Aaria Rheumatology

Aaria Rheumatology She is recognised for her compassionate

ABOUT AARIA RHEUMATOLOGY
Trusted Rheumatology Specialist in Singapore
Dr. Anindita Santosa is a distinguished rheumatologist with years of experience in caring for adults with rheumatologic and allergic conditions.

Your Nails Are a Diary: What They Reveal About Your Health HistoryTonight, take a moment under soft light to look closel...
15/12/2025

Your Nails Are a Diary: What They Reveal About Your Health History

Tonight, take a moment under soft light to look closely at your nails. They are not just a hard surface; they are a timeline of your body’s internal health.

1. The "Real-Time" Check: Colour & Refill
- What to look for: Gently press the tip of your nail until it turns pale, then let go.
- The Healthy Sign: Pink colour should rush back in under 2 seconds. This confirms your "micro-circulation" is active and your blood vessels are responsive.
- The Note: If they stay pale or take a long time to "refill," your body might be conserving heat, or your tiny vessels could be clamping down (a potential sign of Raynaud’s).

2. The "History" Check: Texture
- What to look for: Ridges or tiny dents.
- The Science: Unlike colour, texture doesn't change overnight. A horizontal ridge tells us about stress or illness from months ago, while tiny "ice-pick" dents (pitting) can sometimes be a whisper of Psoriatic Arthritis.
- Myth Buster: Vertical ridges? Those are usually just a normal sign of maturing, like wrinkles for your nails.

3. The "Hidden" Check: The Cuticle Edge. In Rheumatology, we look closest at the very base of the nail. Tiny changes in the blood vessels here (visible under a microscope) often appear long before joint pain begins.

The Takeaway. Your nails are giving you daily updates. Most changes are harmless "wear and tear," but if you notice persistent pitting, slow refill, or colour changes that don't match the weather, let’s read the diary together.

Aaria Rheumatology can help you translate these small signals into a clear picture of your immune health.

The "Iron Paradox": Why You’re Tired Even When Your Tests Look NormalHave you ever been told your iron levels are "fine,...
15/12/2025

The "Iron Paradox": Why You’re Tired Even When Your Tests Look Normal

Have you ever been told your iron levels are "fine," but you still feel the deep, heavy exhaustion of anemia?

In Rheumatology, we see this often. It’s called Functional Iron Deficiency, and it’s a master of disguise.

The "Locked Tank" Effect Usually, low iron means your tank is empty. But when inflammation or an autoimmune condition is present, your tank might actually be full—the problem is, the pump is locked.

When your immune system is active, it releases a molecule (hepcidin) that essentially puts your iron stores on lockdown. It hides the iron inside your cells to protect you, preventing it from circulating in the blood where your energy systems need it.

Why Standard Tests Miss It This is where it gets tricky.
1️⃣Ferritin (Storage): This number often looks normal or even high because inflammation artificially boosts it.
2️⃣Hemoglobin: Might look normal until the problem becomes severe.
If a doctor only looks at these two numbers, everything looks "safe." But your body is starving for iron on the inside.

How We See the Difference. At Rheumatology, we don’t just check if you have iron; we check if you can use it. We look at the full picture—Transferrin Saturation and inflammation markers—to see if your fatigue is due to a lack of supply, or a blocked system.

If your fatigue feels "unexplained" by standard tests, it might be time to look at the pattern, not just the number.

That Warm Rush After Tea: The Physiology of "Letting Go"That gentle warmth spreading through your hands after a cup of t...
14/12/2025

That Warm Rush After Tea: The Physiology of "Letting Go"

That gentle warmth spreading through your hands after a cup of tea isn’t just a cosy feeling—it’s a biological shift.

The Science of "Stress Mode" When you are rushing or tense, your body enters a subtle "fight or flight" mode. Your nervous system prioritizes your heart and lungs, causing the tiny blood vessels in your fingers to tighten (constrict) and redirect blood away from your skin. That’s why stress often feels "cold."

The Reset Holding a warm mug triggers the opposite effect. The heat and the pause signal your body to relax. The vessels reopen (vasodilate), allowing oxygen-rich blood to rush back to your fingertips. It is a physical sign that your body is feeling safe again.

When "Cold" Means More For most, this is a normal daily rhythm. But for some, the vessels clamp shut too hard—turning fingers white or blue—and struggle to reopen even with warmth. This is known as Raynaud’s Phenomenon, and it’s more than just stress; it’s a vascular sensitivity often linked to immune health.

The Takeaway If tea helps you reset, enjoy the ritual—it’s good for your circulation and your mind. But if your hands struggle to warm up, or if the colour change is drastic, it might be time to look closer at your circulation.

At Aaria Rheumatology, we look at these small vascular signals to understand the bigger picture of your immune health.

Aaria Rheumatalogy Insights: Why "Motion is Lotion": A 10-Second Joint ResetEver feel like your knees or fingers are "ru...
14/12/2025

Aaria Rheumatalogy Insights: Why "Motion is Lotion": A 10-Second Joint Reset

Ever feel like your knees or fingers are "rusty" after sitting for a while? That isn’t just a feeling—it’s physics.

The "Gel" Effect Your joints are lubricated by synovial fluid. When you are still, this fluid becomes thick and viscous, much like a gel. This is why that first step feels stiff. But here is the good news: this fluid is "thixotropic"—meaning movement makes it thinner.

To wake up your joints, you don’t just need to stretch; you need to "churn" that fluid.

Try this 10-second dynamic reset instead of a static hold:
1. Pump: Flex and extend the joint (like ankle pumps or making a fist) 5 times. This gets blood flowing.
2. Circle: Gently rotate your ankles or wrists. This distributes the fluid across the cartilage surface.
3. Release: Shake it out gently.

The Result: You are essentially turning the "gel" back into a smooth lubricant, reducing friction and telling your nervous system it’s safe to move.

A Note on Timing: If this quick reset clears your stiffness, great! But if your stiffness persists for more than 30 minutes every morning despite movement, that is a different signal. It could indicate inflammation rather than just inactivity.

At Aaria Rheumatology, we help you decipher the difference between a stiff joint and an inflamed one.

Tonight’s Ring Test: What That Morning Puffiness Is Really Telling You 💍If your ring feels a little tighter first thing ...
13/12/2025

Tonight’s Ring Test: What That Morning Puffiness Is Really Telling You 💍

If your ring feels a little tighter first thing in the morning, your body is definitely trying to tell you something. But the message depends on how long the feeling lasts.

The "Normal" Shift Overnight, when we are still, fluid can settle around our hands. For many, a bit of morning puffiness is simply the result of a salty dinner, warm weather, or just the body "recalibrating" after rest.

The sign it’s okay: A quick stretch, a rinse with warm water, or moving around usually clears it up within 10 to 15 minutes.

The "Inflammatory" Signal However, if that tightness feels like your fingers are "glued" together, or if it takes more than 30 minutes to loosen up despite stretching, this is different. In Rheumatology, we call this the "Gel Phenomenon."

It suggests that inflammation, not just water, has gathered in the joints while you slept. This is often one of the earliest whispers of autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis.

When to check in: Think of the clock as your guide.

Under 20 mins? Likely just lifestyle (hydration, posture).

Over 45 mins? It’s time to look deeper.

At Aaria Rheumatology, we help you decode these signals. If we find an underlying cause, we guide the medical treatment, and when needed, we refer you to our trusted Occupational Therapy partners who specialize in hand health and joint protection.

Is your morning stiffness a fleeting moment or a slow start? Let’s make sure your hands are getting the care they need.

Your Skin’s Quick Colour Shift: A Tiny Signal with a Big Message 🖐🏻Ever pressed your fingertip and watched it turn pale,...
12/12/2025

Your Skin’s Quick Colour Shift: A Tiny Signal with a Big Message 🖐🏻

Ever pressed your fingertip and watched it turn pale, only to flood back with pink the moment you let go? That fleeting moment is called Capillary Refill Time, and it’s one of the quiet ways your body tells us about your circulation.

For most, this quick "bounce back" (usually under 2 seconds) is a sign that your peripheral blood flow is healthy and active.

But what if it takes a little longer?

Sometimes, a slower return to pink is just your body’s natural response to a chilly room or dehydration—a temporary "slow down" that a glass of water or a warm stretch can fix.

However, our fingers can also be subtle messengers for our immune health. If you notice:

Your fingertips turning distinctively white or blue in the cold or under stress.

A colour change that takes a long time to return to normal.

Numbness or stinging sensations.

This might be more than just "cold hands"—it could be Raynaud’s Phenomenon, a condition where the tiny vessels over-react to temperature changes. While often manageable, it can sometimes be a whisper of an underlying autoimmune condition.

The Takeaway: Think of this as a gentle check-in with your body. You don't need to be alarmed, but you should be aware. If your hands are speaking to you through persistent colour changes or sensitivity, let’s listen to them together.

At Aaria Rheumatology, we can look closer—using specialized tools like nailfold capillaroscopy—to understand exactly what your circulation is saying.

Silent Bone Inflammation: The Warning Sign You Can’t FeelNot all inflammation shows up as pain. In many autoimmune condi...
29/11/2025

Silent Bone Inflammation: The Warning Sign You Can’t Feel
Not all inflammation shows up as pain. In many autoimmune conditions, bone marrow inflammation begins quietly, visible only on MRI scans long before joints swell or ache. This “silent” phase can still weaken bone structure and set the stage for arthritis if left unchecked.

Modern imaging now helps rheumatologists see inflammation before it speaks, allowing early treatment that protects mobility, bone strength, and quality of life.

If stiffness or fatigue feels routine, it’s worth a deeper look, because the earliest changes often happen where you can’t feel them yet.

Prevention begins with seeing what the body hides.

If pain had a sound, millions would hear it dailyChronic pain is often silent, but its presence is constant. For many li...
28/11/2025

If pain had a sound, millions would hear it daily
Chronic pain is often silent, but its presence is constant. For many living with autoimmune or rheumatic conditions, every movement, task, or even a simple walk can carry hidden discomfort. Yet because pain is invisible, it is easy for others to overlook or misunderstand.

Awareness begins with listening, not assuming. Compassion allows people to feel seen even when their symptoms cannot be measured or explained.

If you know someone living with chronic pain, you can help by:
Asking how they are feeling, not just if they are fine.
Believing their experiences even when there are no visible signs.
Offering understanding instead of quick advice.
Empathy is the loudest form of support.


Your Genes Aren’t Fixed, How Epigenetics Shapes Autoimmune RiskAutoimmune diseases don’t just “run in families”—they’re ...
27/11/2025

Your Genes Aren’t Fixed, How Epigenetics Shapes Autoimmune Risk
Autoimmune diseases don’t just “run in families”—they’re often switched on by the environment we live in. Through epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and histone modification, everyday exposures—from air pollution and processed food to chronic stress—can rewrite how genes express themselves.

This means two people with the same genetic makeup can experience completely different immune outcomes, depending on how their lifestyle and surroundings influence their biology.

What’s emerging in research is that early intervention matters. Once epigenetic patterns become “locked in,” reversing inflammation becomes harder.

The takeaway? You may inherit risk, but you also inherit control. Every balanced meal, restful night, and stress-free moment sends your body new genetic instructions for repair.

Pain that keeps returning isn’t random, it’s a pattern worth decodingRecurring joint pain is not always coincidence. Whe...
24/11/2025

Pain that keeps returning isn’t random, it’s a pattern worth decoding
Recurring joint pain is not always coincidence. When discomfort appears, fades, and then returns, it may be your immune system following a rhythm of inflammation and recovery. Autoimmune conditions often work in cycles, where flare-ups repeat due to stress, hormonal changes, or even shifts in weather.

Understanding your pain pattern can make it easier to manage. Try keeping a symptom journal and note what happens before a flare—sleep loss, diet changes, or emotional stress can all be clues.

Bring these observations to your rheumatologist. Small details can reveal early signs of inflammation that tests might miss.

Your body leaves messages before pain becomes severe. Learning to read them is the first step toward lasting relief.


The Science of the Unseen: How Doctors Track Inflammation You Can’t FeelNot all healing shows up in the mirror. In autoi...
22/11/2025

The Science of the Unseen: How Doctors Track Inflammation You Can’t Feel
Not all healing shows up in the mirror. In autoimmune care, progress is often microscopic before it’s visible—inside your joints, blood, or immune cells.

Doctors measure this unseen recovery through markers like CRP, ESR, and cytokine levels, along with MRI scans that reveal changes in tissue and bone marrow inflammation. Even subtle improvements—better sleep, steadier energy, or fewer flare-ups—signal that the immune system is learning balance again.

When treatment feels slow, remember: biology moves quietly before it transforms visibly. Every stable blood test or calm morning is evidence your body is healing beneath the surface.

Progress isn’t always loud, but it’s always measurable.

Your joints feel every flight you take, here’s whyIf your knees or ankles ache during a long flight, it is not your imag...
21/11/2025

Your joints feel every flight you take, here’s why
If your knees or ankles ache during a long flight, it is not your imagination. Sitting for hours in a confined space reduces circulation and allows fluid to collect in the joints. Changes in cabin pressure and low humidity can also make inflammation worse for people living with arthritis or autoimmune conditions.

You can make travel easier on your joints by planning small habits that keep circulation active:
🤸‍♀️Stretch or walk down the aisle every hour.
🤸‍♀️Flex your ankles and roll your shoulders while seated.
🤸‍♀️Stay hydrated to prevent stiffness.
🤸‍♀️Choose an aisle seat when possible for easier movement.

Travel should be about new experiences, not pain. Preparation keeps you comfortable in the air and confident when you land.


Address

6A Napier Road, Gleneagles Medical Centre, #09/11
Central Region
258499

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 13:00
14:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 13:00
14:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 13:00
14:30 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 13:00
14:30 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 13:00
14:30 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 12:30

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