July 2022

Health

Newsletter

-Generali China GBD

Know Your Numbers

GEB Health Kits

Know Your

Numbers

GEB (Generali Employee Benefit) provide clients with Health Kits available in

multiple languages to help our insured members manage & prevent illness.

Health kits include animated videos, infographics and more. In this hot

season, we promote “Know Your Numbers “, to help measure your overall

health.

Know Your Numbers

There are a few numbers that live

within you which can tell you a lot

about your overall health。 These

numbers represent your Blood

Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar,

and your Weight and Body Mass Index.

Whether you know these numbers or

not, they know you, and they’re

keeping score of your health each day

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be caused by

many different risk factors and

underlying conditions. Uncontrolled

high blood pressure can lead to chronic

health issues such as headaches,

dizziness, nosebleeds, and nausea, and

even fatal diseases like stroke or attack.

Cholesterol

Maintaining a certain cholesterol level is

necessary to build healthy cells. It’s

important to talk with your doctor to

understand all your cholesterol

numbers including total cholesterol, as,

well as HDL and diet and exercise levels,

and potentially take prescribed

medication to bring cholesterol within

normal limits for your age and health

profile. Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL.

Blood Sugar

Blood sugar numbers indicate the

glucose concentration in your blood.

Individuals with high fasting glucose

may be pre-diabetic or even have

diabetes. Normal fasting blood sugar

should be between 70 and

100mg/dl(3.9-6.1mmol). Get tested

and know your blood glucose numbers

to make adjustment to your lifestyle

habits, or receive treatment

recommendations if you are diagnosed

with diabetes.

Weight & BMI

Your weight and body mass index (BMI)

can give you an indication of whether

your weight is in the underweight,

overweight, obese or healthy range. A

healthy BMI is between 18.5-24.9. You

can use weight and BMI information to

modify your eating and exercise habits

in order to maintain or achieve a healthy

weight.

Know Your Numbers

Age

Total

cholesterol

（mg/dL）

LDL

（mg/dL）

HDL

（mg/dL）

1-19 ＜170 ＜100 ＞ 45

＞20（F） 125 - 200 ＜100 ＞ 50

＞20（M） 125 -200 ＜100 ＞40

How to Beat the Heat

How to Beat the Heat

The scorching heat is coming, and every year, people will suffer from

illness and discomfort due to the heat. For our health, let's learn

together how to spend this hot summer scientifically and comfortably.

First of all, let's take a look at the heat related diseases.

Prolonged exposure to high temperature or heat and humidity without

cooling down in time or drinking enough fluids can lead to various types

of heat-related illnesses

How to Beat the Heat

Comparison of different degrees of

heat related diseases

Heat cramps

 Definition：Painful muscle cramps

caused by heat, often occur in the

calves, arms, abdomen, and back

 Symptoms：

1. Muscle spasm

2. Sweating

3. Headache

 Treatment

1. Let the patient rest and cool down

2. Drink Sugary or sports drinks

3. If it can be tolerated, wrap the icewater mixture in a towel and place

it under the spasm less than 20

minutes

There are 3 types of heat-related

illnesses:

 Heat cramps

 Heat exhaustion

 Heat stroke

Heat exhaustion

 Definition：Mild symptoms such

as heat cramps can quickly turn

into a more serious heat-related

illness, which we define as heat

exhaustion, if not managed

properly.

 Symptoms：

1. Muscle cramps

2. Dizziness

3. Nausea

4. Vomiting

5. fatigue

 Treatment

1. Let the patient rest with cool pace

and take off the patient's clothing

as much as possible

2. Spray the patient with cool water

to cool down or place low

temperature wet cloth on the

groin and under the armpit to cool

down

3. If the patient has response,

encourage him/her to drink water,

sugary or electrolyte sports drink

How to Beat the Heat

Heat stroke

 Definition：If affected by heat

factors, the condition is severe and

not recognized or treated in time,

heat-related symptoms can

deteriorate rapidly which we call

heat stroke and heat stroke can be

life-threatening.

 Symptoms：

1. rapid breathing or heartbeat

2. Redness and Warmth of the skin

3. Vomiting or diarrhea

4. Muscle cramps or weakness

5. headache

6. body temperature of 104°F (40°C)

or higher

7. Nervous system symptoms include:

• Inability to think clearly or appear

confused

• Seeing or hearing things that are

not real (called "hallucinating")

• Difficulty walking

• Seizures or syncope

 Treatment

1. Put the patient in cold water, the

water can reach the neck at most,

or spray water on the patient’s

body to cool down

2. Initiate CPR if the patient becomes

unresponsive and has stopped

breathing or only gasping

Precautions

When the heat wave hits:

• Drink plenty of water even if

you’re not thirsty.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol which

can dehydrate you.

• Eat light meals.

• Wear light-colored clothing

• Pay attention to those you love

who live alone or without air

conditioning

• Stay indoors as much as possible

and avoid outdoors housework

• Never leave a child or pet alone in

the car, even if it’s not so hot

outside.

• Observe your urine color to

determine if you need to drink

more water. If your urine is brown

or darker than usual, it means you

are somewhat dehydrated. You

should drink more water

immediately to mitigate the

dehydration.

How to Beat the Heat

What should I do if I am working in a

high temperature environment?

A: Pace yourself. (If you are

uncomfortable working in a hot

environment, start slowly and

gradually increase the pace. If

working in the hot environment

makes your heartbeat faster or out of

breath, you should stop all activities.

Go to a cool place or at least rest in

the shade, especially if you feel

dizziness, confused, weakness or faint.

Can You Get Sick From Air

Conditioning （such as cold and

covid-19）?

A： One of the most common

misconceptions about air conditioning

is that the cold air circulating through

it will give you a cold. In fact, it is a

complete misconception that cold air

causes colds altogether, whether it be

winter or via air conditioning. The

main reason that colds are so

common during the cooler winter

months is that people are more likely

to stay indoors which allows germs to

spread more easily. Although cold air

can contribute to someone getting

sick, this will only happen if that

person has already been exposed to a

virus.

The relationship between air

condition and covid-19 is also like this.

How should I deal with sneezing,

runny nose, dry eyes and joint pain

when I turn on the air conditioner?

A: This may be caused by dust

accumulated in the air conditioner,

low humidity and lag in central

nervous system regulation. We can

deal with it by regularly ventilating,

using baffles to avoid direct blowing

and cleaning air conditioners regularly.

Correct use of air conditioners is a

good way to mitigate the heat

I’m sweating heavily. Can I turn on

the air conditioner, take a shower

and drink iced drinks immediately?

A: The physiological function of

sweating is to cool down. There is no

evidence for using air conditioners or

bathing to cool down while sweating

will cause disease.

But if you need to go outdoors again,

please don't set a very low regulating

temperature to avoid possible body

discomfort due to excessive

temperature differentials.

Ice drinks are not recommended. The

reason is like the doctor's

recommendation: The best drink is

water.

Food Poisoning and

Food Safety

Summer is coming and people are enjoying all kinds of delicious food and cool drinks.

However, the risks of food poisoning and food safety issues are becoming more

prominent as it’s getting hotter. When food is stored at room temperature or at

higher ambient temperature, the pathogens that cause food poisoning will grow and

multiply rapidly in a warm and humid environment. As a result, the possibility of food

poisoning or food-borne illness is significantly increased. Therefore, food safety and

food hygiene in summer are particularly important.

Food Poisoning and Food Safety

In summer, people prefer to choose more outdoor picnics, barbecues and camping.

When the weather is hot, eating food outdoors also brings additional food hygiene

and health risks. Improperly preserved or processed foods can also lead to food

poisoning or other food-borne illnesses. Food poisoning is a serious health problem

that can almost affect everyone. According to WHO statistics, one in 10 people

around the world will become sick because of having unsafe food. Most of them

may recover while the severe food poisoning can lead to hospitalization or even

death. While food safety is a shared responsibility, individual consumers and food

handlers play a huge role in preventing foodborne diseases.

Food Poisoning and Food Safety

Undercooked or improperly stored

food can be a host for the growth and

reproduction of various pathogens.

Food poisoning can occur when

people eat food that contains a large

amount of pathogens. There are

about 250 known pathogens such as

bacteria, viruses and parasites that

can contaminate food and cause food

poisoning. Some other food poisoning

can be caused by certain chemicals or

other contaminants. Pathogens that

can cause food poisoning include:

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella,

Clostridium, Campylobacter,

Staphylococcus aureus, norovirus, etc.

. Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of

the main pathogens causing food

poisoning. It is commonly found

around coastal areas. People will get

infected by eating inadequately

cooked seafood and cooked food can

also be contaminated by this bacteria.

Food Poisoning and Food Safety

Food poisoning often causes stomach

upset and other related symptoms

that can last for hours or days.

Children, elderly,

immunocompromised people and

pregnant women are at higher risk of

food poisoning than adults. The

common symptoms of food poisoning

include:

 stomach discomfort

 stomach cramps

 nausea

 vomiting

 diarrhea

 fever

Most food poisoning cases will get

better within a few days while some

cases may require medical attention.

Medical care should be considered if

you have any of the following

symptoms:

 symptoms of dehydration: dry

mouth, dizziness when standing

up and reduction of urination

The following food safety and

hygiene tips can help prevent food

poisoning or food-borne illness

effectively in summer:

Wash your hands frequently: When

handling food, your hands can

spread pathogens among foods.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop

good hygiene practice of washing

hands frequently, including washing

hands thoroughly, washing hands

with soap and warm water up to 20

seconds before preparing and

processing food. In addition, food

processing tools and equipment,

including cutting boards, knives and

food containers should be cleaned

and disinfected regularly. All food

processing tools, countertops,

cutting boards and cutlery should be

thoroughly washed before and after

using. Cooking tools, containers and

process equipment can be

disinfected with chlorine

disinfectants. Prevent cockroaches,

mice and other pests from entering

the kitchen and contaminating the

food.

Separate raw food from cooked

foods: Unprocessed red meat,

chicken, eggs, and seafood can carry

pathogens that can cause food

poisoning. Pathogens can spread

from raw food to other food and

cause contamination when they are

stored with other foods together. In

order to preventing crosscontamination, unprocessed meat,

seafood or poultry should be kept

and transported separately from

other foods. If you prefer to have

picnic or barbecue, you can store

meat separately in a refrigerated

container or sealed ice bag.

Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood,

and eggs from other cooked foods

and make sure to use the separate

cutting board.

Food Poisoning and Food Safety

Ensure the proper temperature during

food processing: Heat food to the

proper temperature to kill all pathogens.

In addition, a food thermometer can be

used to ensure that it is the correct

temperature in the center of meat so as

to effectively kill all pathogens. Some

raw foods need different temperatures

to kill the pathogens inside. Food should

be cooked thoroughly before eating,

especially for meat, eggs, seafood etc.

Cooked food should be heated

thoroughly when it needs to be heated

again.

Refrigerate food timely: Food should be

refrigerated in time to prevent food

going bad. Perishable foods should be

refrigerated within two hours if the

ambient temperature is below 32 ° C

or 90 ° F. If the ambient temperature is

higher, start refrigerating food just

within an hour. Refrigeration

temperature can be set to 4 ° C (40 °

F) or lower to prevent the growth of

pathogenic bacteria. In addition, even in

the refrigerator, food should not be

stored for too long and it should be

consumed as early as possible. It is

recommended to defrost frozen food in

the refrigeration chamber rather than in

room temperature environment. Please

keep in mind: always keep food out of

the danger zone from 4°C to 60°C

(40°F to 140°F). Harmful pathogens

can start to multiply within two hours

among this temperature scope.

Food safety during power outage: If

power outage occurs, you need to pay

attention to the period of power outage.

You should discard most meat, cheese,

dairy products and processed foods if

the refrigerated temperatures are above

4 ° C or 40 ° F for more than two

hours after power outage occurs. Partly

thawed frozen foods can be considered

to be refrozen. However, completely

thawed foods in refrigerated

environment above 4 ° C or 40 ° F

should be discarded. If it is uncertain

whether the stored food is safe enough

after power outage, it should be

discarded.

Food Poisoning and Food Safety

Using safe drinking water and raw

food materials

:

 Choose safe water to wash and

process materials

 Choose the fresh and nutrient

foods

 Choose safely processed food

e

.

g

.

thoroughly sterilized milk

 Don’t eat the foods exceeding the

expiry date

 Wash vegetables and fruits with

clean water, especially for those

can be eaten directly

 When dining out, choose the place

with good hygiene condition and

food safety

 Hot drink should be consumed in

time and it should not be kept in

room temperature environment

for more than

2 hours

.

The likelihood of food poisoning or

food

-borne illness is significantly

increased when food is kept at room

temperature or higher ambient

temperature environment

. It is

important to ensure the food safety

and hygiene in summer. Food

poisoning and other food

-borne

illnesses can be prevented by taking

simple and effective ways of

processing and preserving food

correctly

. These include washing your

hands frequently

; separately

processing and preserving raw and

cooked food

; ensure proper

temperature during food processing

;

refrigerate food timely

; choose safe

drinking water and raw materials

.

Common symptoms of food poisoning

are stomach upset, stomach cramps,

nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and

fever etc

. Most food poisoning cases

can get better within

a few days and

medical care is needed if the

symptoms are severe and persistent

.

Know the Radiation in our life:

General Knowledge of Radiation

My friend who is exposed to X-ray radiation

during his daily work found the abnormality of his

white blood cell through the routine checkup last

month. He suspected that his blood abnormality was

related with the nature of the work he was doing and

he consulted with me. Consideration his work

condition, engineering control, personal protection

measures, exposure measurement and his own health

situation, I generated the objective analysis and

conclusion to him. Therefore, his concerns are finally

resolved. Radiation is not so unfamiliar to everyone.

However, what are the sources of radiation we are

exposed in our life and work? What are the health

effects of radiation on human body’s health? What

radiations have the more serious health effects? How

to prevent radiation effectively? In fact, radiation is not

as terrible as we can imagine. As long as we have the

scientific understanding for radiation, we can take

effective preventions to protect ourselves and reduce

the health risks of radiation. Today, let's talk about the

radiation and its health effects.

Knowledge of Radiation

Radiation is the energy emitted as

electromagnetic waves or from moving

subatomic particles. Natural radiation

comes from soil, water, air and

naturally existing radioactive materials

in the body. Every day we inhale or

intake all kinds of radiation from the air,

food and water etc. The most common

sources of artificial radiation are from

X-ray machine and

radiopharmaceuticals used for medical

purpose. Radiation is divided into two

types according to its energy: ionizing

radiation and non-ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation is the form of energy

that works by removing electrons from

atoms and molecules of air, water and

living tissues. Ionizing radiation can

travel through these materials without

being seen. Non-ionizing radiation is

the form of radiation with lower

energy than ionizing radiation. Unlike

ionizing radiation, non-ionizing

radiation does not remove electrons

from atoms or molecules of air, water

and living tissues. The highest energy

forms of radiation include X-ray,

gamma ray, and ultraviolet. When they

interact with atoms, they can remove

electrons and cause the atoms to be

ionized.

What is radiation? Where is the radiation from in our life?

About two-thirds of the annual

radiation dose we receive from nature

comes from radon which occurs

naturally from the breakdown of

uranium. The amount of radiation for a

person to receive during one year can

vary widely. There are a variety of

factors that can affect the individual

radiation dose received during one

year. If a person lives at high altitude,

he will be exposed to a higher dose

from cosmic radiation. If you sleep on

the bed with your mate, each of you

will receive a small dose of radiation

from the naturally occurring

radioactive substance (potassium-40)

in each other's body. International

radiation dose unit is usually Sievert

(1Sv=1000mSv). Averagely the human

body receives about 3 mSv of radiation

dose from nature every year. Manmade sources of radiation like X-rays

add about another 3 mSv. A CT

(computerized tomography) scan,

which involves several X-rays taken

from different angles, delivers about

10 mSv. People working from the

nuclear industry are not allowed to

receive more than 50 mSv radiation

dose per year.

Knowledge of Radiation

What are the health effects

caused by radiation？

Like other substances that can cause

poisoning, the dose of radiation

exposure is critical to health effects. A

high dose of radiation exposure for a

person in a short period of time can

cause death. Radiation also increases

the risks of cancer. Radiation can

interact directly with human DNA and

damage cells and organs by damaging

the bond structure of DNA or the water

molecules around it and produce free

radicals which can damage cells and

organs. If it is higher than certain dose

thresholds, e.g. radiation dose

threshold of acute radiation syndrome

is about 1000 mSv, radiation can impair

tissues or organs function and may

cause acute effects such as skin

redness, hair loss, radiation burns or

acute radiation sickness. High radiation

doses also cause extensive cell death

and can lead to organ failure as well as

death. Radiation doses above 4 to 5 Sv

can be fatal. Workers diagnosed with

radiation sickness at Chernobyl nuclear

accident were exposed to radiation

doses from 700 mSv to 13 Sv.

The most common early symptoms of

acute radiation sickness include nausea,

vomiting and diarrhea. They can

emerge within just several minutes

after radiation exposure and these

symptoms can occur repeatedly.

If these symptoms occur after the

radiation accident, you should seek

medical care as soon as possible. In

addition, high doses of radiation can

cause skin damage, such as severe

sunburn, blisters and ulcers. Radiation

can also damage the digestive system,

cardiovascular system and bone

marrow. The damage of bone marrow

can lower the number of white blood

cells. Main causes of death in most

cases of radiation sickness are infection

and internal bleeding. The higher

radiation dose, the higher risk of

adverse health effects.

For the same radiation dose, exposure

over a long period of time is less

harmful than just one single exposure.

Exposure with only part of the body is

less harmful than whole body exposure.

The developing fetus is the most

vulnerable to radiation. Prenatal

exposure to ionizing radiation may

induce brain damage in fetuses

following an acute dose exceeding 100

mSv between weeks 8-15 of pregnancy

and 200 mSv between weeks 16-25 of

pregnancy. Epidemiological studies

show that the risk of cancer after

radiation exposure in fetuses is similar

with the early childhood radiation

exposure.

Knowledge of Radiation

Fetuses, infants, children, the elderly,

pregnant women and people with

compromised immune systems are

more vulnerable to radiation than

healthy adults. Youths are at higher risk

level than others because they have

more cells that are dividing rapidly and

their tissues are still growing.

Additionally, younger people will live

longer and it gives cancer more time to

develop. Epidemiological studies show

that the risk of cancer increases

significantly when the radiation dose

exceeds 100 mSv. Cancer risk may even

increase at lower radiation doses

(between 50 and 100 mSv) exposure

with medical procedure (paediatric CT)

in childhood.

What are the important

radiation protections?

The important principle of radiation

protection is to minimize exposure of

radiation. It means you should

minimize the exposure of any

unnecessary or unbeneficial radiation

as little as possible, even if the dose is

very low. We can take some important

protective measures for radiation in

our daily life and work:

• Time: People should minimize their

exposure time to stay in the

radiation area. For example,

workers who are exposed to high

radiation levels during work should

finish their work as soon as possible

and leave right away.

• Distance: People should keep the

maximum distance from the

radiation source as far as possible.

• Shielding: Using shielding devices

can protect the body from damage

of radiation. Barriers of lead,

concrete or water can be effective

in protecting against gamma rays or

X-rays. For example, some

radioactive materials are stored

underwater, in a concrete or leadlined rooms. Lead blankets are used

for patients undergoing dental X-ray

exam to protect them from

radiation. Proper shielding between

the body and the source of

radiation will greatly reduce or

eliminate the exposure of radiation

doses.

Knowledge of Radiation

• Enter the safest interior of the

building as soon as possible and

stay in the center of building or

basement;

• Keep doors and windows closed

and stay away from them;

• Drink bottle water and store

foods with well-sealed containers;

• Get the latest official news and

action advice from radio, TV,

internet and mobile devices etc.

What actions should I take

when the nuclear radiation

emergency occurs?

During the emergency of nuclear

radiation, such as nuclear power plant

accident or nuclear terrorist attack,

people can take the following

emergency protection measures:

Radiation is the energy emitted as

electromagnetic waves or moving

subatomic particles. Natural

radiation comes from soil, water, air

and many naturally occurring

radioactive substances found in the

human body. Every day people

breathe in and intake all kinds of

radiation from the air, food and

water. The most common sources of

artificial radiation are X-ray machines

and radiopharmaceuticals used for

medical purpose. Radiation is

divided into two types according to

its energy level: ionizing radiation

and non-ionizing radiation. Like

other poisons, the amount of

radiation exposure to a person is

critical to health. A high dose of

radiation can cause death. Radiation

can also lead to an increased risk of

cancer. The higher the dose, the

higher risk of adverse effects. The

risk is much lower if the radiation

dose is very low or the same dose is

exposed over a long period of time.

Fetuses are the most vulnerable to

radiation than others. Infants,

children, the elderly, pregnant

women and people with

compromised immune systems are

more susceptible than healthy adults.

The principle of radiation safety is

"minimize dose exposure" which

means to minimize the unnecessary

or unbeneficial radiation exposure,

even the dose is very small. We can

use three kinds of radiation

protection measures: time, distance

and shielding. Based on the scientific

understanding of radiation and

taking reasonable protective

measures, everyone can effectively

reduce or eliminate the adverse

health effects of radiation in life.

Protect Your

Vital Organs -

The Liver

There are many myths about the liver and health, both

ancient and modern. For example, many experts will

tell you that drinking too much alcohol is bad for you.

After hearing these warnings, when you have a glass of

wine or a beer, you may unconsciously think about

whether alcohol will affect your liver or not. Today,

let's start with these questions and discuss how to

protect your liver!

The ancient Chinese wisdom,

which also finds echoes in the field of

Western medicine, is that everything

should be done in moderation. In

general, the liver can tolerate small

amounts of alcohol. However, the

liver can only handle a certain amount

of alcohol at any given time (this

amount is different for each person).

So, if you drink too fast, more than

the liver can handle, or too much in a

short period of time, the liver cells

(hepatocytes) will have a hard time

processing the alcohol. When alcohol

reaches the liver, it produces an

enzyme called “acetaldehyde” that is

toxic to the body. Acetaldehyde can

damage liver cells and cause

permanent scarring, in addition to

damaging other organs, leading to

gastritis or peptic ulcers.

Protect Your Vital Organs - The Liver

What exactly is the

relationship between

alcohol consumption and

liver health?

If you continue drinking to an excess,

either through booze or multiple

drinks per day, the consequences will

include liver cell destruction, fatty

deposits in the liver (fatty liver), liver

inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis),

permanent scarring (cirrhosis) and

even liver cancer. On average for the

population, weekly low-risk drinking

guidelines for adults recommend a

maximum of 11 standard drinks per

week for women and 17 standard

drinks per week for men. One

standard drink being a drink

containing 0.6 ounces (18 mL) of

alcohol. Drinking no more than 6

standard drinks at a time can reduce

the risk of physical injury from alcohol

consumption. Drinking more than 6

standard glasses of alcohol (108 mL of

pure alcohol) on any occasion is

considered alcohol abuse, in other

words drinking 203 mL (4 liang in

Chinese unit of measurement) of 53

proof liquor is alcohol abuse. Please

keep in mind that it is the amount of

alcohol, not the type, that is

important.

Let's look at a very specific

example of weight in the

developed world - Ireland! Studies

show that over 70% of Irish people

over the age of 50 are either

overweight or obese. Of those who

are obese, about 30% will have a

fatty liver, which puts them at high

risk of cirrhosis, liver failure and

liver cancer. If you are flabby

around the waist, it is likely to lead

to insulin resistance, which can

cause fatty liver. Always be vigilant

about your waistline and maintain

a healthy waistline. Men should

have a waist circumference of less

than 102 cm (40 inches) and

women should have a waist

circumference of less than 88 cm

(35 inches). Exercising and eating a

diet low in fat, high in fiber, and

rich in vitamins, antioxidants and

minerals will help maintain a

healthy weight and liver.

Protect Your Vital Organs - The Liver

Perhaps you have become very

accustomed to the health advice

from Teladoc, where almost every

piece reminds you to exercise,

because doing any physical activity

is better than not doing it. If you

are not currently physically active,

then start by doing some simple

exercises and gradually increase to

the recommended amount. The

guidelines recommend 150 - 300

minutes (2.5 to 5 hours) of

moderate-intensity physical

activity or 75 - 150 minutes (1.25

to 2.5 hours) of vigorous physical

activity per week, or at the very

least, start with a brisk 30-minute

walk each day.

Weight and liver health are closely related!

Protect Your Vital Organs - The Liver

Annual checkups are also

very important for liver

health!

A liver function blood test is the

best way to keep a close eye on

your blood cholesterol and

glucose levels, all of which are

associated with a fatty liver.

Excess glucose may be a sign

that your glucose tolerance is

impaired or that you have

diabetes - in both cases, you

need to carefully control your

blood glucose and lipid levels

through diet, medication,

and/or weight loss.

Here is also a reminder that you

should not rush to diet and lose

weight as soon as you see an

abnormal medical report;

everything should be done in

moderation. Popular dieting can

put excessive stress on your

liver. Avoid unrealistic weight

loss aspirations, such as going

for products that claim to make

you lose weight quickly in a

short period of time. A truly

realistic rate of weight loss is to

aim for a healthy rate of weight

loss of 0.5 - 1 kg per week. Of

course, those so-called liver

cleansing and detoxification

diets should also be avoided.

Here I can tell you clearly that

there is no particular diet that is

liver cleansing, but a healthy

diet does improve liver health. If

you have any doubt, don’t

hesitate to book a thorough

health checkup.

Stay connected at times of uncertainty

The pandemic has in many ways

affected our lives and how we do

things, including how we

communicate and connect with

others.

As a result of the most recent

outbreak, many people are now

working from home. During these

changes and adapting into new ways

of working, the majority find it much

more challenging than going into

work. Especially when things get

tough and uncertain, it seems much

harder to stay calm and have a

healthy and positive communication

with others including clients,

colleagues, and family. You might

find yourself get emotionally

involved and unconsciously use

what is called ‘violent

communication’ to interact with

others.

Stay

connected at

times of

uncertainty

EXAMPLE

Authoritative Communication：

(e.g., to colleagues) “I’m very

experienced in this kind of project.

You wouldn’t go wrong if you just

listen to me and do what I say.”

Controlling Communication：

(e.g., to your child) “I’m not going to

like you if you don’t do your

homework. "Cold

Violent Communication:

(e.g., in relationship) when your

partner expressed their emotional

needs to you, you did not give a

response as you might have

exhausted yourself.

One of the reasons we might

unconsciously use one of the above

communication methods is that they

seem to work. When facing demand,

control and rejection, people tend to

do what they are told because they

are anxious and fearful, not because

they are willing and happy to do

so. These types of communication are

not healthy and will not last in a long

run. They will eventually take a toll on

the relationship and people become

resentful and abusive. When we have

used those default communication

methods, we might feel guilty within

ourselves and that we are not good

enough.

So, how can we end the vicious cycle

of the above communication? You

may try the following four steps:

Stay connected at times of uncertainty

Observation

Observation means that we simply

observe the other person’s

behaviours and give response

accordingly without personal

judgements or attack. This is hard

because we often mix up observation

and criticism. A typical criticism

would be “how can you forget such a

simple task?”, whereas observation

would be “The client hasn’t received

your proposal today”. When we

observe instead of criticizing, it would

less likely be hurting their self-esteem

and self-worthiness Furthermore,

when we communicate, we tend to

use ambiguous words and generalize,

for example, ‘you never keep your

word’, when in fact what happened

was ‘we agreed to start keeping a

record of our spending, but you

haven’t recorded it in the past two

weeks’. ‘Always’, ‘never’ are highly

used words that start a vicious

communication where the recipient

gets defensive and reactive, which

leads to an endless argument of what

is true and what is not. Learn to

observe and describe behaviours is

the first step of effective and positive

communication.

Stay connected at times of uncertainty

Feelings

During communication, it is easy to

mix up our own feelings and thoughts.

When we say, ‘I think…’, we are

expressing our conscious thinking

rather than feelings and

emotions. For example, ‘I feel that

you don’t care about me’ is thinking,

and ‘I felt worried when you didn’t

call me when you were on business

trips lately’. When we start using ‘I

feel (emotions)… because…’ to

communicate with others and express

our own true feelings, it helps

ourselves work out the roots of those

feelings and therefore it becomes a

positive and useful communication

where solutions reside.

Needs

When we are being controlling and

criticizing in communication, it tells

that we have unmet needs. For

example, when your child has been

on the phone for too long, you growl

at them ‘you’ve been on the phone

for too long. This is out of control. No

more cell phone from now on!’. Your

child might get defensive and talk

back as they feel your anger and

control. Yet what you really want is

the best for them and that you are

concerned for them. To clearly

express our own needs and let others

know might help reduce conflicts and

arguments. For example, “you’ve

come home late, I’m getting grumpy

because I’m worried about your

safety.”

Request

To make a request is not to give a

command.

Often in communications, we don’t

say what we want others to do,

instead we say what we don’t want

them to do, and this is rather

ambiguous and confusing. For

example, “can you not make such a

simple mistake again?”. A better way

to put it might be ‘It’s important to be

careful and get it right when sending

emails outside of our company.

Would you please double check

before you sent? If there are things

that you are not sure about, you can

always come and go over it with me.’

Tying above four steps are practical

skills to have a ‘non-violent’

communication.

GCL Customer Service Hotline：400 888 7555