Articles
SHINGRIX Vaccination - Shingles protection
Get your Shingles Vaccine now!
- 2 doses of SHINGRIX separated by 2-6 months
- Indicated for ages 50 years and up
- Risk of shingles increases with age, and comorbidities like Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart disease, and Kidney disease
- Reduces risk of Post-herpetic neuralgia, chronic pain, and associated disability
- Common side effects: Pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, headache, fever
- Protection up to 11 years
- Overall efficacy of 87-89% post vaccination
What is Croup/Acute Laryngotrachobronchitis (ALTB)?
- Cause by common cold viruses
- Affects children 6 months-5 years
- Fever, seal-like barking cough, runny nose.
- Duration usually lasts about 7-10 days.
- Worse in the evenings, colder temperatures
- Characteristic cough is due to upper airway swelling from the viral infection
- Some children will develop a stridor (high-pitched squeal when they breathe in)
- Treatment is usually supportive
- Encourage child to eat and drink regularly
- Run a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom to sit your child for 5-10 minutes
- Mist humidification may help.
- Nasal saline/suction may help nasal discharge and congestion.
- Your doctor may prescribe steroids or nebulized adrenaline for sicker cases.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunisation
- Female ladies aged 18 to 26 years old (based on birthdate)
- 3 doses taken at 0, 1, 6th month interval
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
What is the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that is so talked out nowadays?
- Legal document and a deed, for your benefit regarding the future
- You are at least 21 years of age ('Donor')
- You voluntarily appoint 1 or more persons ('Donee') whom you really trust to make decisions in (1) Personal welfare, &/or (2) Property & affairs
- Your donee(s) will be given authority by you to act on your behalf should you lose mental capacity one day in the future.
GARDASIL 9 (HPV 9-Valent Vaccine)
- 3 doses, given over 6 months at a 0-2-6 interval
- Protects from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 (9 strains, high risk)
- HPV affects men and women
- Most common high-risk HPV subtypes are 16 and 18, & they account for 70% of cervical cancer cases
- HPV transmission via intimate skin to skin contact, sexual intercourse etc
- Most cases are asymptomatic, and up to 90% of early HPV infection clear up on their own via the body's immune system
- Persistent HPV infection is associated with genital warts, cervical cancer, etc
- Cervical cancer vaccination can be used for both women and men
- Other risk factors for cervical cancer include: Multiple sexual partners, early age onset of sexual intercourse, co-infection with other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as genital herpes chlamydia gonorrhoea etc, tobacco smoking, immune system state
- All women aged 25 and above who have ever had sex should have a Pap smear every three years (women 25 to 29 years old) or a HPV DNA test every five years (women 30 years & above)
- Regular cervical cancer screening is the most effective way to detect high-risk HPV types that lead to cervical cancer
Weight loss and Control Blood sugar with GLP-1 receptor agonist injections
-Achieve good blood sugar control with additional benefit of weight loss with weekly prescription-only injectable medication.
-Easy to use with simple handling and negating the use of daily oral dosing, it is effective as it is manageable.
-Through the activation of GLP-1 and GIP receptors, medication works through multiple means to control hunger, reduce appetite, regular blood sugar levels, and contribute to overall sustained reduction in body fat and body mass index, leading to improved overall health and body image.
