4 major stroke risk factors that Hong Kong people should be aware of
Dietary traps: Hong Kong delicacies hide dangers

• High-sodium diet: Wonton noodles, barbecued pork rice, and milk tea in tea restaurants are high in salt and sugar, which can easily lead to high blood pressure.
• Eating out culture: Take-out and ready-to-eat foods often contain trans fats, which accelerate arteriosclerosis. Recommendation: Choose dishes with less juice and no sauce, and use steaming and boiling more often for cooking; make good use of the government’s “Restaurant Guide to Less Salt and Less Sugar”.

• Sedentary living: cramped quarters and overtime work become the norm
• The small living space per capita in Hong Kong, coupled with long hours of office work, can easily lead to obesity and poor blood circulation.
  Recommendation: Do 15 minutes of "home exercise" every day (such as squats and wall push-ups); use stairs instead of elevators.
• Air pollution and temperature difference in air-conditioned rooms
• The large temperature difference between street exhaust, air-conditioned rooms and the outdoors can easily cause vasoconstriction and increase the risk of thrombosis.
  Recommendation: Wear a mask during outdoor activities; set the air-conditioning temperature to 25-26℃ and avoid direct exposure.
• Ignoring the management of three highs

Hong Kong people generally avoid seeing doctors and many patients do not take medication or receive checkups regularly until they suffer a stroke.
Recommendation: Make good use of the government’s “Chronic Disease Co-management Program” and citizens over 40 years old can receive subsidized screening.

Hong Kong-style brain protection: 3 tips to integrate into daily life
Dietary Improvement: Traditional Wisdom + Modern Science

• For breakfast, replace egg noodles with oatmeal porridge and unsweetened soy milk; for afternoon tea, replace pineapple buns with walnut syrup.
• Refer to the Department of Health’s “Low Sodium Diet” and use the natural flavor of kelp and shiitake mushrooms instead of MSG.
• Fragmented Movement

Office workers can take the stairs in the MTR station or take a brisk 10-minute walk in a nearby park during lunch break.

Elderly people attend Tai Chi classes or chair yoga at the community centre to improve their balance.

• Stress Management: Fast City, Slow Mind

Practice 5-minute meditation using a mobile app such as Mindfulness HK.

• Take a weekend hike in a country park; studies show that being close to nature can lower blood pressure.
• Stroke warning signs: Remember the mantra of "talking and laughing"
  The rapid identification method advocated by the Hong Kong Stroke Foundation:

Talk: Slurred speech

笑: Asymmetric sagging of the face

use: Unable to lift one hand

Soldier: Dial 999 for help immediately

Special reminder: Hong Kong public hospitals have "Acute Stroke Team", Injection of hemolytic injection within 4.5 hours of onset can significantly reduce sequelae!

Community Resource Utilization Guide
Free screening: Health centers of the health departments in each district provide blood pressure and blood sugar tests.

Quit smoking program: Call the government quitline on 1833 183 for personalised support.

Elderly Medical Vouchers: can be used for Chinese medicine acupuncture to regulate qi and blood and improve vascular health.

Conclusion : Health is the biggest investment in life
In Hong Kong, the “city that never sleeps”, preventing stroke does not mean giving up the enjoyment of life, but learning to coexist with the rhythm of the city. Starting today, small changes can build a protective wall for your brain blood vessels. Forward this article to your family and protect the health of your loved ones together!

Take action now:
Download the Department of Health's "Healthy Food Pyramid" e-booklet
Make an appointment with your family doctor for a basic checkup this week
Tag a relative or friend who often stays up late to work overtime, reminding them to pay attention to the risk of stroke