressure, a lipid profile, blood sugar, and a resting ECG. More targeted tests, such as an echocardiogram, exercise stress test, or CT calcium score, are recommended based on age, symptoms, family history, and risk factors. Not everyone needs all of them, but everyone should know where they stand.

Training hard is how you prepare for race day. Knowing your heart is ready is how you make sure you get there.

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/listen/cna938-rewind/wellness-hour-your-heart-ready-your-workout-6337076?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_24082026_cna

18/06/2026

Chest pain = Heart attack?
Learn how to recognise the warning signs from Dr Randal Low, Cardiology Consultant, NHG Heart Institute@Woodlands Hospital.

Check out the full interview clip here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cu8d9bPfa/

🎙️ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻 — 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟵𝟵𝟱

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people visit the emergency department, and also one of the most misunderstood symptoms.

Many of us assume chest pain always means a heart attack. But the reality is more nuanced. Chest pain can stem from a wide range of causes, some of which are not immediately life-threatening. At the same time, certain types of chest pain are genuine emergencies that require immediate action. Waiting could cost you your life.

The challenge is knowing the difference. Heart attack symptoms may not always feel like the dramatic, crushing chest pain we see in the movies. Signs can be subtle, and they can present differently in women, older adults and those with existing health conditions. For instance, even tooth or jaw pain can sometimes be a red flag.

Learn how to recognise the warning signs from Dr Randal Low, Cardiology Consultant, NHG Heart Institute@Woodlands Hospital. Today's interview with 96.3好FM host Boon Kwok Sien covers the different types of chest pain, red flags that mean you should call 995 immediately, what to expect at the emergency department, and lifestyle changes to protect your heart health.

Whether for yourself or someone you love, this is one conversation worth tuning in to.

Check out the full interview clip here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GLCxmFfyA/

25/02/2026

Can you decipher the 7 ECG diagnoses on this lanyard?

11/12/2025

Read on to find out the innovation of wearable ultrasound stickers for continuous monitoring of chronic heart disease patients.

The researchers hope the ultrasound stickers can help monitor chronic conditions such as heart failure. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

31/10/2025

Our heartiest congratulations to our Cardiologists, 2025 NHG Recognition Awards recipients!