Great Eastern Live Great!

[Advertorial]

Last year, I was hospitalized for suspected dengue fever. I had to take 2 weeks off work to recuperate.

During the 2 weeks, I lost some pitches, potential clients and also business. Basically, if I didn’t work, I could not generate any income. Fortunately, I was a full time employee at that time hence the paycheque will come notwithstanding my absence.

However, things are different now. I am now self-employed. I’m like a taxi driver. If I don’t drive, I won’t get any income. Here, if I don’t do any work, I won’t get any fees. At times like this, I wish I have something that generates passive income.

While I try to save money to invest in passive income generating assets, I should take all steps to live healthily. Health is wealth as they all say.

Great Eastern (who also happens to be my insurer) recently launched an in rewards programme for their customers called Live Great. It is an integrated programme focused on Health and Wellness to help their customers live healthier, live better, most importantly, live longer.

In doing so, they came out with five great things.

This programme offers numerous benefits in the form of the following:-

1. Wellness Tools – find out how healthy you are and keep track of your progress.
2. Health Tips – a library of useful tips and information to help you achieve your intentions.
3. Mobile Apps – Mobile applications to help you live healthier, better and longer.
4. Workshops and Events – a full calendar of events promoting healthy living, including the Yoga for Life, Live Great Run and more.
5. Exclusive Privileges – Exclusive discounts and rewards at wellness merchants across Southeast Asia.

I went through some of them and personally found these to be quite interesting!

Ahem, to all my readers who smoke, do a calculation on how much you’ve spent on cigarettes. You could have bought a car with that amount!

I’m not a big fan of calculating calories but a 2700 calories a day seems like a good deal for me. Plus, if you’re looking at being on a diet this could really help you monitor your calorie needs and intake.

Ovulation Calendar..hmm..not sure what does this do xD

You should also check out the 21-Day App in their Wellness Tools.

Some people say that it takes 21 days to form or break a habit. Following this theory, this Android and iOS App is here to assist one to do so. Check-in every day to stick to your intention, set up reminders to motivate you to keep on track and share your goals with your friends on Facebook and Twitter so they can help support you as well. Check out the video below for more details.

I also found numerous health and wellness articles to read there. I didn’t realize cooking oil fumes can cause cervical cancer in women! An article on signs of whether you are having a stroke is interesting. Dengue article is a must-read but I understand that the symptoms for dengue fever nowadays vary.

Men and women have different signs and symptoms of heart attack. Apparently, older women may have no symptoms at all. They may just feel unwell and more tired than usual. Look out Mum!

By signing up for this programme, one can enjoy privileges, benefits and discounts from Great Eastern’s partners. Discounts are music to my ears.

These privileges are available throughout South East Asia ranging from spas in Thailand to Singapore Zoo. Nearer to home, there is a 25% discount off Health Screening Packages from Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur.

For full details of all the benefits, please visit http://livegreat.greateasternlife.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/GreatEasternLifeAssurance

Hospitalised

I was admitted for suspected dengue fever in December. Few days before that, I had fever and throat infection. My neighbourhood doctor initially diagnosed me with throat infection and gave me antibiotics and tons of other medicine for it.

The medicines didn’t help and on the 3rd day, I fainted in the toilet. Fortunately, I picked myself up (few minutes later) and went back to sleep.

On Saturday, I had muscles and joint pains. I immediately thought of the advertorial I wrote for Ministry of Health regarding dengue fever. It struck me that I may have dengue fever. I quickly went to see the same doctor and he referred me to another clinic to do blood test. My result shows that my white blood cells are dropping. I was immediately referred me to a hospital.

I packed my clothes and got admitted to Pantai Hospital @ Bangsar. My strength was slowly fading away.


At the Emergency Ward


Had to live with this throughout my stay


Although I could walk to my room, I was wheeled to my room. Awesome.

I was on the drip for three nights. The drips worked well.

I felt much better after the first day. The rest of the nights were just resting and eating. Many friends dropped by with gifts.


Even Doraemon came.


Food was just so-so. Quite bland.

Many of them were surprised that I looked well. I guess my early diagnose helped a lot.

I wouldn’t know the seriousness of my sickness if its not for my dengue advertorial. I wouldn’t be able to recover fast if I hadn’t detect it early.

Many thanks to A and friends and family who visited and well wishes!

AEDES pula mengancam manusia..

[Advertorial]

Couple of years ago, my house had problem with mosquitoes. You see, my neighbour decided to stop maintaining his backyard and consequence to that, his backyard became a jungle!

At that time, we had tenants staying in the annexure of our house. The annexure faced the so-called “jungle”. Couple with the fact that my garden is pretty huge, we had mosquitoes all around our house!

Subsequently, one of my tenants caught dengue fever. She started having fever but she kept quiet about it – probably thinking that it was normal fever. Fortunately, we spotted red rashes on her arms and quickly sent her to a hospital. She was diagnosed with last stage dengue fever! Fortunately, after being hospitalized for a week, she made full recovery thereafter. If we didn’t see the red rashes, our tenant would probably be dead. Carrying a dead body out from my house is the last thing I want to do. Uhhh

Dengue fever is very common in Malaysia. I know a nurse whose young daughter died of dengue fever. Before her death, the nurse’s husband went missing and could not be found. What a sad life.

It is important to know the symptoms of dengue fever. According to expat.com.my, the symptoms are as follow:-

The signs and symptoms of Dengue fever are as follows:

– High fever (104 F, 40°C)

– Chills

– Headache

– Red eyes, pain in the eyes

– Enlarged lymph nodes

– Deep muscle and joint pains (during first hours of illness)

– Loss of appetite

– Nausea and vomiting

– Low blood pressure and heart rate

– Extreme fatigue

Basically, dengue commences with high fever and other signs as listed above for 2 to 4 days. Then, the temperature drops rapidly and intense sweating takes place. After about a day with normal temperature and a feeling of well-being, the temperature rises abruptly again. Rashes (small red bumps) show up on the arms, legs and the entire body simultaneously along with fever. However, rashes rarely occur on the face. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet may be swollen and bright red. Although the patient may feel exhausted for several weeks, most cases of dengue take approximately one week to recover. Once a person recovers from dengue, he or she will have antibodies in their bloodstream which will prevent them from having a relapse for about a year.

Prevention is better than cure. If you have a garden or some containers lying around, you may want to follow the guidelines provided by Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA)

At all times

– Turn pails and watering cans over.

– Remove water in plant pot plates. Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove mosquito eggs. Avoid the use of plant pot plates, if possible.

– Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the surface of the hardened soil.

– Do not block the flow of water in scupper drains along common corridors. Avoid placing potted plants and other paraphernalia over the scupper drains.

– Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install anti-mosquito valves.

– Cover bamboo pole holders after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.

– Remove air-conditioner trays as the condensate could accumulate on them, which present an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Instead, redirect the condensate to bathrooms or toilets.

Every other day

Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.

Once a week

Clear fallen leaves and stagnant water in your scupper drains and garden. These leaves collect water or cause chokages to the drains thus resulting in the buildup of stagnant water.

Once a month

– Add prescribed amounts of sand granular insecticide into vases, gully traps and roof gutters, even if they are dry.

– Clear away fallen leaves in roof gutters and apron drains. If structurally feasible, remove the roof gutters.

Alternatively, beat the sh*t out of them when you see one!

Check out http://www.gayahidupsihat.my for more information!