Preventive Medicine

Preventive Medicine is a trend in modern medicine aimed at intervening before the onset of a disease or its complications to prevent or mitigate the development of the disease or its complications. The saying "prevention is better than cure" and the notion that "it is easier to treat diseases in their early stages" may be common, but implementing this in practice is not as straightforward as one might imagine.

 

Many diseases do not exhibit obvious symptoms in their early stages (such as diabetes and hypertension). When the body does not recognize a problem and daily life is not significantly affected, it is easy to overlook and procrastinate. By the time symptoms begin to appear, complications may have already developed, and the condition is often more difficult to treat. We hope to increase public awareness of preventive medicine and, by raising awareness about the prevention of chronic diseases, encourage early detection and appropriate treatment to improve the health of individuals and their families.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke are two of the five leading causes of death in Hong Kong. Chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high uric acid levels are significant risk factors affecting cardiovascular diseases. Recent local data shows that nearly 30% of the population in Hong Kong suffers from hypertension, about 10% have diabetes, and over 50% have high cholesterol.

In fact, most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. By effectively controlling risk factors, it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent serious, life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and stroke.

Infectious Diseases

Vaccination is also an important part of preventive medicine. Pneumonia and influenza have a significant impact on children, the elderly, and patients with chronic diseases. The appropriate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can increase the chances of developing cervical cancer. Herpes zoster, commonly known as "shingles," can lead to severe pain and even result in complications such as long-term nerve pain. Vaccinations can effectively reduce infections and their severity, and their importance cannot be overlooked.

Osteoporosis

With advancing age, osteoporosis has become increasingly common, yet public awareness of its prevention is insufficient. Women's bone density begins to decline continuously after menopause. Osteoporosis significantly increases the risk of fractures in patients. Fractures of the hip, lumbar spine, and wrist are the most common, and these fractures can greatly impact a patient's quality of life. Certain fractures, such as hip fractures, can lead to mobility issues for some elderly individuals if they do not undergo surgical treatment, increasing the risk of prolonged bed rest, infections, and higher mortality rates. These outcomes can be avoided by prioritizing bone health from the start and by diagnosing and treating osteoporosis early.

Allergies

In addition to general chronic diseases, our medical practice also offers professional allergy diagnosis and treatment.Allergies are a series of hypersensitive reactions triggered by the body's exposure to environmental allergens, such as allergic rhinitis, food allergies, urticaria, eczema/atopic dermatitis, and asthma. Severe allergic reactions can lead to angioedema and even anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening.

Type I hypersensitivity reactions are the most common among the four types. Examples include allergic rhinitis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis (eczema), asthma, and conjunctivitis. The second most common is Type IV hypersensitivity, with examples including contact dermatitis.

To diagnose Type I hypersensitivity, in addition to a clinical allergy history, the following two primary diagnostic methods can be used:

  1. Skin Prick Test
  2. IgE Blood Test

Currently, blood tests can assist doctors in accurately diagnosing nearly three hundred types of food and environmental allergens that cause Type I hypersensitivity reactions. If a person is confirmed to be sensitive to a specific allergen, such as food or medication, they should avoid that allergen.Certain allergens, such as the most common dust mites and pet dander, can lead to tolerance through immunotherapy, gradually alleviating allergic symptoms. This type of immunotherapy can lead to significant and long-lasting improvements in long-term symptoms like allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and urticaria.

Our aim is to provide citizens with general consultation services, vaccination services, allergy testing, personalized health check plans, and various integrated medical services. We not only address common illnesses and emergencies but also emphasize long-term health management, including common diseases and chronic conditions that require long-term management, such as hypertension and diabetes, developing personalized health plans and services for patients.

In line with the government's "Chronic Disease Shared Care Pilot Program," our primary goal is to control the risk factors of chronic diseases, prevent chronic diseases early, and reduce the occurrence of related complications. Our clinic is equipped with a professional team and facilities to conduct consultations, clinical examinations, and blood test index tracking.