I’m facing a bit of a quandary here. Just last week I was bragging about how air pollution isn’t as much a risk factor to health than much less glamorous topics such as overweight and lack of exercise. Since then, of course, we’ve had the biggest public health emergency I’ve seen in my six years here, with air pollution skyrocketing to an astounding 755 AQI and higher in much of northern China.… Read the rest
Category Archives: Wellness
“New York Times Columnist”: Has A Nice Ring To It, No?
Long before I was even considering medicine, I loved to write. I spent my undergraduate years at Columbia absorbing books and writing poems and comedy skits between my exams. But my favorite routine was devouring the New York Times each morning, delivered to my dorm door. … Read the rest
Cough Syrups For Kids: Do Any Work Well?
Coughing is one of winter’s inevitable symptoms for all families. As viruses pass back and forth, the usual runny nose and cough can be very disruptive, especially if it’s keeping both you and your child awake all night. For cough relief, we all have our favorite cough syrups — but which ones actually work?… Read the rest
Can A Child Be Too Clean? Some Bacteria And Probiotics are Healthy
It usually feels like we live in a toxic world here in Beijing, bombarded daily from the air and what we eat and drink. But what about the other extreme of being too clean? In our zeal to protect our families from toxins and germs, could we be harming as much as helping?… Read the rest
Websites for Wellness: Health Information in the Digital Age
Which websites do you turn to for health information? There are thousands of healthcare sites offering advice, but a sizable portion are either trying to sell you something you don’t need or simply do not provide evidence-based recommendations. I’ve researched many websites throughout my career as a physician, and I’d like to share with you my favorite websites for health and wellness information.… Read the rest
Getting Some Sun — Without The Cancer
Did you know that as much as 80 percent of your lifetime exposure to sunlight happens before the age of 18? This early sun exposure slowly causes DNA damage and puts us at risk for skin cancer later on. One of the biggest risk factors for developing melanomas is the frequency of sunburns as a child.… Read the rest