BEIJING, April 15 -- The rising trend of premature human deaths in recent years has sounded an alarm regarding how to find effective ways to prevent widespread subhealth problems, which have surfaced as a new threat to human life.

    According to a recent survey in 16 major Chinese cities with a population of over 1 million, surprisingly high proportions of urban Chinese have been suffering from problems related to subhealth. Some 75.31, 73.49, and 73.41 percent of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou residents, respectively, are in a subhealthy condition.

    Generally, if one is experiencing reduction in vitality and adaptability but has not been diagnosed with any defined disease, one is quite likely to be in a subhealthy state, characterized by a deterioration of physiological function somewhere between health and illness.

    The problem is rather prevalent among senior and mid-level managers, clerks and other white-collar workers with a high level education, who work in a bustling metropolis.

    ¡°When the company receives a project, we have a tight schedule with a deadline. The project usually requires team work in which each staff member is responsible for a particular task. If I stop, the entire team¡¯s work process may come to a halt,¡± said Yolanda Xu, a senior staff member at Deloitte Touche Tomatsu, a famous accounting firm.

    Like Xu, many urban white-collar employees are facing the same problem, which they describe as the main reason for working almost around-the-clock. While employees complain about heavy work stress, their bosses find no time even to complain as they pay the high price of health for their great achievements.

    The death of artist-turned-tycoon Chen Yifei is not the first case. Wang Junyao, former CEO of Junyao Milk, the nation¡¯s leading private food company, died of intestinal cancer last year at only 38 years of age. Yang Mai, former president of Ericsson China, died of a sudden heart problem in early 2004 at age 54.

    The subhealth condition, found in most cases among people with a high educational level who are spearheading efforts for national rejuvenation, will exert direct negative effects on China¡¯s long-term development and sustained progress if not handled in a timely and proper manner.

    Hopefully, the series of early deaths will motivate people to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)