Self-care tips for the new year

2021 is coming to an end. The COVID pandemic is still here; the Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire in many parts of the world. You may have suffered immeasurable loss this year, or faced numerous challenges. Or you may have enjoyed a very productive and successful year. Regardless of how 2021 has been forContinue reading “Self-care tips for the new year”

Babies wanted: China’s desperate attempt to save declining birth rate

China announced earlier this year that married couples can have up to three children, after data showed a dramatic decline in births in the world’s most populous country of over 1.4 billion people. Since then, 14 provinces have either amended local family planning rules or are seeking public opinion to make amendments to laws toContinue reading “Babies wanted: China’s desperate attempt to save declining birth rate”

What is “long COVID”?

Most people who contract COVID-19 (aka SARS-CoV-2 infection) recover within 4 to 5 weeks. However, some individuals experience persistent or new COVID-19 symptoms for weeks and months after this initial phase of the infection. Referred to as “long COVID” or “post-COVID-19”, this post-infection condition affects around 37% of those who contract COVID-19. According to aContinue reading “What is “long COVID”?”

Why does Hong Kong have the world’s highest life expectancy?

Hong Kong’s life expectancy has seen a steady increase over the past half-century. For the 7th year and counting, both women and men in Hong Kong have attained the world’s highest life expectancy. According to World Bank, the life expectancy for men and women in Hong Kong stands at 82.7 years and 88.1 years respectively.  So, what’sContinue reading “Why does Hong Kong have the world’s highest life expectancy?”

Chronic hives: what is going on inside the body?

If you’ve had hives before, you will know how annoying they can be. It’s even more annoying when they keep coming back, or get worse instead of going away. Hives (also known as urticaria) are red, itchy welts or wheals brought about by the immune system releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation andContinue reading “Chronic hives: what is going on inside the body?”

Embarrassed with bloating, excessive gas or belching after meals? Address the culprits.

Does your belly extend (like you’re 6 months pregnant) after eating? Do you burp or pass gas excessively? These symptoms are not only uncomfortable, but often embarrassing when others are around. Read on to learn more about potential culprits that cause these embarrassing (and possibly debilitating) symptoms. Could it be SIBO? Small Intestinal Bacterial OvergrowthContinue reading “Embarrassed with bloating, excessive gas or belching after meals? Address the culprits.”

How to manage migraines, naturally

Ask anyone who has experienced a migraine and they can tell you, migraines are debilitating. Usually felt on one side of the head or behind the eyes, a migraine presents as a severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation. It can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine auraContinue reading “How to manage migraines, naturally”

2020 end-of-the-year reflection

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic propelled us into a world of unprecedented hardship and heartache. As vaccines are starting to be made available to the public and more people are adhering to social restrictions, we hope that this is the beginning of the end of the worst pandemic the world has seen in the lastContinue reading “2020 end-of-the-year reflection”

Help your child regulate emotions and build meaningful relationships

Have you ever wondered why some people bounce back from setbacks and challenges more easily than others? Or how some people can create and maintain meaningful friendships for life while others struggle in relationships? Emotional intelligence or emotional literacy refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as to readContinue reading “Help your child regulate emotions and build meaningful relationships”

Tackling high blood pressure and high LDL (bad) cholesterol

High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP or hypertension) is a condition in which your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high. Under the new guidelines in 2017 from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, anyone with a blood pressure of 130/80Continue reading “Tackling high blood pressure and high LDL (bad) cholesterol”