Qiao Wenxue, a telecommunications engineer in the northern China
province of Hebei, has been to the hospital three times this winter
for treatment of respiratory infections, which seems too much
frequent for his age.
Even when he is not sick in bed, the 32-year-old is always
afflicted with fatigue, insomnia and constipation. "I know these
are warning signals of poor immunity, but most of my colleagues are
having the same problems," he said.
Experts with the Chinese Academy of Sciences say Qiao is
suffering from "sub-health", a condition that is not classified as
disease, but still calls for treatment.
Over 70 percent of residents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou
are afflicted with sub-health, according to a survey conducted in
July 2002 by a Chinese health organization on 16 Chinese cities
with population exceeding 1 million.
The "sub-healthy" accounted for 75.3 percent of the residents in
the nation's capital Beijing.
"About 20 percent of Chinese under 40 are suffering from
sub-health and some of them have already shown symptoms of slight
heart disease," said Hong Zhaoguang, a cardiovascular specialist
dedicated to promoting health education in China.
Young and middle-aged Chinese are under more pressure than their
parents' generation in a fast-paced society with intense
competition and more subtle interpersonal relations. "Many people
overwork themselves in order to stand out among their peers and
make more money," said Chen Xiaojie, who works for an advertising
firm based in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.
The 28-year-old advertising copy writer said he always felt
exhausted after work. "Nearly all employers say explicitly in
recruitment ads that they want people under 35, even 30. I'll lose
out if I don't work hard enough."
Except for overwork, nutritionists say unhealthy diet is also to
blame for the young people's health problem.
"Many young people have replaced traditional Chinese diet that
is rich in vegetables and grains with high-calorie hamburgers,
fried chicken and potato chips," said Deng Changying, a physician
with a Beijing-based hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police
Force.
Deng warns that China is probably repeating problems in the West
in this respect. "High-calorie fast food has caused juvenile
obesity, and the young and middle-aged are getting flabby with less
time for exercise and more time sitting in front of the television
or computer."
Worried by their health problems, many young people are buying
health products and seeking help from traditional Chinese
herbalists.
Bo Jinghua, a herbalist in Shijiazhuang, said one third of his
patients were in their 20s or 30s, most of whom were suffering from
mental problems such as depression, rather than physical
illnesses.
In some Chinese cities, middle-aged people at the peak of their
careers are even seeking an early retirement in consideration of
their health. "It's worthwhile to exchange a longer life with less
money," they all say.
Sub-health among the young and middle-aged has aroused concern
among medical experts, who are calling on people to take regular
health checks and be on guard against various diseases that are
traditionally believed to be preserve of older people.
"We have to ensure good health of the younger generation, so
that they can play their role today and remain healthy senior
citizens in the future," said Zhang Diankui, deputy mayor of
Shijiazhuang.
China established the first recuperation center for the
sub-healthy at the end of 2002 in the northern port city
Tianjin.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2003)