Health Guide: Simple Health Tips From Seasoned Beijing Expats

The 2013-2014 beijingkids Health Guide is the latest resource for Beijing families dedicated to providing information on family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine. Articles from the guide will be featured once a week on the Beijinger website. Find the full version here.

Sleep problems, migraines and bad sinuses – the list of common, everyday ailments goes on and on and knowing how to deal with these issues in Beijing can mean the difference between a fantastic or miserable experience living here. We spoke with a group of long-term expats to learn what steps they have taken to help themselves feel, deal and heal better.

Step Up Your Sleep
A WHO study back in 2002 estimated about 27 percent of the world suffers from sleep issues – despite how common these problems are, they are not to be taken lightly – consistently bad quality sleep can lead to a host of health problems, ranging from high blood pressure and obesity to heart disease and even cancer. “I didn’t even realize I had sleep issues until my first acupuncture and cupping session,” says Theresa Ahdieh, who has been getting bi-weekly TCM treatments with licensed TCM practitioner Shelly Ochs at the China Culture Center. Ahdieh started noticing results after just two sessions and says the treatments have also helped improve her eating habits, metabolism and anxiety. “It’s addictive – I’m still waking up but generally sleeping more soundly – I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon.”

If pins and needles aren’t your thing marketing consultant Jennifer Thome recommends sour date plums, nansuanzao (南酸枣). “When I’m stressed out my sleep definitely suffers. A Chinese doctor friend mentioned the sour date seeds in passing, and I was tempted. So I tried it out and I find I sleep more deeply, without any negative side effects.”

If you want to try it out for yourself Jennifer recommends simmering 20 grams of sour dates in 1-2 cups of water for 20 minutes and drinking it before you go to bed.

Help for Your Head
Like many city dwellers, Chi Fan for Charity founder Michael Crain suffers from pounding headaches – a condition that also runs in his family and gets even worse when the pollution levels go up. To alleviate the pain, he has been taking Imitrex* (a.k.a. Sumatriptan), a beta-blocker that not only helps with migraines but can also treat heart disease, angina, blood circulation problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure and severe liver disease, among other conditions.

Crain obtained a prescription at the Beijing United Family Hospital and has gone from taking it 3-4 times a week to only twice a month after adapting an active exercise regimen that includes frequent trips to the gym and fitness boxing classes.

Before he started taking Imitrex Crain says that he would often feel a tingling sensation in his head before getting a headache, which he usually just “suffered through” in the hopes that it subsided quickly. “There were times when I would need to go into a quiet room to help it dissipate,” he explains. “Now I take Imitrex as soon as I get the tingle and within about 20 minutes the feeling subsides and I’m able to continue my day.” Regular exercise, taking frequent breaks from staring at the computer screen, getting enough rest and wearing sunglasses outside have also helped him deal better with his migraines.
*As with all other drugs, Imitrex can result in side effects including chest tightness, weakness and stomach discomfort. Always consult with your doctor before taking any medication.

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This article originally appeared on page 18-20 of the beijingkids Health Guide.

Click here to see the Health Guide in full.

Some of the articles covering the seven areas (family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine) within the guide will be featured twice a week on our website.

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Photos by Lova Li and Sui