[gilleshk]

There's no doubt that the pollution has a severe effect on many people. A friend of mine just invested a pile of money on a good air purifier and the result was instant. He used to have a runny nose and itchy throat at night and his wife had a persistent cough. They were gone overnight...

Anytime I exercise intensely for over an hour outside, I get a cough that lasts anywhere from an hour to a few hours depending on the day and the length of exercise.

The question is not whether it does harm but how much and how permanent it is... As for the money, it's pay now or pay later in health costs...

[gentlebob]

Remember, I run several miles a day/every day, so am outside a coupla hours, 7/365. The average person doesn't need to think this hard about being outside, obviously.

The shirt around neck helps your throat take in air that is a bit too cool. When you run, especially in Tung Chung or any seaside area, there are breezes/winds that tickle your throat. If you have sensitive airways to begin with, or aggravated by the pollution, the breezes/winds will exacerbate bronchial conditions.

Water is to hydrate and mitigate heat stroke potential.

Also, teatree oil is good for any cuts/infections that stem from being outside for long periods of time. For example, if you run for an hour or two per day, the sweat and air particulates may settle in your ear passages and cause inner ear infections. The teatree oil takes care of this in a matter of days, whereas antibiotics take sometimes weeks.

Um- remember, this is for people exercising heavily every day, 365 days a year, like I do. Between the changes of weather, the balmy breezes, and air quality, you are subject to many more problems than someone who simply goes outside to walk to work.

I am not trying to go negative on HK. I love it here in many ways. I'm simply trying to cope with a bad problem. If you read this forum, travel guides, and listen to people coughing as you walk through HK, you will find it is a reality. And if you are outside more, which is easy in such a gorgeous place, you will experience more problems than average.

[gentlebob]

whoops- forgot to mention neem.

Being outside a lot invites another problem- bug bites. Buy neem leaves (can get from Indian groceries and maybe wet markets) and boil them. Mix the resulting water with hand cream and rub on bites. The itch immediately disappears and the bite will heal within days.

Neem has steroidal effects, very strong and natural. Also proven to help with eczema.

Finally, put some neem water in your mopping and the cockroaches will never visit. It repels them and also has sterilizing effect so they won't reproduce.

Cheers and happy running/walking.