https://www.scmp.com/rss/24/feed All the latest fashion and beauty news, style advice and tried-and-tested products en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur A diagnosis of “end-stage” osteoarthritis usually signals the termination of an active life: the end of mobility, the inevitability of surgery and the narrowing of life’s possibilities. But Reynaldo Espineli was not going to let it slow him down. The 68-year-old Hong Kong finance professional has spent the last two years proving that severe bone-on-bone joint degeneration does not have to spell physical decline. In his coming book, The Fifth Stage: Living Beyond Stage Four Osteoarthritis,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355815/how-iyengar-yoga-helped-68-year-old-hong-kong-man-overcome-end-stage-knee-arthritis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355815/how-iyengar-yoga-helped-68-year-old-hong-kong-man-overcome-end-stage-knee-arthritis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:15:06 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How Sharla Cheung excelled next to Stephen Chow in 1990s Hong Kong cinema Sharla Cheung Man was one of Hong Kong cinema’s most popular actresses in the early 1990s. A Shanghainese beauty with classic film-star looks, she focused on commercial dramas rather than art films and awards, leaving behind solid, unpretentious... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3355899/sharla-cheungs-film-career-rise-and-fall-hong-kong-comics-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3355899/sharla-cheungs-film-career-rise-and-fall-hong-kong-comics-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:30:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung If all the world’s a stage, then Hong Kong must be a one-man show. Shakespeare takes centre stage this weekend at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) with Tibetan Hamlets and Ming-dynasty Othellos, while a North Point cafe transforms into an after-hours parlour for natural wines and flash tattoos. For those craving a slower scene, a wellness retreat will be hosted at a five-star hotel, and a pet playground has just opened inside the island’s largest lifestyle mall. Take a seat and enjoy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3355842/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-june-5-7?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3355842/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-june-5-7?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:45:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu If you are a seasoned marathon runner, you may have experienced that brief, bewildering moment mid-race when you realise the competitor cruising past you is missing seemingly crucial gear: shoes. The barefoot running movement is stepping out of the fringe and onto running courses and hiking trails. In Hong Kong, a small but passionate community is ditching hi-tech running shoes to tackle everything from roads to the unforgiving stairs of the MacLehose Trail completely unshod. Leo Chan is one of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355686/benefits-running-barefoot-and-hongkongers-making-shoeless-strides?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355686/benefits-running-barefoot-and-hongkongers-making-shoeless-strides?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang To head off a public health crisis, China is stepping up efforts to find new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. As its population ages, the country already has more cases of these neurodegenerative diseases than anywhere else in the world and their prevalence is rising faster than the global average. Cases of Parkinson’s disease in China are forecast to rise from 3.6 million in 2024 to 10.5 million in 2050, while the number of people in China with dementia is projected... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:37:04 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 90th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope Not long ago, Dr Kevin Tran, founder of The Phoenix Community for carriers of the APOE4 gene – the “Alzheimer’s gene” – like himself, noted that we need to look after our brain as if it were the only car we would ever own. We must tend to its bodywork, provide regular maintenance and keep up with services so that it runs for as long as we need it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355311/car-your-brains-mileage-matters-unlike-car-you-can-wind-it-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355311/car-your-brains-mileage-matters-unlike-car-you-can-wind-it-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Between paid influencers and marketing buzzwords, navigating the pseudoscience in the skincare industry – with claims such as “dermatologist-approved” and “medical-grade” – can be confusing and expensive. Reading the ingredient list is not enough. Often, a good ingredient appears on a bottle but is only present in minuscule quantities. Alec Batis, a 57-year-old Japanese-Puerto Rican cosmetic chemist, has spent more than three decades working for and with beauty giants such as Nars, L’Oreal,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355174/want-glowing-skin-budget-experts-share-their-top-products-and-routines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355174/want-glowing-skin-budget-experts-share-their-top-products-and-routines?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung There is no convincing a smoker to quit. So what was the secret for Betania Victor, who used to burn through a pack a day just six years ago? “Find something that makes quitting feel like a fair trade.” Born in Brazil and now living in Canada, Victor, 44, is an engineer by training who today works in the maritime industry. For much of her adult life, she had been sedentary and exhausted, and she had been hooked on smoking since the age of 14. “As a smoker, we like to smoke,” Victor says. “People... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355119/how-ex-smoker-finally-quit-and-ran-ultra-marathon-6-months-after-kicking-habit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3355119/how-ex-smoker-finally-quit-and-ran-ultra-marathon-6-months-after-kicking-habit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Cathy Hilborn Feng Cathy Hilborn Feng Antoine d’Haussy’s wife Charissa Chau, the love of his life and mother to their three-year-old son Aymeric, died in January 2026 at just 40 years old, leaving him in a world of pain. He turned his grief into a meaningful way to celebrate her life, and hopes others will find solace in turning to his solution. For 18 months, Chau had tangled with glioblastoma, a rare, highly aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer that few survive. Within 30 days of her death, d’Haussy hit on a purposeful... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354963/how-young-widower-turned-pain-purpose-fight-against-brain-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354963/how-young-widower-turned-pain-purpose-fight-against-brain-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 09:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The final weekend of May features many exciting events to keep Hongkongers entertained before summer truly begins. Whether you are queuing for a glimpse of Mads Mikkelsen, catching the Hong Kong debut of Broadway royalty, relaxing with a gong bath or watching the latest zombie movie, this weekend has something in store for you. Read on to find out more. 1. Hong Kong Comic Con 2026 Pop culture will take centre stage at Comic Con Hong Kong 2026, which runs from May 29 to 31 at the Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355110/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-may-29-31?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3355110/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-may-29-31?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 03:40:31 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan More Hongkongers are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, recent studies suggest. Up to one-third have moderate to severe symptoms, according to a recent joint study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. This is driving demand for support through local counselling services. For the professionals taking care of others, the pressure intensifies. We asked three Hong Kong therapists about their demanding careers and how they protect their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354902/how-do-therapists-protect-their-own-mental-health-3-hong-kong-experts-share-tips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354902/how-do-therapists-protect-their-own-mental-health-3-hong-kong-experts-share-tips?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson When Hong Kong artist Erin Hung bought her “dream home” five years ago – a walk-up with a rooftop surrounded by trees and mountains in the city’s Pok Fu Lam neighbourhood – she did not expect it would affect her health. “In the first year, the mould started kicking in across the whole house,” she recalls. “Sometimes the walls would drip with moisture.” In subtropical Hong Kong, black mould is a chronic health hazard. In the relentless humidity, it takes root on damp plasterboard and concrete,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354459/are-mould-and-toxins-your-home-making-you-ill-expert-tips-reduce-health-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354459/are-mould-and-toxins-your-home-making-you-ill-expert-tips-reduce-health-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 03:15:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Not long ago, nobody was talking about GLP-1 receptor agonists. Most of us did not even know what they were – natural hormones that regulate appetite, helping to reduce hunger and calorie intake. Today, GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescribed in their thousands and have altered global health. This pharmaceutical success has sparked an intense obsession, triggering aggressive online marketing for “skinny pens” – self-injectable pens containing the medication. Since April,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354456/how-glp-1s-are-more-just-weight-loss-wonders-not-without-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354456/how-glp-1s-are-more-just-weight-loss-wonders-not-without-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on May 23, 1976. Australia’s long distance swimming heroine, Linda McGill, staggered ashore at crowded Repulse Bay beach yesterday afternoon (May 22, 1976) after completing her round Hong Kong Island swim and said: “I’d do it again – for A$20,000 (HK$883,817 in 2026).” Linda, looking exhausted and close to collapse after just over 17 hours in the water, fell into the arms of her fiance, Dr Bruce Logan, and hundreds of spectators clapped and cheered. With cameras... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354073/australias-linda-mcgill-makes-first-swim-around-hong-kong-island-1976-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354073/australias-linda-mcgill-makes-first-swim-around-hong-kong-island-1976-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 05:30:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Amid spring cleaning season, it can be tempting to dismiss housework as drudgery, so dreaded or anxiety-inducing that it is best delegated to others if at all possible. But experts from Zen monks to psychologists say there are mental health benefits to be found in such manual chores as sweeping, mopping and clearing away clutter. These tasks can encourage mindfulness or permit the mind to wander, all while producing a sense of achievement in accomplishing the basic tasks of daily life. As one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354230/how-doing-housework-can-declutter-both-your-home-and-your-mind-what-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354230/how-doing-housework-can-declutter-both-your-home-and-your-mind-what-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur It is often around 1am when Petronella Harlin closes the doors of Embla, the Nordic fine dining restaurant in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan neighbourhood that she runs with her husband, chef Jim Löfdahl. Hours later, while her family and most of Hong Kong are still asleep, she laces up her shoes and disappears onto the trails near her home on Lantau Island. As she approaches her 40th birthday this September, the Swede describes herself as a woman in the midst of a “midlife awakening”, balancing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354052/how-mother-3-who-runs-restaurant-also-wins-gruelling-trail-races?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3354052/how-mother-3-who-runs-restaurant-also-wins-gruelling-trail-races?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Deciding when to get routine mammograms is confusing. Some health groups recommend women begin at age 40 or 45, while another recently opted for age 50. They also differ on whether yearly or every other year is best. The conflict is partly because guidelines for breast cancer screening are designed for women at average risk and with no possible cancer symptoms. But breast cancer is so common that it is hard to know who is really “average”, or how to balance the pros and cons of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353970/who-should-get-mammogram-and-how-often-4-things-know-about-breast-cancer-screening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353970/who-should-get-mammogram-and-how-often-4-things-know-about-breast-cancer-screening?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 03:15:42 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 89th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope A recent study published by researchers at Harvard University found that people with higher optimism scores were less likely to develop dementia. The cheerfully named study – “The Bright Side of Life: Optimism and Risk of Dementia” – followed 9,000 older adults over 14 years from 2006 to 2020, conducting assessments every four years. Researchers found... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353652/being-optimistic-can-lower-dementia-risk-15-harvard-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353652/being-optimistic-can-lower-dementia-risk-15-harvard-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Can the modern technology of AI benefit the ancient practice of yoga? Yogananth Andiappan, a second-generation yoga master and fixture of Hong Kong’s wellness scene, says yes. The 44-year-old, who opened the Anahata Yoga Studio in 2007 and the non-profit centre Andiappan Yoga Community in 2010, both in Central, is expanding his online yoga platform by integrating AI into its functionality to help provide more personalised feedback than other similar apps. Andiappan has used AI to analyse over... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353632/hong-kong-yoga-masters-new-app-uses-ai-provide-personal-insight-and-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353632/hong-kong-yoga-masters-new-app-uses-ai-provide-personal-insight-and-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 04:15:04 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Stress is almost always cast in a negative light. But in the world of psychology, stress can also be positive. That “good” type is eustress, the productive spark that sharpens our focus. The “bad” type is distress, the stress that leaves us drained. While they feel worlds apart, they have the same immediate impact on our biology. “From an autonomic nervous system perspective, the initial physiological response is similar,” Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist Dr Julia Andre says. Whether you... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353627/difference-between-good-and-bad-stress-and-how-beat-harmful-kind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353627/difference-between-good-and-bad-stress-and-how-beat-harmful-kind?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The May showers have arrived, and with them the full seasonal package: thunder, grey skies and humidity that seems to cling to everything. But before you decide to hide from the rain at home, here is a list of indoor activities around Hong Kong to try for some good, dry fun, including one of the most anticipated annual art fairs, a whisky festival and a pickleball and Pilates session to a soundtrack of Justin Bieber’s greatest hits. 1. Affordable Art Fair The Affordable Art Fair returns to the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3353420/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-rainy-weekend-may-15-17?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3353420/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-rainy-weekend-may-15-17?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Ash Ayonote left office life behind after spending years behind a desk in Hong Kong. Now, as a fitness coach, he is showing that the city’s parks make great gyms by leading outdoor training sessions that prioritise community as much as cardio. His approach has universal appeal. He recently trained three generations of men from the same family in a public park in Sai Kung. Simon Kavanagh, 53, was the first in the family to turn to Ayonote in October 2023. “I was approaching 50, feeling unfit and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353106/hong-kong-parks-are-fitness-coachs-gym-choice-no-expensive-memberships-required?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353106/hong-kong-parks-are-fitness-coachs-gym-choice-no-expensive-memberships-required?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick When I began exploring wellness strategies nine years ago, I looked for a remedy that gyms could not provide. As a lifelong Hongkonger, I had envied the serenity of the elders moving through graceful qigong and tai chi sequences in parks at dawn. I wanted what they had; instead, I found frustration. While English-language yoga studios thrived on every corner, finding the Chinese “internal” arts in English was nearly impossible. I eventually discovered a teacher in a faded Sai Ying Pun walk-up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352706/why-tai-chi-and-qigong-are-great-health-and-where-learn-english-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352706/why-tai-chi-and-qigong-are-great-health-and-where-learn-english-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani The first time Ray Kayan stepped up to a fitness pole, he thought he had it covered. He was a regular at the gym, had taken part in bodybuilding competitions and had even played hockey. He assumed adding pole for fitness would be straightforward. “I can do this easily,” he remembers thinking. He discovered a much more challenging reality. “Gym strength does not translate into pole strength,” the 58-year-old says. “Not at all. You’re bruised all over your legs, your body aches and you can’t even... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352754/how-pole-keeps-58-year-old-former-bodybuilder-top-shape-mentally-and-physically?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352754/how-pole-keeps-58-year-old-former-bodybuilder-top-shape-mentally-and-physically?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. What the rise of ‘Wasians’ like Alysa Liu and Hudson Williams means for part-Asian identity While part-white, part-Asian identity is being celebrated online, some argue these spaces in fact stereotype the communities they represent. 2. From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport Now... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352710/exhibition-gardens-china-europe-art-directors-top-spots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352710/exhibition-gardens-china-europe-art-directors-top-spots-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Hyrox’s popularity in Hong Kong has exploded. The first Hong Kong edition of the race – which involves eight sets of 1km (0.6-mile) runs interspersed with eight punishing fitness challenges – was held in November 2022 during the pandemic and drew fewer than 1,000 participants. This year, 20,000 people have signed up for the hybrid sport’s return to AsiaWorld-Expo from May 8-10. The same explosion has happened across the world ever since the first Hyrox event, in Germany in 2017, which attracted... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352485/how-train-and-prepare-hyrox-gym-sessions-running-practice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352485/how-train-and-prepare-hyrox-gym-sessions-running-practice?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Claire Nesbitt spent years training her palate to spot balance, structure and subtlety in a glass of wine. Now, she uses the same precision to build speed, strength and endurance in herself and her clients. From being a wine critic tasting 40 wines in a day, she has transformed into one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes and a full-time coach. Hyrox, a fast-growing sport that combines running with fitness feats, became her focus after she entered the first women’s open event in Hong Kong, in 2022,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352463/how-hong-kong-hyrox-champion-went-skinny-runner-top-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352463/how-hong-kong-hyrox-champion-went-skinny-runner-top-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 03:00:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 88th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I have lost count of the number of times somebody has said to me, during a conversation on dementia, “Oh, it runs in my family.” Like red hair. Or long fingers. The only type of Alzheimer’s disease that really does is familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). It is caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Only a decade ago, sleep was a relatively overlooked pillar of health. Most of us treated it as simple downtime – a period of inactivity in which we “recharged our batteries”. Medical advice at the time was quite basic: get eight hours or so a night and you would be fine. That mindset shifted dramatically in 2017 when British neuroscientist Matthew Walker published the bestseller, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It was a wake-up call that brought the science of slumber to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352143/how-sleep-better-bedtimes-regularity-what-research-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352143/how-sleep-better-bedtimes-regularity-what-research-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) after an overnight sleep test at a hospital. I had long known I was a loud snorer, but what finally drove me to seek medical help was persistent daytime exhaustion despite clocking a full eight hours of sleep each night. The results were alarming. A normal person has five or fewer “events” – when the airway is partially or fully blocked during sleep – an hour. I recorded 63. At one point, I stopped breathing for 77 seconds. I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351990/ancient-chinese-sleep-advice-bedtimes-and-body-positions-state-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351990/ancient-chinese-sleep-advice-bedtimes-and-body-positions-state-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Jennifer Lynn knows she is a “guinea pig”. The 43-year-old former ice hockey player turned athletic coach, who is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been “stacking” synthetic peptides for the last year. It is a trend that some see as the future of medicine, but others view as a reckless gamble. “I know a lot of people who are sceptical and who are not willing to be guinea pigs,” she says. “While I never push peptides on my clients, I will tell people about my experiences if they ask. Personally, I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351943/what-peptide-stacking-biohackers-jump-risky-trend-cheaper-stem-cell-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351943/what-peptide-stacking-biohackers-jump-risky-trend-cheaper-stem-cell-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa This pain cannot simply be a bout of side stitches. And what does the strange tingling in your fingers mean? Just a few clicks away on the internet await possible explanations for your symptoms, some of which can be very alarming. So now you are really worried. This is a case of what has become known as cyberchondria. It is not a formal diagnosis, but an unfounded fear of, or heightened attention to, serious physical illnesses based on perusal of internet content, explains Dr Heiko Graf,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This Labour Day long weekend may seem like the perfect time to catch up on some sleep, but you know what they say about Hong Kong, right? Whether you are in the mood for eating your way through a French alpine market, shaking off pre-race nerves with a Pilates-and-ice-bath combo, hunting down a rare Pokemon in Lai Chi Kok, or browsing ancient jade between glasses of wine in Wan Chai, this weekend has got you covered. Here is what is worth getting off the sofa for. 1. French GourMay As a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351960/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-labour-day-weekend-may-1-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351960/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-labour-day-weekend-may-1-3?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 02:45:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Are you ageing well? 5 simple tests to get a picture of your biological age We can do simple tests like these at home to assess how well we are ageing, allowing us to compare our chronological age (the number of years we have lived) with our biological age (how well our cells and systems are ageing). 2. Inside the 14k,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351954/60-year-old-singaporean-pole-dancer-guizhous-spicy-food-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351954/60-year-old-singaporean-pole-dancer-guizhous-spicy-food-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung When Taiwanese-American journalist and cookbook author Clarissa Wei gave birth to her first child three years ago, she did everything “right” – at least by Taiwanese post-partum care standards. She checked into a dedicated confinement centre, expecting a month of nourishing herbal soups, expert recovery advice and the kind of rest that Chinese tradition has prescribed new mothers for centuries. Instead, she felt lost. “To be honest, the food wasn’t great,” Wei says. “I developed post-partum... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351808/asian-american-mother-challenges-tough-chinese-traditions-new-mums-modern-recipes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351808/asian-american-mother-challenges-tough-chinese-traditions-new-mums-modern-recipes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales At 60, Vicsland Poh is not just ageing – she is polishing a second act that challenges every cliché of the silver years. Known to her TikTok followers as the “Corridor Runway Aunty”, Poh has transformed the communal space outside her Singapore flat into a high-fashion stage. The depth of her story, however, lies beyond the camera lens. By taking up diverse physical challenges and pursuing new knowledge, she proves that a person’s seventh decade can be one of expansion. The posts on her Instagram... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351655/60-pole-dancing-singaporean-influencer-showing-how-age-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351655/60-pole-dancing-singaporean-influencer-showing-how-age-well?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press This is how much of Japan wakes up. It is called Radio Taiso – Exercise Radio in English – a simple yet dynamic way to start the day. Every morning at 6.30am, Japanese radio plays music accompanied by basic callisthenics instructions. Millions perform the movements in parks, workplaces, schools – and at home. Radio Taiso has an almost 100-year history. It was formally introduced in 1928, coinciding with the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito. The tradition endures because the exercises are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Forget complicated wellness routines and expensive supplements: the latest health trend taking over social media looks a lot like an Italian grandmother’s daily life – and experts say it might actually work. “Nonnamaxxing”, a viral movement circulating widely on TikTok, encourages people to adopt the simple, intentional habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”. The concept has captured Gen Z’s attention, but its appeal stretches across generations. At its core, the trend champions the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan If you had been a fly on my study wall this morning, you might have been startled to see me rise from a seated position on the floor several times, and then time myself as I stood on one leg, first with my eyes open and then with them closed. We can do simple tests like these at home to assess how well we are ageing, allowing us to compare our chronological age (the number of years we have lived) with our biological age (how well our cells and systems are ageing). Here are five to try. 1.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351122/are-you-ageing-well-5-simple-tests-get-picture-your-biological-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351122/are-you-ageing-well-5-simple-tests-get-picture-your-biological-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Scroll through Instagram and you might think ice baths are the ultimate biohacking ritual. From actor Chris Hemsworth to podcaster Joe Rogan, the message is unanimous: a few minutes in freezing water can supposedly help suppress inflammation, fortify immunity and provide a dopamine-driven mental clarity. The hype has spawned a global industry of cold-plunge tubs, recovery clubs and social media challenges. According to Danish scientist Susanna Soberg, a leading researcher on cold-water... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351096/are-ice-baths-good-you-what-you-need-know-taking-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351096/are-ice-baths-good-you-what-you-need-know-taking-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Christel Krueger stared in awe at a mother hippopotamus and its offspring sleeping on a sandbar through the thick glass and murky water of their enclosure at the Berlin Zoo. Krueger, 86, and her daughter were on a specialised zoo tour in March for people with dementia that was organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta. On the tour with Krueger, Ingrid Barkow watched from her wheelchair as the elephants roamed their habitat,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Got knee pain? How exercise can help you avoid surgery, as a rugby player found Exercise and other therapies are often preferred treatment alternatives to knee replacement surgery. Former Hong Kong rugby team player Rob Naylor experienced this first-hand. 2. Is the Year of the Horse’s third month lucky for you?... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351118/alternative-treatments-knee-pain-monthly-zodiac-forecast-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351118/alternative-treatments-knee-pain-monthly-zodiac-forecast-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Michaeleen Doucleff set out to examine her and her family’s relationship to – reliance on, really – screens and junk food. Why was she checking texts at every stop sign when biking with her daughter, Rosy? Why was she mindlessly devouring Pringles crisps? Why did Rosy impatiently count the minutes to nightly cartoons from the moment she got home? When was the last time they ate a whole food? At the beginning of her reckoning, Doucleff prepared herself for a lesson in willpower. If she was going... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Last month, Shashank Gangil walked through a Hong Kong hospital corridor proudly carrying a newborn in each arm. The 39-year-old real estate professional had just become a father of twins, an event that would have seemed unlikely just 18 months earlier. In late 2024, Gangil weighed 94kg (207 pounds) and faced a worrying list of health issues: high cholesterol, signs of fatty liver disease, nagging plantar fasciitis and poor sleep. For years, he had told himself that “this is genetics”, but that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350812/94kg-he-wanted-start-family-how-he-lost-20kg-become-fit-dad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350812/94kg-he-wanted-start-family-how-he-lost-20kg-become-fit-dad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When a major stroke paralysed South Korean pianist Lee Hun’s right side in 2012, he first worried about whether he would ever walk again. Playing the piano was not even a consideration. He returned to the piano only after a mentor told him about a large number of piano pieces for the left hand alone. After exhaustive practice he made a comeback, playing recitals as South Korea’s only known professional left-hand-only pianist. He is now preparing for a new challenge: his first joint performance... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3350709/south-korean-pianist-whose-right-hand-was-paralysed-now-wows-crowds-just-his-left?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3350709/south-korean-pianist-whose-right-hand-was-paralysed-now-wows-crowds-just-his-left?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Bryan Vander Dussen spent years as a dairy farmer before shifting to selling farm-raised beef. In the past year, he and his wife have been making another transition: cooking up recipes in their kitchen that turn organ fat from his animals into tallow balm that buyers are eager to slather on their skin. One of the tricky parts is coming up with formulas that don’t smell like pot roast. “You see it everywhere, so we were like, ‘Why don’t we do this?’” he says. “Some of the feedback is, ‘We don’t... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3350719/beef-tallow-salmon-sperm-natural-skincare-products-are-rise-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3350719/beef-tallow-salmon-sperm-natural-skincare-products-are-rise-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:15:29 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 87th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. One morning, in the last year of her life, my mother – in the later stages of dementia – offered to make me a cup of tea. She turned the kettle on and then described what she was doing. “There are four stages to making a mug of tea,” she told me. “I talk myself through them so that I remember: tea bag in cup, hot water, milk, then sugar.” Her delight... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:14:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It is said that a bowl of soup made of cow bellies and legs can cure ulcers, hangovers and an assortment of other ailments – if you are courageous enough to try it. And Dimitris Tsarouhas, the owner of a restaurant in the Greek city of Thessaloniki that specialises in patsa, is striving to register the soup with Unesco as a unique and traditional dish of Greece that harks back to the time of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. That has conjured up a new dispute with age-old rival Turkey, which also... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Women suffering through the hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause – all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of ageing – are being bombarded with products. More open conversations about menopause and the time leading up to it – called perimenopause – are happening just as social media has supercharged marketing. Women are being confronted by lotions, serums and light masks that promise to rejuvenate their faces and necks, dietary... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350398/what-menopause-products-actually-work-doctors-share-how-buy-wisely-and-stay-safe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350398/what-menopause-products-actually-work-doctors-share-how-buy-wisely-and-stay-safe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani When Marie Diamond was 15, she was run over by a truck near her home in Bruges, Belgium. “They had already covered me with a sheet,” she says. “My father thought I was gone. I was hovering outside my body, watching everything – the ambulance, my mother arriving. Then I moved through what felt like different dimensions into a space of light.” There, she says, she encountered “nine beings – like angels”, who told her: “You have to go back. You’re here to reach 500 million people.” She woke from a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/3350312/feng-shui-tips-success-guru-whos-helped-rolling-stones-steven-spielberg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/3350312/feng-shui-tips-success-guru-whos-helped-rolling-stones-steven-spielberg?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000