Health literacy of Chinese public

Source: en.nhfpc.gov.cn

Updated: 2016-01-22

Basic knowledge and skills

1.Health is not just lack of disease or weakness, but also about a good physical, psychological and social state.

2. Everyone has the duty to maintain their own and others' health, and a healthy lifestyle can maintain and promote their own health.

3. Environment is closely related to health. Environmental protection boosts health.

4. Donating blood helps others and benefits oneself.

5. Everyone should care for the sick and the disabled and not discriminate against them.

6. Health checks should be made regularly.

7. Adult normal systolic pressure should be no lower than 90 mmHg and lower than 140 mmHg, diastolic pressure should be no lower than 60 mmHg and lower than 90 mmHg. The axillary temperature should be between 36-37 degrees. Eupnea should be 16-20 times/min, and heart rate 60-100 times/min.

8. Vaccination is the most effective and economic measure to prevent some infectious diseases. Children should be vaccinated in accordance with the immunization procedure after birth.

9. Getting influenza vaccination before the flu season can reduce the chance of flu or alleviate flu symptoms.

10. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood, sexual contact and mother to child, but won’t be caught in daily life and work.

11. Tuberculosis is transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or speaking loudly. Those who cough with phlegm for more than two weeks or cough blood should go through checks for the disease.

12. Most tuberculosis patients can be cured with standard treatment, which can also effectively prevent drug-resistant tuberculosis.

13. In schistosomiasis endemic areas, contact with contaminated water should be avoided. Inspection and preventive treatment should be timely in place after contact with contaminated water.

14. Domestic dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies. Those who are scratched or bitten should immediately flush the wound and get injections of rabies immunoglobulin (or serum) and rabies vaccine for humans.

15. Mosquitoes, flies, mice and cockroaches spread disease.

16. Report dead livestock. Don't process or eat dead livestock or wild animals.

17. Pay close attention to changes in blood pressure, control hypertension risk factors, and patients with high blood pressure must learn health management for their own sake.

18. Diabetic patients should pay attention to blood sugar, control risk factors for diabetes, and strengthen health management for their own sake.

19. Get screened for early detection of cancer and precancerous lesions.

20. Everyone is likely to develop depression and anxiety, and get correct understanding of depression and anxiety.

21. Take care of the elderly, keep the elderly from stumbling, and identify old age dementia.

22. Choose safe and effective contraceptive measures, reduce artificial abortion, and care about women's reproductive health.

23. Health food is not drug, and correctly choose health food.

24. Workers should understand harmful factors existing in work environment, observe operating instructions and pay attention to personal protection to avoid occupational injuries.

25. Workers engaging in poisonous and harmful work shall have the right to occupational protection.

Healthy life style and behavior

26. A healthy lifestyle includes rational diet, proper exercise, no smoking and restricted alcohol, and balanced psychology.

27. Maintain normal body weight and avoid overweight and obesity.

28. A large part of diet should feature cereals, vegetables, fruit and potato. Pay attention to balanced intake of meat and vegetables.

29. Daily intake of milk, beans and related products is recommended.

30. Diet should be light, with less oil, salt and sugar. Qualified iodized salt is recommended.

31. Pay attention to drinking water sanitation and drink adequate water every day.

32. Raw and cooked food should be kept and processed separately. Raw fruits and vegetables have to be washed clean, and don't eat bad or expired food.

33. Adults should carry out daily physical activity equivalent of 6,000-10,000 steps. Physical activity should be sustained to be beneficial.

34. Smoking and secondhand smoke causes cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

35 "Low-tar cigarettes" and "Chinese herbal cigarettes" cannot reduce harms brought by smoking.

36. It's never too late to quit smoking. The sooner, the better. Smoking cessation clinic can provide professional services.

37. Drink moderate amounts of wine. Avoid drinking excessive alcohol.

38. Use sedative hypnotics, analgesic or other addictive drugs in accordance with doctor's advice. Avoid drug addiction.

39. Say no to narcotics

40. Alternate work with rest and ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every day.

41. Protect mental health, and take the initiative to seek help when suffering psychological problems.

42. Wash hands and take showers often, brush teeth in the morning and evening, rinse the mouth after meals, and don't share towels and toiletries.

43. Ventilate rooms based on weather and air quality to maintain indoor air circulation.

44. No smoking and spitting in public places. Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

45. Use sanitary toilets in rural area, and properly manage human and animal feces.

46. Seek medical treatment on time, and follow doctor's advice.

47. Use drugs carefully. Choose oral drugs over intramuscular injections, and intramuscular injections over IV infusions. Use antibiotics under doctor's guidance.

48. Wear helmets and seat belts, avoid speeding and drunk or fatigue driving, and reduce road traffic injuries.

49. Strengthen childcare and education and keep children from dangerous waters to avoid drowning.

50. Pay attention to ventilation during winter to avoid gas poisoning.

51. Take initiative to accept premarital and pregnancy care. Pregnant woman should accept at least five prenatal examinations and go to hospital for baby delivery.

52. Breast feeding should start after birth as soon as possible. Auxiliary solid food can be added after six months.

53. Use parent-child communication and play to boost early development. Intervention should be in place as soon as child psychological problems are found.

54. Teenagers are in a critical period of physical and mental development, and should develop a healthy lifestyle, avoid myopia and obesity, as well as internet addiction.

Basic skills

55. Pay attention to, understand, screen and use health information.

56. Understand labels and specifications of food, medicine, and health products.

57. Identify common risk factors, such as high pressure, inflammable, explosive, poisonous, radioactive, biologically hazardous materials, and keep away from danger.

58. Know how to measure pulse and axiliary temperature.

59. Use condoms correctly to reduce the risks of HIV , STIs and pregnancy.

60. Properly store toxic substances such as pesticides, and keep them away from children.

61. Call 120 for emergency medical help, and call 12320 for health consulting service.

62. Stop bleeding and use bandages immediately when there is heavy bleeding. Don't move around those who might have bone fracture.

63. Apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to those suffering breath and cardiac arrest.

64. Cut off power first when rescuing those suffering an electric shock. Don't make direct contact with them.

65. Use wet towel to cover mouth and nose and lower the upper body to escape when there is a fire. Call 119.

66. Choose the right way to get out of an earthquake \. Immediately rescue yourself and others after the quake.