South Korea - The Korea Times

Chest pain that won’t go away? It could be a heart attack

When it comes to surviving a heart attack, speed and action are everything. Two immediate responses — calling emergency services (119) and administering chest compressions — can mean the difference between life and death. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when coronary arteries narrow due to plaque buildup, and the plaque ruptures to form a blood clot, completely blocking the artery. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, which can result from high cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and genetic factors. Heart attacks are often confused with angina, another type of ischemic heart disease. Angina causes temporary chest pain during physical exertion that eases with rest. However, a heart attack begins with the immediate death of heart muscle cells and requires urgent treatment. The hallmark symptom of a heart attack is a crushing or squeezing pain in the center of the chest. If the pain lasts longer than 30 minutes or spreads to the arms, neck, jaw or abdomen, it’s a red flag. The critical window to minimize damage is within about three hours of the fi

Jun 21, 2025By Hankookilbo

Chest pain that won’t go away? It could be a heart attack

The hidden cost of hospitalization: muscle loss and functional decline in older adults

Many older adults fear leaving the hospital more than entering it. That’s because they know what often comes next: not a return to independent living, but a move to a care facility or a new reliance on family caregivers. For elderly patients, hospitalization is often a necessary part of treating illness — but it can also become a serious threat to quality of life and long-term recovery. One of the greatest yet most overlooked risks is sarcopenia, or the accelerated loss of muscle mass and strength that frequently occurs during a hospital stay. Muscle loss in older adults doesn’t require weeks or months — it can happen in just days. When a patient over 70 is confined to bed, even for just 10 days, the synthesis rate of muscle protein in the legs drops by around 30 percent, and overall muscle mass decreases by more than 1 kilogram. Another study found that healthy elderly individuals lost 6 percent of their muscle mass and 16 percent of their lower-body strength simply from 10 days of bed rest. In many cases, this loss is irreversible. Patients who could walk on their own before a

Jun 14, 2025By Hankookilbo

The hidden cost of hospitalization: muscle loss and functional decline in older adults

When your blood pressure number fools you — or your doctor

Some people are told they have high blood pressure during a hospital visit, only to find their levels are perfectly normal at home. Others may believe they’re healthy, unaware that they’re actually living with hypertension. These two conditions — known as white coat hypertension and masked hypertension — often go unnoticed but can carry serious health consequences if misunderstood. White coat hypertension refers to cases where a person’s blood pressure rises in clinical settings but remains normal in daily life. In contrast, masked hypertension describes those who have consistently high blood pressure outside the hospital but show normal levels during check-ups. Both conditions are more common than many realize, with an estimated prevalence of around 10 percent in the general population — rising to 20–30 percent among high-risk groups such as those with diabetes. Experts say psychological factors play a major role. “For white coat hypertension, it’s often the anxiety — worrying about the diagnosis, or the idea that something might be wrong — that causes the spike,

Jun 14, 2025By Hankookilbo

When your blood pressure number fools you — or your doctor

Extreme dieting in Korean entertainment industry sparks concern after stars reveal health scares

Several Korean celebrities have recently opened up about the dangerous side effects they suffered due to extreme dieting, prompting renewed concern over unrealistic body standards in the entertainment industry. Actress Lee Se-young revealed the consequences of her past crash diets in a June 9 video on her YouTube channel. “I didn’t take any supplements. I either starved or ate only protein, cutting carbs completely,” she said, describing an unsustainable and unhealthy regimen. She went on to disclose lasting aftereffects: “My hair started falling out then, and it still hasn’t fully grown back. I didn’t get my period for six months. I thought I had a serious illness.” Red Velvet’s Joy also spoke candidly about her own experience during a recent episode of MBC’s “I Live Alone.” Reflecting on her twenties, she said, “I was so conscious of others’ opinions. I pressured and punished myself. I wasn’t kind to myself in managing my body — I was cruel. Eventually, my body couldn’t take it.” She added that she has since adopted a healthier approach to self-care,

Jun 12, 2025By Xportsnews

Extreme dieting in Korean entertainment industry sparks concern after stars reveal health scares

Korean entertainer’s ‘drug-driving’ report sparks discussion about panic disorder meds

Comedian Lee Kyung-kyu has pushed back against media reports suggesting he was caught driving under the influence of drugs, expressing frustration over what he called a misleading portrayal. On Monday, broadcaster MBN reported that Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station was investigating Lee for violating traffic laws. According to the report, Lee mistakenly drove someone else’s car on Sunday afternoon after visiting an indoor golf range in Gangnam. The mix-up occurred when a valet accidentally handed him keys to a similar-looking vehicle. The actual owner, suspecting theft, contacted the police. Upon returning to the golf range, Lee underwent a breathalyzer test, which came back negative for alcohol. However, a separate field drug test indicated a positive result. In response, Lee told multiple media outlets, “I had taken medication for a cold and for panic disorder before driving. I explained this clearly to the police, and the matter was resolved. I had just come from the hospital. But because headlines said ‘drug use,’ it gave people the wrong impression.” He added, “Some ingre

Jun 9, 2025By Xportsnews

Korean entertainer’s ‘drug-driving’ report sparks discussion about panic disorder meds

Frequent bathroom trips before a job interview? Avoid sugar-free gum with xylitol, experts say

For many people, stressful moments like job interviews or public speaking come with an unexpected and disruptive companion — an upset stomach. One possible cause behind this is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic gut disorder that affects around 1.4 million people in South Korea alone. Kim, 28, a job seeker based in Seoul, shared her experience of repeatedly dealing with abdominal pain and frequent trips to the bathroom before interviews. “Even when I avoided spicy or salty food days in advance, my stomach always hurt on the day of the interview,” she said. “Doctors say it’s just nerves and tell me to calm down, but it’s not that simple.” IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by cramping, diarrhea, constipation or alternating symptoms, often triggered by stress, diet or environmental changes. It’s not caused by structural abnormalities but rather by overly sensitive gut muscles and nerves. May 29 marked World Digestive Health Day, an occasion to raise awareness of conditions like IBS. According to Korea’s Health Insurance Review and Assessme

Jun 7, 2025By Hankookilbo

Frequent bathroom trips before a job interview? Avoid sugar-free gum with xylitol, experts say

Owning a dog lowers heart disease patients’ risk of death by 65%

On a typical weekend evening, parks along the Han River are filled with people walking their dogs. It’s estimated that dogs have lived alongside humans for about 12,000 years, a relationship that has shaped the genetics of dogs. Recent research comparing the genetic traits of dogs and wolves found that as wolves evolved into dogs, they developed genetic mutations similar to those humans acquired while evolving from primates. For example, the serotonin system in dogs changed, reducing aggression. Dogs also have more genes related to digesting starch and oligosaccharides, as well as genes that assist glucose absorption in the intestines. This suggests that as dogs adapted to human agricultural lifestyles, their digestive systems and aggression levels evolved. While humans initially domesticated dogs for practical reasons, living with dogs also offers health benefits. A recent survey conducted in the U.S. found that owning a pet like a dog or cat was associated with a 31 percent lower risk of high blood pressure. A comprehensive analysis of multiple studies on pet ownership and health o

Jun 7, 2025By Hankookilbo

Owning a dog lowers heart disease patients’ risk of death by 65%

Seoul aims to become global hub for medical tourism with upcoming Medicon Festival

The 2025 Medicon Festival, hosted by the Korea Medical Tour Promotion Association and organized by Bioplus International, is set to take place on June 11 at B&VIIT Eye Center in Gangnam, Seoul. The festival, now in its second year, is designed to showcase the excellence of K-medical and K-beauty industries to a global audience and promote the sustainable growth of Korea’s medical tourism sector. The festival will feature participation from six leading beauty and bio companies, including Bioplus International, Lululab, Nutrione, Charmacist, Zerone Cellvane, and The SC. Fourteen hospitals and clinics, such as 365mc, Ruby Plastic Surgery, Mojelim Plastic Surgery, Minish Dental Clinic, Min&Min Skin Clinic Center, Banobagi Plastic Surgery, Banobagi Dermatology, B&VIIT Eye Center, Seye Clinic, Class One Clinic, Toxnfill Clinic, Dr. Newcell, Cheongdam Glassy Dermatology, and Thankyou Seoul Clinic, will also take part. Notably, more than 150 global influencers are expected to attend, experiencing medical services firsthand and sharing content with millions of followers on social media in real

Jun 4, 2025By KTimes

Seoul aims to become global hub for medical tourism with upcoming Medicon Festival

Korea's secondhand smoke problem resurges, undoing years of progress

After years of steady progress, Korea is confronting a troubling reversal in its fight against secondhand smoke, with new government data indicating a significant uptick in exposure rates in indoor public spaces and workplaces. The recent findings mark an unwelcome shift following three consecutive years of decline in ambient smoke exposure across the nation. This resurgence not only poses renewed health risks to the non-smoking population but also raises questions about the efficacy and enforcement of existing anti-smoking regulations. For a country that has invested considerable effort into public health campaigns and smoke-free policies, the data suggests a potential backslide that could undermine long-term efforts to protect its citizens from the dangers of passive inhalation. According to the latest survey from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 8 percent of non-smoking Korean adults reported exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor workplace settings in 2023. This figure represents a concerning climb after a period of consistent improvement, where the rate had

May 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea's secondhand smoke problem resurges, undoing years of progress

Cases of 'three major eye diseases' linked to blindness surge

Cases of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy — known as the "three major eye diseases" that can cause blindness — have surged by nearly 37 percent in four years, data show. Experts are calling for greater public awareness and regular eye screenings, warning that these diseases often have no early symptoms yet can lead to irreversible vision loss. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on May 26, the number of patients with macular degeneration increased from 200,471 in 2019 to 497,338 in 2023. When combined with patients suffering from glaucoma (about 1.19 million) and diabetic retinopathy (about 370,000), the total number of patients rose from around 1.5 million to over 2.06 million during the same period — an increase of approximately 37 percent. More than 80 percent of these cases involve patients over the age of 50. Macular degeneration is a condition affecting the central part of the retina, or macula, which acts like the film in a camera and is essential for sharp vision. The disease occurs when waste accumulates or s

May 31, 2025By Hankookilbo

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