health

August 6, 2021 0

Covid cluster in Provincetown

On July 25, officials in Provincetown held an emergency meeting to escalate the Town’s COVID-19 public health advisory to a public health mandate. This mandate requires all workers and customers to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces, except when doing so is not possible due to a medical condition or disability. The initial advisory was issued in response to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases linked back to Provincetown after the July 4 weekend. The advisory notes that 132 […]

July 23, 2021 0

An Early History of Chinese Herbalists in Boston

by Richard Auffrey

Within two years of the establishment of Boston’s Chinatown, there was a Chinese herbal doctor in the community. In the early newspapers, the importance of such herbalists was very evident, and they’re still vital in Chinatown today. One of the first detailed references to a Chinese herbalist, who wasn’t named, was in the Boston Post, April 26, 1896. The writer sought treatment for a severe cold in his chest and the herbalist felt his pulse. He then wrote a prescription which […]

June 25, 2021 0

Gyms provide lifeline during pandemic, contribute to physical health

by Shira Laucharoen

Photo courtesy of Hongyu Liu While many gyms temporarily closed down at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, they incorporated many innovations to continue serving their communities during the past year. Spaces like the Wang YMCA and Downtown Crossing’s Planet Fitness are no exception. Although many Chinatown residents may have been reluctant to leave their houses during this time, representatives from these gyms acknowledge that physical wellness leads to mental health and that workout facilities can foster social interaction. […]

yellow sign American flags Chinatown rally

June 25, 2021 0

Mental health resources in the age of anti-Asian hate

by guest

The increasing prevalence of anti-Asian hate crimes threatens Asian Americans’ physical safety and endangers our mental health. The AAPI 2020-2021 National Report documented 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents in the US from March 2020 to February 2021. Exposure to and fear of racism can lead to race-based traumatic stress. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) encountered difficulties seeking mental health care due to cultural stigma, language barriers, and insufficient access to culturally informed care. Pandemic-related stress, whether […]

June 25, 2021 0

Dr. Ensang Cheng: Boston’s first Chinese licensed physician

by Richard Auffrey

The first Chinese doctors in the U.S. were herbalists, following an ancient tradition, and there are still Chinese herbalists today, including in Boston’s Chinatown. In the late 19th century, a handful of Chinese residents chose to attend American medical schools to receive a degree as a Medical Doctor, or M.D. In New England, Ensang Waniella Cheng became the first male Chinese student to graduate from Harvard Medical school, and was the only licensed Chinese doctor in New England for nearly […]

April 16, 2021 0

Tufts Medical Center address smoking issue in local communities

by guest

(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) By Tufts Medical Center Tufts Medical Center’s (Tufts MC) Asian Health Initiative (AHI) was established in 1995 to identify health priorities of particular concern and importance to the local Asian community and to work collaboratively with local community-based organizations to address those health concerns. AHI’s focus in the past few years have been on tobacco/nicotine prevention and cessation support as a mechanism to combat the leading causes of death in Chinatown: heart disease and lung cancer. In 2020, Tufts […]

April 16, 2021 0

Turn the boat around: Understanding how to avoid the risks of Type 2 Diabetes

by Jacqueline Church

(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) Imagine we are on a river boat cruise. Sailing along, enjoying a beautiful relaxing day in the company of family and friends. None of us notices the changing current. No one has looked ahead to see the rocks or the waterfall we’re approaching. We have no time to turn around or get to the safety of the shore. Diabetes is like that. We sail along not noticing the rise in blood sugar, sometimes until it is too late. Luckily, […]

April 16, 2021 0

Bicultural awareness necessary in addressing depression and mental health among Asian Americans

by Carey Lin

(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) Warning: potentially triggering and sensitive content. Includes talks about depression, thoughts of self-harm and suicidal tendencies. Under the climate of hate and anti-Asian sentiment, it is even more important to take care of one’s mental health. According to a study conducted by the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), Asian Americans have a 17.3% overall lifetime rate of any psychiatric disorder, yet are three times less likely to seek mental health services compared to white Americans. Emily Chen, […]

Dr. Zhuo Geng discusses colorectal cancer in Asian Americans

March 19, 2021 0

Asian Americans have low screening rates for colorectal cancer

by Carey Lin

(請點這裡閱讀中文版。) March is Colorectal Cancer (CRC) awareness month. Colorectal cancer affects the colon and rectum, which make up the large intestine located at the latter end of the digestive tract. CRC is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second most common type of cancer within the Asian American community. Sampan interviewed bilingual gastroenterologist Dr. Zhuo Geng, Gastroenterologist, at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Digestive Disease Center to learn more about the disease. Originally from Shandong province, […]

February 5, 2021 0

Tufts Medical Center talks COVID-19 vaccine efficacy & roll-out

by Carey Lin

About a year since the first outbreak of the coronavirus, vaccines countering the virus have finally begun rolling out. However, there has been a lot of confusion and concern about the efficacy of the vaccine and the method in which it is available to the public. Sampan had the opportunity to interview Dr. Helen Boucher, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center (TMC) to address some of these concerns. Dr. Boucher has been at the frontlines in managing responses […]

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