WHO gives Chinese health minister award for battling smoking in country addicted to tobacco

BEIJING, China - The World Health Organization is giving China's health minister an award for battling smoking in a country whose people and government remain prodigiously addicted to tobacco.

China has stepped up efforts to curb tobacco use in recent years. The Health Ministry released the country's first official report on the harms of smoking in May, banned smoking in its office building and hospitals, and is lobbying for airports and other indoor public facilities to do the same.

WHO said Health Minister Chen Zhu will be presented a certificate of recognition at a ceremony on Wednesday attended by WHO chief Margaret Chan.

Tobacco control is a difficult task in a nation where huge revenues from the state-owned tobacco monopoly hinder anti-smoking measures. Nearly 30 per cent of adults in China smoke — about 300 million people, roughly equal to the entire U.S. population — a percentage that has not changed significantly.

The tobacco monopoly's influence is pervasive, with cigarette companies sponsoring schools, sports events and fostering close ties with the academic community.

In December, a tobacco scientist who specializes in adding traditional Chinese herbs to cigarettes in an attempt to reduce their harmful effects was appointed to the prestigious Chinese Academy of Engineering in a move that was criticized by other academics, several of whom sent letters to the academy in protest.

Despite the many challenges that remain in stamping out tobacco use, anti-smoking activists welcomed the WHO award.

"Among the government departments, the Health Ministry is the one that has made the biggest efforts in promoting tobacco control," said Xu Guihua, vice-president of the government-affiliated Chinese Association on Tobacco Control. "On many occasions, Minister Chen Zhu has told the public that tobacco is harmful and asked people to give up smoking. He also called on the government to step up tobacco control legislation."

Xu said China still needs to issue a national tobacco control plan, raise prices of cigarettes and better educate the public on the health risks of smoking.

She criticized the apparent conflict of interest in the dual role that China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration plays as both tobacco policymaker and overseer of the China National Tobacco Corp. — the world's largest cigarette maker.

Health officials have warned that smoking-related deaths could hit 3 million per year by 2030 without greater efforts.

Last year's certificate for anti-smoking efforts was awarded to Australian Attorney General Nicola Roxon, who as health minister led a campaign to make Australia the first country in the world to require cigarettes to be sold in plain packages with large, graphic warnings.

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Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report.

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Three Health Benefits of Exercising with Chinese Baoding Balls

Chinese Baoding balls have many health benefits associated with them, and have long been used to help treat a variety of medical conditions. An athlete that chooses to use Chinese Baoding balls will see a lot of positive health benefits from using the balls to exercise, especially if he or she is actively participating in sports.

Here are three of the best health benefits that an athlete can gain, if he or she uses Chinese Baoding balls regularly as a form of exercise.

Increase Circulation in the Hands

If an athlete uses Chinese Baoding balls to exercise, it can increase circulation in his or her hands. Using a Chinese Baoding ball can help stimulate meridian points within the hands, which are essential for proper blood flow, which increases circulation. The hands are a very important part of the body for an athlete, especially if he or she participates in contact sports. An athlete that has good circulation in the hands will also have better circulation within the body, which is important for proper organ function. If an athlete uses Chinese Baoding balls, he or she can expect to have better gripping ability, which is essential in sports like tennis. The Chinese Baoding balls can help an athlete maintain better hand control, due to the increase in circulation, and it can also decrease his or her sensitivity to holding onto objects.

Can Improve Concentration

There is a lot of concentration that is required to use Chinese Baoding balls properly, which can help an athlete increase his or her concentration on the field. Concentration is a huge skill that an athlete needs to have, in order to prevent injuries, and become successful during athletic competition. If an athlete exercises with Chinese Baoding balls, he or she will increase his or her concentration over time, and will learn how to control the body through the mind. Chinese Baoding balls almost act as a form of yoga, because it requires an enormous amount of mind and body control to properly exercise with them, and an athlete has to stay focused. Having good concentration is vital for an athlete, since it can help him or her improve self-control during athletic activity.

Decrease Stress

The Chinese Baoding balls can also help decrease stress levels, and this can be very beneficial for an athlete. An athlete that uses the Chinese Baoding balls to exercise will feel calmer, because of the mind and body connection, and this can decrease stress during athletic activity. The Chinese Baoding balls create a positive energy within the body, due to increasing circulation, and decreasing anxiety levels. An athlete that feels less stressed out will have a better performance on the field, and it can decrease his or her feelings of being overwhelmed during a big game. The decrease in stress can also help an athlete feel better physically, because it will allow him or her to concentrate better, and have a more positive attitude. If an athlete becomes too stressed out, it can take a toll on his or her body, which can make him or her feel sick or dizzy. When an athlete suffers high amounts of stress, it can also cause him or her to become more prone to injury, since he or she will not be able to focus, and often will miss simple safety procedures. An athlete that is not as stressed out will feel mentally capable of participating in sports, and will likely feel mentally prepared for the task at hand.

Jeanne Rose worked as a dietary clerk for three years in a hospital, went to vocational school for Allied Health, and obtained certification in nurse assisting.

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