On a hot summer night, gathering a few friends for a taste of the spicy and savory street food stalls, accompanied by a bottle of ice-cold beer, is one of Chongqing's signature ways to beat the heat. While business at these night beer stalls is always bustling on muggy summer nights, the enjoyment of this delicious food comes with hidden health risks to the spleen and stomach.
Eating skewers after overtime leads to acute pancreatitis
"Recently, we've seen quite a few patients who developed health issues from eating night beer," said Dr. Feng Xiaoxia, a gastroenterology doctor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. A few days ago, she treated a 26-year-old patient in the emergency department. "After finishing her overtime, this young woman went to eat skewers. By 10 PM, when she arrived at the hospital, she was experiencing abdominal pain and vomiting that was not relieved." After an examination, Dr. Feng diagnosed her with acute pancreatitis.
According to Dr. Feng, severe pancreatitis can be life-threatening. "It's best for patients to seek medical attention within 24 hours of feeling unwell. If it's delayed beyond 48 hours, it might be irreversible."
"There was also a middle-aged man who stayed up late to watch the World Cup, drinking iced beer while eating braised dishes, and as a result, he developed a stomach ulcer," said Dr. Feng. Such situations are common among young people. "Young people today face high work stress, often staying up late for overtime or due to irregular lifestyles, which can easily lead to gastrointestinal diseases. On top of that, their love for heavy-flavored foods like street food and barbecue加重 the burden on the digestive tract."
"Especially for people with a history of these conditions, recurrences are more likely. If you feel unwell and notice black, tarry stools (stools with blood), you should go to the hospital for a check-up promptly," Dr. Feng explained.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a saying that "the spleen governs the long summer." Because the body's metabolism is faster in summer and requires more nutrients, and the spleen is responsible for digesting food and providing nutrition to the five zang-organs, summer is the best time to nourish the spleen.
So, how can we protect our spleen during the hot summer?
1. Eat a light diet. Dr. Feng believes: "In the summer, you should eat more seasonal vegetables and fruits, preferably boiled in plain water, and avoid excessive greasy and spicy foods." For Chongqing locals, who love spicy food, avoiding excessive spicy food is also an important way to protect the spleen.
2. Pay attention to rest. If you often stay up late or become too tired, it can cause gastritis, stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, pancreatitis, etc. Even if a severe case of pancreatitis is successfully treated, there is a risk of developing diabetes later on.
3. Eat more foods that strengthen the spleen and stomach. For instance, Poria can help restore spleen and stomach function. In addition, foods like Gordon Euryale seeds, Chinese yam, cowpeas, and millet also have the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach, and can be eaten more.
4. You can use acupressure as a health maintenance method. Massaging acupoints such as Fenglong, Zusanli, and Pishu can strengthen the spleen and stomach (see the picture on the right). Fenglong is a key point for transforming dampness; Pishu can strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach; while Zusanli can tonify the middle jiao, replenish qi, and activate the meridians. Pressing these three points 100 times a day is also a good way to "cool down" the digestive system.