According to a 2014 survey by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average life expectancy for Japanese women in 2013 reached 86.61 years, making them the longest-lived female population in the world. Meanwhile, men in Hong Kong ranked highest for longevity, with an average life expectancy of 80.87 years. Despite the high-pressure environment in Hong Kong, why do its men still enjoy such longevity? Beyond the contribution of Hong Kong’s public healthcare system and living environment, a closer look at the lifestyle habits of Hong Kong residents reveals some clues.
When men gather, tobacco, alcohol, and meat are often staples. However, Dr. Ma Shengli of the Guangzhou First People's Hospital noted that when dining with Hong Kong friends, they predominantly abstain from smoking and drinking, and prefer a light diet. While people in the mainland often enjoy stir-frying or even deep-frying their food, Hong Kong residents frequently opt for steaming, adding only a pinch of salt to preserve the food's nutritional value.
Beyond a light diet, simmering soup is an integral part of Hong Kong's culinary culture. Many Hong Kong residents understand basic principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations. Almost every household has its own secret for brewing slow-cooked nutritious soups, knowing how to select different medicinal herbs to manage their health and regulate their physical constitution according to the season.
Hong Kong residents also place great importance on medical check-ups. In addition to comprehensive health screenings, they conduct targeted examinations based on factors such as age, gender, and symptoms. Once issues are identified, they receive treatment immediately, successfully achieving the goal of reducing the incidence of disease, delaying the onset of illness, and ensuring early treatment so that minor ailments do not escalate into major or chronic diseases.
Hong Kong people have a habit of enjoying morning and evening tea, where friends gather to discuss their problems and frustrations, seeking support and help from one another. Should they face insurmountable psychological issues, they promptly seek assistance from psychologists rather than suppressing their feelings or bearing the burden alone. Even when hospitalized, clinical physicians pay close attention to the patient's psychological wellbeing. Patients who do not respond to long-term treatment are sometimes transferred to the psychiatry department; once their mental state improves, they are transferred back for continued diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, Hong Kong residents are eager learners, truly embodying the philosophy of "lifelong learning." Every year, many Hong Kong residents travel to the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine for study, including many middle-aged men aged 40 to 50—ranging from practicing TCM doctors to enthusiasts with no medical background. Driven by this spirit and such widespread health awareness, the concepts of wellness have become deeply ingrained in their culture. (Source: Health Times)