Beacon Medical Centre

07/04/2025

29/01/2025

Beacon Medical Centre wishes you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year of the Snake 🐍.

We are closed Wednesday January 29, 2025 through Sunday February 2, 2025

We re-open Monday February 3, 2025 at 9 am.

If you have an emergency during this time, feel free to reach out to us via our WhatsApp number. However, please be aware that we have limited services available this week. For any urgent medical needs, we recommend visiting your nearest A&E.

Thank you for your understanding!

#🐍

14/01/2025

🌟 Why we love LARCs 🌟

Are you considering your contraceptive options? LARCs are birth control that is long acting, which means they can prevent pregnancies for years. They are also reversible, which means you can choose to stop using the birth control method when you need to or when you decide the time is right. Unlike daily oral contraceptive pills or barrier methods, LARCs provide continuous protection without the need for daily attention.

🔹 Why Choose LARCs?
* Highly Effective: Over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
* Long-Lasting: Options like IUDs and implants can last from 3 to 10 years.
* Convenient: Set it and forget it—no daily reminders needed!
* Private: Since LARCs are inside your body, no one but you needs to know
* An excellent option for young women 15-25, who often struggle with remembering daily pills

🔹What’s the catch?
The only BUT – and this is an important but -- is that LARCs do not protect you or your partner(s) against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). You and your partner(s) should get tested regularly and use condoms to help prevent the spread of STIs like chlamydia. Condoms, however, are far less effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies with a failure rate of up to 18%!

🔹 Available Options:
* Copper T IUCD: A non-hormonal device placed in the uterus for those preferring hormone-free contraception. It lasts 5-10 years.
* Mirena LNUS: Also placed in the uterus, the Mirena emits a small amount of progesterone. It offers the added benefit of managing heavy or painful periods and can provide progesterone for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This also makes it a great option during the perimenopause. It lasts at least 5 years.
* Implanon: A small, flexible progesterone implant that is placed in the upper arm and provides up to 3 years of protection.

We're excited to announce that all three options are now available in Hong Kong and at our clinic!

Talk to your doctor to find out if LARCs are the right choice for you and if so, which one would suit you best.

07/01/2025

🌬️ Protect Your Lungs, Protect Your Life: Vaccines That Matter for Older Adults & Pregnant Women 🛡️

Did you know that there is more to protecting your respiratory health than flu shots?

Respiratory illness is an increasing risk for adults as we get older, due to several interconnected factors:

1. Aging Immune System
As we age, our immune system undergoes changes that can diminish its effectiveness. This phenomenon, known as immunosenescence, reduces the body's ability to respond to infections, making older adults more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and RSV.
2. Chronic Conditions
As we get older, we unfortunately tend to accumulate health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. These conditions can worsen respiratory infections, leading to more severe outcomes.
3. Decreased Lung Function
Aging leads to a natural decline in lung function. The lungs may become less elastic, and the airways can narrow, making it harder to clear mucus and other pathogens. This increases the risk of infections and complications.
4. Inflammatory Response
With age, there is often a heightened inflammatory response in the body, which can lead to more severe symptoms when respiratory infections occur. Chronic inflammation can contribute to lung damage and impair recovery.

Fortunately, we have a growing arsenal of vaccines to protect you from pneumonia and other serious respiratory infections:

💉INFLUENZA VACCINE -Recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months.
💉RSV VACCINE - recommended for adults over 60 and pregnant women
💉PREVENAR 20 - protects against a very serious respiratory illness, pneumococcal pneumonia, and is recommended for adults over 65 and people with chronic health conditions, even those who have previously received pneumonia vaccines. Prevenar 20 offers protection against additional strains of pneumonia that may not have been covered
💉DTaP - This tetanus booster shot also protects against pertussis, or Whooping Cough, which is particularly dangerous for infants, but highly unpleasant at all ages. Vaccination helps protect not only yourself but also those who are most vulnerable. Children should receive this vaccine as part of their routine immunizations, and adults should get a booster at least every 10 years. Pregnant women should get a dose in every pregnancy.
💉COVID-19 VACCINE - You should get a booster if it has been more than 6 months since you’ve had COVID-19 and more than 6-12 months since your last booster. Some people may need a booster more often.

Protect yourself against respiratory illness. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines are recommended for you

🛡️💉

29/11/2024

🧬 Beyond the obvious: Why the annual flu shot is a powerful preventive medicine tool

Did you know your annual flu shot could be doing more than just preventing seasonal influenza? Recent research reveals fascinating broader health benefits:

🫀 Cardiovascular protection: Reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes
🧠 Potential cognitive benefits: Associated with lower dementia risk
🤰 Pregnancy benefits: Decreases risks of premature birth and protects newborns
🦠 Immune system training: May enhance overall immune response to other infections
🏥 Reduced hospitalization risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, COPD, and asthma

For the science-minded: The flu vaccine’s protective effects extend beyond viral immunity, potentially modulating inflammatory responses and providing cross-protective benefits against other respiratory pathogens.

Needle-phobic? We’ve got you covered! FluMist, the nasal spray vaccine, is a great alternative for many people. However, it does have specific requirements and a few contraindications, so you’ll need to consult with your doctor to ensure it’s the right option for you. Regular flu shots, on the other hand, don’t require a doctor’s appointment—making it quick and convenient to protect yourself.

Don’t wait—get your flu shot today. Protect your health, your loved ones, and your future.