health

Talk in Your Sleep? You Could Be at Risk of a Stroke

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Sleep talking, once considered harmless, is actually a strong predictor of severe health problems including strokes, researchers at China’s Fudan University have found.

Li Xin

Life on Call: Why Chinese Anesthesiologists Are Burning Out

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Chinese anesthesiologists face a triple threat of high technical demands, high risks, and high workloads while remaining undervalued in the health care system.

The Paper

China Clamps Down on Fake Prescriptions After Massive Fraud Case

China will require pharmacies to process certain drug purchases through an online system, after discovering four rogue stores had forged prescriptions worth over $10 million.

He Qitong

Mind’s Eye Blind: A Shanghai Clinic Treats a Disorder None Can See

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China’s first clinic for aphantasia and spatial disorders aims to help children with these rare conditions. However, anxious parents focused on math struggles have sparked debate over the clinic’s approach.

Jiang Xinyi

Cigarette Sales Are Rising in China, Defying Global Trend

The use of “slim cigarettes” and a slowdown in official anti-tobacco efforts is concerning experts.

Lin Liuhan

China Expands Insurance Coverage for Cochlear Implants

There are over 27 million people affected by hearing loss in China, but many can’t afford surgery.

Li Miaoran

China Adds Lung Disease to National Public Health Scheme

The move will enable the country’s more than 100 million chronic pulmonary disease patients to access free annual check-ups.

Why Are Chinese Hospitals Charging Men for Gynecological Exams?

A government investigation has uncovered thousands of examples of hospitals falsifying insurance claims.

Chinese Survey Reveals Stark Divides in Elderly Labor Force 

The findings suggest that China needs to continue addressing social inequities in addition to raising the retirement age, according to the authors.

In China, A New Alzheimer’s Drug Is Met With Cautious Optimism

Lecanemab was approved for use in the country earlier this year. But getting the most out of the drug will require broader reforms.

China’s Milk Tea Industry Gets a Health Check

A new grading system currently being tested in Shanghai aims to give consumers a clearer picture of the sugary drinks’ nutritional value — or lack thereof.

Ding Xiaoyan

Obesity Damages Brain Health, Chinese Study Finds

Researchers have found that obesity can lead to a decline in brain volume equivalent to 12 years of aging.

Fan Yiying

Chinese Parents Falling Prey to Dubious Myopia ‘Miracle Cures’

With half of Chinese children now near-sighted, vendors are flooding the market with questionable eye treatments — from “AI glasses” to “miracle drugs.”

Chinese Universities Introduce Weight Loss Classes for Unfit Students

The universities are assessing students based on how much weight they can drop in a semester. The “record holder” reportedly shed 15 kilograms.

The Disabled Student Entrepreneur Swapping Toys for Tech

A student with brittle bone disease has launched a startup in eastern China to develop a smart exoskeleton that will allow him and others to walk.

Ding Rui

In China, a ‘Good Death’ Still Means Putting the Family First

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

One professor has spent years asking Chinese people how they would like to live out their last moments, finding most emphasized the importance of their families, with little mention of personal choice and autonomy.

Tu Jiong

Is China Ready for Hospice Care?

Hospices remain rare in China. Those that do exist are often underfunded and overlooked.

The Backbend: Why a Basic Dance Move Is Paralyzing Children in China

Commonly taught in dance studios, the backbend has been linked to a surge in severe spinal injuries among young girls across the country. This alarming trend has prompted widespread calls for better regulatory frameworks and more professional training methods.

The Researcher Hunting for a Rett Syndrome Cure

Qiu Zilong spent most of the past 20 years researching Rett Syndrome, a rare, severe condition often associated with autism. Now, new gene editing technologies have him optimistic that a cure is near.

Wu Haiyun

China’s Marathon Dilemma: Millions of Runners, Not Enough Races

Marathon running has surged in popularity in China over the past few years. But the number of races hasn’t kept pace with demand.