Posted by
The Babbit
14 yrs ago
Ive been in HK for about a year. The first 6 minths I had no notable health issues - even on the alleged most polluted day ever - last april sometime. I am asthmatic but reasonably fit and healthy. I travel on an almost weekly basis and find that for the last few months, almost every weekend I wind up with a cold - sneezing, congested. When on my travels around asia - I am generally healthy, but every time i return to HK i spend at least 1 day feeling terrible.
I appreciate that this should be a question for a Dr - but thats another story.
I'd just like to understand other peoples experiences - wether its realted to the extra pollution which is apparent in the winter (or is that a myth)
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selda
14 yrs ago
roadside pollution has become really bad in the last few months...in places like Central and Causeway Bay is constantly very high.
And when you fly to HK from places other than the most polluted cities in China, you notice the yellowish haze that hangs like a blanket over HK. That's a chemical soup that contains all the most hazardous chemicals used in the largest factory in the world, Guangdong province!
No surprise so many HK people have respiratory problems (me included), like chest and nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma etc. But that is actually a healthy reaction of your body. Other symptoms are even more insidious because few people know that they are caused by exposure to pollutants. Think of letharg, headaches and fatigue. If we ignore these symptoms, the consequences can be very serious, like cancer and cardio-circulatory problems.
I am extremely concerned about the pollution here, because i have seen too many people i know suffer from cancer...and they were non-smokers.
The inaction of this government is criminal.
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I suffer from exactly the same symptoms. I also travel alot through-out Asia - india, taiwan, malaysia, philippines, china. It seems like everytime I come back to Hong Kong, I have either a cough, or a runny nose, and I always feel terrible for the first day back. It has been particularly bad this year. Doctor said it was probably related to low immunity due to lack of sleep, stress, bad diet - maybe that's a place to start looking for how to deal with your symptoms? He recommends zinc supplements.
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very much appreciate both your comments. I guess low immunity is related to asthma in my case. Im wondering if a bacteria killing air filter in the room would help - any views ?
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xa4
14 yrs ago
Same here, for the last three months I frequently suffer from a sore throat and blocked nose. I also came down with nasty flu-like symptoms twice that lasted more than two weeks. That is highly unusual for me. I noticed from the third day of Chinese New Year up to now, that I feel a lot better. Coincidentally the factories in China are closed. Let's see what next week brings when they start polluting the air across the border again.
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Ed
14 yrs ago
This thread on air purifiers might be helpful... quite a few people have commented that respiratory problems were eliminated or at least alleviated by using Alen machines
That said... it's sad that in a city as wealthy and advanced as Hong Kong, we need machinery to make our so-called air breathable...
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/living-in-or-moving-to-hong-kong/threads/120184/air-purifiers/
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how about we all get together and sue the HK government? maybe then they will do something about the crap we have to breathe...ah and it not just the factories in china... the many many busses in HK are old UK buses that no longer fit UK and Euro government guideline for pollution...so they are shipped out here....also the Govt has to change the pollution laws for trucks...
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Crikey. All true, if somewhat grim. I've got at least 10 months left here, but am not necessarily keen to extend, ESP for the sake of my kids ( who fortunately haven't seem to suffer so far). I think I'll check out an air purifier so I don't wake up feeling quite so bad. If it works, get one for the kids room too.
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Another way it could be affecting your immunity is by blocking out the UVB rays from the sun that your body needs to make vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed for good immunity, so it's likely that everyone here suffers from low vitamin D. Consider having a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test to check your levels. Also research vitamin D and asthma you might be suprised.
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> Madtown
Since reinstalling an air purifier in my bedroom, I now wake up far more refreshed, and sleep for about an hour less a night.
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Ed
14 yrs ago
You can buy a machine here http://www.alencorpasia.com/
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Hi Christeve it's interesting that you mention vitamin D I went back to the UK when I was 3 months pregnant and the doctor told me I was very low on vitamin D they put me on a supplement. I couldn't understand it as I was living in HK where it is so much sunnier the doctor said that when I go out I should try to get ten minutes in the sun a day without sun cream as I was probably over protecting myself. I felt better almost imediately and have kept feeling better since being back in HK.
HK is tricky and there are a lot of ways to help protect your health I have been here seven years and I spent two of those years almost permanently sick here are the things that I have found most helpful.
1) Take a multi vitamin daily and a vitamin D supplement
2) Drink boiled tap water, not bottled water, you need to slowly build up immunity to HK bugs and this is a good way to do it especially if you regularly get tummy troubles/ sickness. I can now drink unboiled tap water with no ill effects and no longer get what the doctor kept telling me was gastric flu.
3) Try to get enough oxygen, keep doors open and windows cracked, even an air purifier can't produce oxygen that isn't there 2 people breathing the air in one HK sized bedroom will quickly depleat the oxygen leaving you waking lethargic, we tend to shut our doors because of the ac but with such tiny rooms we need to keep them airated. Keep the air purifier on but give it some oxygen to purify.
4) Try to get some quiet time at night, probably the hardest one of all but I have moved from lan Kwai Fong, to mid levels, to Kennedy town, and finally to clearwater bay. With every move I have suddenly realised how noisy the previous location was compared to the new location and how much better I am sleeping due to the reduced noise. This may not affect you if you have always lived in the city but as a country dweller prior to HK I definitely think this helps me.
5) This one may seem gross but I know many people who have lived here for years who swear by it. Take a worming tablet (like Vermiflu, available over the counter) at least every six months, this is a much warmer more humid place than europe and we eat out constantly you have no idea what you are ingesting.
I hope this helps if anyone has any other tips to share I'd love to hear them, sometimes it feels as though we are all fighting these lethargy issues alone and the doctors don't seem to have the answers either, maybe you've found something that would help us all.
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Hi, the recommened vitamin supplement for adults now is between 2000iu-5000ius daily. It is more than previously recommended as humans no longer spend time outdoors (unprotected or otherwise) daily or consume fish in quantity.
Check out www.vitamindcouncil.org for latest research and advice.
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Hi, my kids both have (or have had) high levels of lead, mercury, arsenic and uranium in their bodies. Both children were born here in Hong Kong. We have finished detoxing my son, who previously diagnosed as 'autistic' but he is now 'normal', I assume because the heavy metals left his body. The work with my daughter continues. She also has learning difficulties.
I am so angry at the Hong Kong Government and it's total failure to reduce pollution. It provides no assistance to families dealing with heavy metal contamination and simply says that removing heavy metals from children's bodies is not scientifically proven to benefit them.
I would recommend anyone living here (or considering to live here) to think about the potential costs to you and your children's health, and your purse.
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Carstenjohn - can you explain a little more about detoxing the children. Is this a diet you are following or a medical process. Out of interest have you also been checked out and found to be contaminated or is it that children are particularly vulnerable? Thanks
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Hi Hyperhippo
Detoxing the children is a medical process called chelation. An agent is introduced into the body that links with the heavy metals and is then excreted out. My children also follow a careful diet and have additional vitamins and other nutritional supplements to help recover.
I have not been checked out myself. I suspect that in my family, my children for some genetic reason are not able to get rid of heavy metals naturally as well as most children. However, given the multitude of kids with "autism" and other behavioural problems, I suspect that there are a lot kids with these problems. As for adults, I suspect that many people have health problems that can be attributed to heavy metals and pollution Proving this is of course, incredibly difficult.
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selda
14 yrs ago
it sounds shocking.
Where in HK do you live?
The government inaction is criminal !!!!
They are awash in taxpayers' money and yet they do nothing to tackle air pollution. Shame on them.
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Hi Selda
I've lived in a few different places in Hong Kong. At the moment, I live near Gold Coast, in the New Territories. Well, of course the Government is only partially democratically elected, so they can pretty much do what they like without having to face angry voters. The Government tends to do what business interests and Beijing want, so the social welfare side of things get badly neglected.
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There is a heavy metal detox you can take http://healthyhumanshk.com/detox/135-the-life-tree-heavy-metal-detox-liver-and-kidney-cleanse-60ml-.html also Vit C helps the lungs to detoxify and strengthens the immune system http://healthyhumanshk.com/vit-c-b-supplements-and-antioxidents/61-rainbow-light-super-c-1000-mg-60-tablets.html
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I have a air purifiers in our bedrooms and lounge area and have filled my home with air cleaning plants so that my body has a chance to detox and rid itself all the dirty air toxins whenever I'm home. I've lived here for 2 years now and take Vitamins, Probiotics and Vit C each day as well and no one in my family has been sick once, including my 6 year old. I really believe if you offset the dirty air with air purifiers, plants and supplements you can greatly reduce the short and long term effects of living in such a polluted city.
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We all do a natural parasite cleanse every 6 months as well. Prior to this my husband was on the toilet up to 6 times a day and had severe IBS symptoms. 10 doctors visits and multiple tests over 3 years revealed nothing. 2 weeks into the parasite cleanse all symptoms had gone after 3 years of being unwell. It really works and is very safe.
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http://healthyhumanshk.com/parasite-treatments/60-the-life-tree-purify.html
is where you can buy the natural parasite cleanse.
http://healthyhumanshk.com/superfoods/92-amazon-therapeutics-camu-camu-mega-c-60-veggie-caps.html
is the Vitamin C I was talking about
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