United Family Healthcare’s Dental Clinic in Shunyi will reopen on Monday November 6, following a recent rash of business closures at Pinnacle Plaza.

Pinnacle Plaza is an important resource for the international community in Shunyi, housing popular restaurants and cafes and a supermarket as well as the dental clinic. So the action by the Fire Department which led to the closures has been a matter of concern and speculation.

We understand that the problem is related to structural issues with some of the buildings. United Family Healthcare told us that their roof had required repairs. We approached Pinnacle Plaza’s management company for comment, but they denied any businesses had closed at all, and asked us not to write about the issue.

At present most businesses are still open, including Jenny Wang’s supermarket, but we advise you to check with your destination before setting out, to avoid disappointment. We will update this story as we receive further information.

Dear BJU Pharmacist,

It’s spring in Beijing and my allergies are starting up. Every year my allergies keep me from enjoying the beautiful spring weather because I’m stuck inside with watery eyes and a runny nose. Is there anything I can do to beat allergy season this year?

Thanks!
– Sneezing in the Jing

Dear Sneezing in the Jing,

The weather is warmer and trees are in bloom.  Spring is upon us.  But for many of us, spring also means allergies: runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and more. Luckily there are steps you can take to reduce to keep your allergies from getting you down this year. After all, springtime should be about enjoying the green in Beijing, not dreading it.

1.Natural supplements

Natural supplements boost your immune system and reduce the need for common OTC allergy medications, such as anti-histamines and decongestants.

Vitamin C
The most common complaints during allergy season, such as watery eye, sniffing, itchy throat and sneezing, are caused by one bad guy-histamine. Histamine is a natural chemical produced by the body’s immune system that causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction, e.g., the red, itchy bump after a mosquito bite. Vitamin C is histamine’s natural foe because it prevents its formation. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is safe even at high doses. I recommend 2000-4000 mg per day for optimal immune support.

Probiotics
Probiotics are “good” bacteria that live in our guts. Taking a broad-spectrum probiotic supplement, which contains 10-15 billion cells per capsule, can increase your immunity and decrease the likelihood of experiencing allergy symptoms. Research as also shown that children who take probiotic supplements are less prone to developing allergies later in life. It’s best to take your probiotic supplements daily, either before bed or first thing in the morning on empty stomach.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are fats commonly found in oils from marine animals and plants, such as salmon and flaxseed. They have been shown to support good health in a variety of ways. They can also help you beat your allergy symptoms! Omega-3s reduce inflammation in your sinuses and strengthen your immune system so that your body is ready to fight off allergens more effectively. When choosing Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, I recommend the ones that come from plants or algae to avoid possible risks associated with some fish. 

Quercetin
Quercetin may sound new to you, but you consume it all the time. It is a plant pigment found in many plant-based foods such as red wine, onions, apples, berries and green tea. Quercetin has natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that help to stabilize an over-active immune system. It is effective in reducing allergy attacks, hives, and other respiratory symptoms. I recommend taking 250-500 mg two to three times daily. You may feel better after two weeks but continuing to take quercetin will help control allergy symptoms throughout the season.

2.Saline nasal spray

Saline nasal spray is a dilute solution of salt and water that is soothing and cleansing. Daily rinsing can prevent the allergens from building up in your nasal cavities and trapping bacteria, which can cause further illness. It also reduces uncomfortable nasal inflammation. I recommend starting daily saline nasal rinsing before allergy season for optimal outcome. You can also use saline spray whenever you have a dry nose or thick mucus.

3. Drink up

Believe it or not, staying hydrated can do a lot to relieve your allergy symptoms. Dehydration triggers the body to release histamine (the bad guy, remember him?). Drinking 8-10 glasses of water everyday is an easy and healthy way to feel better during allergy season. Antioxidant-rich green tea and powdered green tea are other good beverage options. Antioxidants block the chemicals that produce uncomfortable allergy symptoms. I recommend drinking 1-2 cups of green tea daily for best results.

This article was reposted with permission from BJU’s website. It originally appeared on April 1 and was written by Dr. Kelly Guo, a US-trained registered pharmacist and head of the CBD clinic pharmacy.

Photo from SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget on flickr

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Dulwich College Beijing Hosts ISCMS Festival
The International Schools Choral Music Society (ISCMS) was founded in 2008 by Shane O’Shea, then head of music at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB). The first gala concert was held at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, where students and teachers performed Faure’s Requiem.

Now, DCB is once again getting ready to host over 300 students from international schools around Asia and the Middle East. They will visit Beijing for a week of workshops and master classes with six international music practitioners.

The festival will culminate in a gala concert featuring double Grammy Award winner Christopher Tin, who will conduct his new piece, Temen Oblak, with the student choir and Beijing Youth Orchestra. The concert will take place at the Forbidden City Concert Hall on Saturday, February 22 at 7.30 pm. For previous coverage of ISCMS on beijingkids, click here, here, and here.

For more information about the festival, visit the ISCMS website. Tickets can be ordered via yoopay. For further inquiries, contact Joanne Ross at joanne.ross@dulwich-beijing.cn.

United Family Healthcare Shunyi Expansion
The United Family Shunyi Clinic has been expanding its services for years, but the latest renovation creates even more space for new facilities and services.To celebrate the expansion, the clinic is planning to hold special community events every season. Mark your calendars for:

• Free eye checkups: The United Family Shunyi Clinic will offer free eye screenings from January 20-22.To make an appointment, call 8046 1102.
• Pediatric dental talk: Pediatric Dentist Dr. Irene Lau will give a talk on Wednesday, January 22 at 10am on the factors that influence oral health and introduce simple tips for your little ones. There will be a Q&A. To RSVP, contact jenifer.sullivan@ufh.com.cn.

By the end of the month, the clinic also expects to have ENT and gynecology services. There will also eventually be a fully operational laboratory and radiology department; for now, there are limited schedules for both services. In March, the clinic will offer free hearing tests and dermatology consultations.

Mom-Approved: Dr. Christian Lemm
While we’re on the subject, I want to put in a personal recommendation for United Family Shunyi’s new family medicine doctor, Dr. Christian Lemm. Dr. Lemm is from Germany and speaks English, German and conversational Italian.

The fact that he moved to Beijing with his family in the middle of winter and worked the clinic the day after Christmas is enough to get a thumbs-up from me. But more than that, we liked his bedside manner and his very thorough approach to treating the respiratory conditions that brought us running to the clinic. Before prescribing any medication, Dr. Lemm took the time to explain the condition and how medicine would help to treat the symptoms.

He was also the first doctor I encountered who could give us a clear picture of my son’s asthma problem. He explained the effects of different medications so well that my son was able to repeat the entire explanation – complete with diagrams – at home to his father and older brother. This is a great skill.

DCB Opens Ice Rink to the Public
Also at Dulwich College Beijing, the ice rink is now open to the public at the following times:

• Monday, 3.45-6pm
• Tuesday, 5.15-7pm
• Wednesday, 5.45-7pm
• Thursday, 3.45-6.30pm
• Friday, 3.45-5.15pm
• Saturday, 10am-noon

A section will be cordoned off for public skating since part of the rink will be used for classes. The price of admission is RMB 50 and includes unlimited skating for the duration of the public skating time slot; ice skates and helmets are included. Dulwich has a limited supply of elbow and knee pads for rent, so the school encourages families to bring their own. Payment can be made at the Dulwich Sports Dome Reception. For inquiries, call 6454 9127.   

Photo by Benson Kua via Flickr

We’d like to hear from you! What are your Shunyi favorites? Any recommendations or bits of news you’d like to see here on Shunyi Happenings, please feel free to send it on to us via email to: danamercado@beijing-kids.com.

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.

June marks the end of the school year and the beginning of summer trips and activities for many families. Whether your children are heading for beaches and swimming pools or playing soccer on hot summer days, don’t forget to follow some of these tips to ensure their safety.

Protect Your Skin Against UV Exposure:

Understanding UV Light
The ultraviolet (UV) light emitted by the sun is classified by its wavelengths: UVA has a longer wavelength while the UVB wavelength is shorter. UVB exposure is thought to cause most sunburns and skin damage, while UVA may be more involved in skin aging as well as certain skin cancers. Perhaps a good mnemonic is to remember: UVB-for burning and UVA-for aging. UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes.

Shade Your Skin
You can protect your skin by using sunscreen or wearing protective clothing when you’re outside. Wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. Your eyes also need UV protection to prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal damage. Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection for your eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts.

Sunscreen
When sunscreen is applied to the skin, the chemical molecules form an invisible, protective layer that prevents UV rays from penetration. For maximum effect, allow at least 30 minutes for your sunscreen to be absorbed before you head into the sun.

Most sunscreens block UVB quite effectively, but only “Broad-Spectrum” sunscreens have the active ingredients that block UVA. If you have the option, try to buy a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen.

Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. A sunscreen with SPF 15 protects against 92 percent of UV rays. SPF 30 protects against 97 percent and SPF 40 protects 97.5 percent of UV rays.

Note: Sunscreen wears off. Reapply if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours. Also remember to reapply sunscreen after you swim or work up a sweat.

Words of Wisdom for Playing near Water:

Pools, lakes, ponds, and beaches bring cool relief from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don’t take the proper precautions. Nearly 1,000 kids die each year through drowning. In a lot of these cases, the accident happened even though the child knew how to swim. Here are some basic safety rules for water activities.

Supervise Your Children at All Times

• All kids need to be supervised in the water, no matter how good their swimming skills are.
• Infants, toddlers should have an adult swimmer within arm’s reach.
• Make sure that there is always a life-saving floatation device handy, and learn to perform CPR in case it’s needed.

Teach Kids to Be Water-Wise near Pools

• Ask your kids to swim with a buddy so that they can look out for each other.
• Kids shouldn’t run or push around the pool and should never dive in areas that are not marked for diving.
• Teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather and seek shelter indoors, especially if there is lightning.
• Teach kids to contact the lifeguard or an adult if there is an emergency.

 Safety around Lakes or Ponds        

• Don’t let kids swim without adult supervision — lakes and ponds are shallow near the bank but sharply increase in depth farther from the shore.
• Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or trash. Make sure kids wear aqua shoes when swimming.
• Watch out for weeds and grass that could entangle a leg or arm.

Safety at the Beach

• Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty.
• Do not swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause swimmers to collide with them.
• Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers, such as currents and tides. Teach kids that if they’re caught in a rip current or undertow, they should swim parallel to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard’s help.
• Jellyfish stings can be painful. Tell kids to avoid jellyfish in the water and to tell an adult right away if they’re stung.

Avoiding Insect Bites:

Mosquitoes can cause a range of health problems, from itchiness and irritation, to potentially serious diseases. Mosquitoes can bite at any time during the day but are more active at dawn and dusk. Your best protection from illness is to take preventive measures.

Insect repellents can be an effective aid in preventing mosquito bites. Most repellents contain some amount of DEET (N, N-diethyl metatuluoamide). DEET doesn’t kill bugs, but its vapors discourage them from landing on you. It’s generally considered the most effective insect repellent.

Use DEET Repellents in an Age-Appropriate Manner

• Adults and children over 12 years old can use products that contain up to 30% DEET. One application of 30% DEET should be effective for six hours against mosquitoes.
• Children age 2 to 12 should use products containing 10% DEET or less, applied up to three times daily. One application of 10% DEET should be effective for three hours against mosquitoes.
• Prolonged use should be avoided in children younger than 12.
• Do not use DEET products on children younger than 2. Use a mosquito net or protective clothing instead.

Using Insect Repellents Safely

• Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label.
• Do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child. Do not apply to hands or near eyes and mouth of young children.
• Wash hands after application.
• Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use near food.
• Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing and do not use under clothing.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water. Wash treated clothing before wearing it again.

Non-DEET Insect Repellents
Some non-DEET repellents that are intended to be applied directly to skin also provide some protection from mosquito bites. However, studies have suggested that other products do not offer the same level of protection, or that protection does not last as long as products containing DEET. Soybean oil 2% blocker repellent is an insect repellent that provides protection for 3.5 hours against mosquitoes. There are no age restrictions or limitations on frequency of use with non-DEET products.

Minimizing Your Risk of Getting Bitten by Insects
Besides using an insect repellent, you can reduce your risk by wearing long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, and close-toed shoes when you are outdoors. Also recognize that dusk and dawn are times when mosquitoes are most active. Take the appropriate precautionary measures.

Avoid Dehydration or Overheating by Drinking Plenty of Fluids:

During a hot summer day, increased sweating may lead to dehydration. Prolonged exposure to heat coupled with dehydration can increase the risk of heatstroke. Ensure that your children stay well hydrated by asking them to drink plenty of fluids when going outdoors, especially fluids that contain electrolytes, such as Gatorade.

Keep Your Children’s Vaccinations Updated:

The vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis is on children’s vaccination schedules in China and is highly recommended for adults. If you plan to travel to tropical areas that see a high prevalence of serious mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, see your doctor or visit a travel clinic several weeks before you go. You can get Hepatitis A from contaminated food. I strongly recommend getting vaccinated against the disease.

In conclusion, stay protected from UV rays and bugs. And have a safe and fun summer vacation!

This article was reposted with permission from Beijing United Hospital. It was written by Dr. Wendy Hua, a Chinese-born, US-trained pediatrician who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She speaks English and Mandarin.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons and Sui

Last week, United Family Health Care launched United Family Home Health (UFHH) for elderly patients, new mothers and newborns, and patients with chronic illnesses who are confined to the home.

Currently, UFH provides three types of service:

• Continuing Care: For the elderly, chronically ill, post-stroke patients, homebound patients (e.g. Blood pressure tests, chest exams, diabetes management, dressing change, etc.)
• Post-Partum Services: For newborns and post-partum mothers (e.g. Newborn health screening, breastfeeding and emotional support, blood tests according to need, etc.)
• Concierge Services: For patients who want privacy and convenience, such as hotel guests, tourists, and busy professionals (services tailored to individual needs)

To access UFHH, patients must first sign up for the service by calling 5927 7333 or emailing homehealth@ufh.com.cn. They must then go to a UFH hospital for an initial evaluation, after which UFH nurses will visit their home to provide care.

To find out more, consult UFHH’s website.

Photo by Matthew J. via Flickr

As Christmas comes around, many expats will be once again focus on Beijing’s less fortunate via charity bazaars, donation drives, social events, and volunteer work. Last December, we wrote about a non-profit called Little Flower Projects, which provides critical and long-term care babies and children in China. Recently, China Daily did a profile of United Family Healthcare vice-president Brent Johnson – who also happens to be the co-founder of Little Flower.

In the article, China Daily reporter Tom McGregor interviews Lu Jiling (Lily), the director of the group home that Little Flower set up to care for its charges:

“Many babies first arrived on the verge of death, coming either as premature infants or diagnosed with fatally-ill medical conditions,” said Lily. “Yet somehow, many miraculously survive and go on to lead more healthy and productive lives.”

How can you help? Volunteeringis a possibility, but the charity requires serious volunteers who can make a serious time commitment. The charity encourages potential volunteers to visit their project sites and see how they can help.

Donations (financial or otherwise) are always appreciated, but consider becoming a “fundraising machine” by hosting fundraising events and spreading the word about their projects. That being said, the non-profit’s most pressing need is money, which is used to cover basic running costs, salaries, medical expenses, utilities, rent, and more.

Want to learn more about Little Flower Projects, or looking for other ways to help? Check out our December 2011 feature on children-focused charities and non-profit organizations in Beijing.

Photo by Judy Zhou