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.

The Scrolling Thumb Click You Shouldn’t IgnoreThat small “click” you feel in your thumb while scrolling isn’t just a qui...
15/01/2026

The Scrolling Thumb Click You Shouldn’t Ignore
That small “click” you feel in your thumb while scrolling isn’t just a quirky sound. It’s a subtle mechanical signal from the tendon system.

Repetitive thumb swiping can irritate the narrow sheath that guides the thumb tendon. When this sheath becomes inflamed or tight, the tendon may briefly catch before sliding through. This pattern is commonly known as trigger thumb.

It’s rarely serious, but it is worth paying attention to. Early signs often appear as a click, stiffness, or momentary hesitation during movement rather than constant pain.

A few simple adjustments can help reduce strain:

• Pause scrolling regularly
• Loosen your grip on the phone
• Switch hands or vary thumb use

These small changes often give the tendon sheath time to settle before irritation builds further.

If you’re curious why everyday habits affect joints more than we expect, Aaria Rheumatology explains the mechanics calmly and clearly.

Why Your “Sports Injury” Might Be AutoimmuneHeel pain that never fully settles. A sore elbow that keeps returning. A “te...
14/01/2026

Why Your “Sports Injury” Might Be Autoimmune
Heel pain that never fully settles. A sore elbow that keeps returning. A “tendon injury” that improves briefly, then flares again.

When pain doesn’t behave like a typical sports injury, the cause may not be mechanical at all.

In some autoimmune conditions, inflammation targets the enthesis — the point where tendons attach to bone. This process, called enthesitis, can feel very similar to overuse or tendonitis. However, rest alone doesn’t fully switch it off, because the driver is immune activity rather than physical strain.

Nutrition also plays a quieter role than many people realise. Inflammatory load, metabolic stress, and recovery capacity are influenced by what the body processes daily. This is why some individuals notice symptom flares after illness, poor sleep, or dietary disruption.

Understanding the pattern matters more than pushing through pain. When the cause is immune-driven, care needs to match the mechanism.

Aaria Rheumatology focuses on explaining these signals clearly and calmly, without alarm, so management can be aligned with what the body is actually responding to.

Aaria Cares: “My joints feel swollen, but they look fine.”Many people describe a familiar and confusing sensation: “My j...
13/01/2026

Aaria Cares: “My joints feel swollen, but they look fine.”
Many people describe a familiar and confusing sensation: “My joints feel big or tight… but nothing looks swollen.”

This experience has a real physical basis. Each joint is surrounded by a soft sleeve called the joint capsule, which is packed with pressure-sensing nerve endings. Even a microscopic increase in joint fluid — far too small to be visible from the outside — can gently stretch this capsule.

When that stretch occurs, the pressure sensors activate, creating a sensation of fullness, tightness, or “bigness.” In other words, the feeling of swelling can be valid even when the joint appears unchanged.

This type of subjective swelling can be subtle and may not always be detected during routine examinations. It reflects how sensitive the joint’s internal structures are to small physical changes.

If these sensations feel recurring, worrying, or difficult to explain, Aaria Rheumatology helps patients understand what their bodies may be signalling — calmly, clearly, and without dismissal.

Why Pain Wakes You Up at 3 AM (It’s Not in Your Head)Waking up with joint pain or stiffness in the early hours of the mo...
12/01/2026

Why Pain Wakes You Up at 3 AM (It’s Not in Your Head)
Waking up with joint pain or stiffness in the early hours of the morning is a common and often worrying experience. But there is a clear biological reason behind it.

Your body follows a 24-hour internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. During the night, inflammatory signals naturally rise, while protective hormones such as cortisol are at their lowest.

In people with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, this nighttime shift can be more pronounced. As a result, joints may feel sore, stiff, or achy between 2 and 4 AM.

This does not mean your condition is worsening overnight. It reflects how immune activity and hormone levels cycle, making the body more sensitive to pain during these hours.

Understanding these patterns helps replace fear with clarity. When nighttime pain is frequent or disruptive, it may be worth exploring what your body is signalling.

Aaria Rheumatology supports calm, evidence-based conversations to help people understand these signals safely and without alarm.

Your 2026 Resolution: Train Your Immune SystemMost New Year resolutions focus on fitness or food. But for people living ...
11/01/2026

Your 2026 Resolution: Train Your Immune System
Most New Year resolutions focus on fitness or food. But for people living with allergies, another system quietly shapes daily comfort: the immune system.

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is an approach designed to support immune tolerance rather than simply block symptoms. It involves placing a dissolvable tablet containing a very small, controlled amount of an allergen under the tongue.

This area of the mouth contains specialised immune cells that help guide immune responses. With regular exposure over time, the immune system can become less reactive to triggers such as dust mites, grasses, or pollen.

SLIT is typically taken daily at home and continued over several years to support gradual, long-term tolerance. It is not suitable for everyone, and individual assessment is important.

Understanding how immune training works can make allergy care feel less overwhelming and more informed — focusing on the underlying response rather than short-term suppression alone.

For those exploring structured allergy management options, Aaria Rheumatology provides clear, evidence-based guidance tailored to individual immune profiles.

Your Joints Make Their Own “Teflon” (Here’s How)Your joints are not dry hinges. They are designed with a built-in protec...
10/01/2026

Your Joints Make Their Own “Teflon” (Here’s How)
Your joints are not dry hinges. They are designed with a built-in protection system that helps surfaces glide smoothly against each other.

Inside each joint, cartilage cells produce a specialised protein called lubricin. This protein coats the cartilage surface and reduces friction between moving joint surfaces. Many scientists describe it as a natural “non-stick” layer, similar to how Teflon prevents sticking on a pan.

What’s reassuring is how the body regulates this process. Lubricin release increases with movement. Gentle actions such as standing up, stretching, or taking a short walk signal the joint to refresh this protective layer.

This means movement isn’t only about strengthening muscles or improving fitness. At a joint level, it helps maintain lubrication and comfort.

That’s why stiffness is often most noticeable after long periods of sitting or first thing in the morning. The joint hasn’t yet activated its natural lubricant.

If you’d like to understand how joints maintain comfort, or how simple movement supports joint health, Aaria Rheumatology shares calm, science-based explanations to guide you.

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.

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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