Staying healthy in the smog
Print Edition
AS in previous years, the onset of winter in Shanghai has lead to what many describe as a seasonal deterioration in air quality.
By now, most residents of Shanghai and other smog-prone parts of China are familiar with the effects of smog exposure — particularly exposure to small PM2.5 particles that can irritate and permanently damage respiratory tissue.
Long term, smog exposure can have serious health consequences. The World Health Organization identifies air pollution as a risk factor for conditions like respiratory infection, heart disease and lung cancer.
“Our patients with respiratory diseases have increased by 30 percent since December,” said Dr Chen Jihong of Shanghai Ren’ai Hospital.
Chen explained that it’s not just people with chronic respiratory problems, like asthma or allergies, who come more frequently when air quality worsens. Patients without a history of breathing issues also arrive in larger numbers during such periods.
Regardless of medical history, the doctor said, anyone can suffer from exposure to smog.
“Staying inside, wearing a mask outside and using an air purifier indoors on polluted days are important,” she said. “We strongly oppose outdoor exercise on polluted days.”
Air pollution can damage more than just the throat, lungs and heart though. Airborne pollutants kicked up from construction, vehicle exhaust and heavy industries often contain traces of sulfuric and nitric acid that can damage the skin and eyes.
Eye issues, ‘toxic’ facials
Dr Wang Yinwei from Shanghai Xinshijie Eye Hospital warns against wearing contact lenses on smoggy days.
“We can receive 10 percent more patients on highly polluted days and most patients are those wearing prescription and colored contact lens. Chemical pollutants in smog can stick to the lens and result in poor air flowing to the eyes. These pollutants are also eye irritants and can cause allergies and even infection.”
“Wearing protective glasses when going out, using clean water to wash the eyes and not wearing contact lens are all beneficial to the eyes,” he said.
Wang and other experts also warned against using the “anti-smog” eye-drops sold online.
According to Wang, the claims of such drops have no basis in medical science.
“On the contrary, using such drops blindly can be harmful to the eyes and delay proper treatment,” he said.
Ophthalmologists aren’t the only ones busy on polluted days. Dermatologists are also seeing an increase in patients, particularly among people with skin allergies.
Traditional remedies
Dr Ming Hui from Shanghai Tida Cosmetic and Plastic Hospital has seen an increase in the number of patients with eczema and hives.
“Dirt, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and inorganic compounds flow in the air all the time. Exposing the skin to such air is like wearing a toxic facial mask,” Ming said.
“Not using strong cosmetics, wearing a protective mask and washing exposed skin after returning home are very useful,” she said. “People with certain symptoms must not use hormonal ointments by themselves. These can help clear up skin conditions, but frequent use can cause hormone-dependant dermatitis.”
To fight the harmful effects of smog, many in China are looking online for tea and soup concoctions based on traditional Chinese medicine theories.
One popular soup recipe making the rounds online includes a host of TCM ingredients like guangjinqiancao (herba desmodii styracifolit), luohanguo (siraitia grosvenorii) and luobuma (apocynum venetum), as well as plums and lilies.
While warning against the “blind” use of such remedies without first consulting a doctor, Dr Lu Guangxia from Shanghai Ren’ai Hospital’s traditional Chinese medicine department said most “anti-smog” home recipes draw on TCM beliefs about eliminating “dampness” from the body.
“Luohanguo and lily can moisten the lungs and reduce coughing, but guangjinqiancao is not used for clearing the lungs and people with lung diseases are not advised to use it. Luobuma is usually used to control hypertension and has no benefit for the lungs. People with hypertension are not recommended to take luobuma without a doctor’s prescription.
“Avoiding unnecessary outdoor activity and wearing masks are more effective than herbal teas,” she added. “From a TCM angle, herbs and foods like lily and pear can ease chest discomfort but this doesn’t make them a defense against smog. It’s impossible to reduce or eliminate the harm of smog simply through food.”
Lu pointed out that a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables can help boost the immune system, yet she stressed that “blindly making and eating some so-called lung-cleaning food may bring harm to the body.”
As for eye health, doctors recommend a massage regime similar to the one traditionally used by Chinese students to prevent myopia.
Many of these same massages, directed at acupuncture points in the face and hand, can ease irritation from pollution and help “expel toxins” from the eyes, according to TCM practitioners.
In the face, specific acupuncture points mentioned by doctors include the Tianying, Jingming, Sibai and Taiyang points. Meanwhile, in the hand, the Mingyan, Dakonggu and Fengyan points were also mentioned as spots to rub for relief.
“People can close their eyes and do massages for 10 to 15 minutes a day,” recommends Dr Wang from Shanghai Xinshijie.
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