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The Star
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Chinese woman, afraid of tanning, suffers fractures from rolling over in bed
A Chinese woman, who was so fearful of tanning that she had never worn short sleeves, ended up suffering a fracture simply by turning over in her sleep. The incident has shocked many on Chinese social media. The case emerged on May 14 when Long Shuang, an attending doctor in the emergency department at XinDu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, shared the unusual incident. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The 48-year-old woman from Chengdu, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, whose name has not been disclosed, experienced a bone fracture from merely rolling over in bed, a consequence of her prolonged and excessive avoidance of sunlight. According to Long, the woman had shunned sun exposure since childhood, rarely wore short sleeves outdoors, and always applied sunscreen. While it remains unclear whether she or her family ever voiced concerns about her extreme sun-avoidance habits, the repercussions became serious after her injury. Upon admission, medical tests revealed that her vitamin D level was critically low, which had accelerated bone resorption and led to severe osteoporosis. Given that sunlight plays a vital role in enabling the body to synthesise vitamin D – which is essential for bone health and aids in calcium absorption – long-term avoidance of sunlight can result in a range of health issues, including weakened bones and diminished immunity. As sun protection trends gain traction across China, with women extensively shielding themselves from the sun using wide-brimmed visors, sun-protection gloves, cooling face masks, and lightweight UV-resistant hoodies – layering to guard against harsh UV rays – experts are voicing concerns about the potential health risks associated with excessive sun avoidance. Jiang Xiaobing, Chief Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, issued a warning in an online video. 'It is now common to see people fully covered from head to toe for sun protection – this is indeed unhealthy. All the bones in our body regenerate every 10 years, but from age 30, we begin to lose bone mass at a rate of 0.5 to 1 per cent per year. Low calcium intake, lack of sun exposure, and vitamin D deficiency all hinder calcium absorption. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive drinking also compromise bone health.' 'We need to ensure adequate calcium intake, exercise regularly, and limit smoking and drinking. For instance, no more than two cans of beer per day if the alcohol content is five per cent. Menopausal women, in particular, should be exceptionally cautious,' he advised. The news, reported by Haibao News, quickly went viral, sparking a wave of online reactions. One person commented: 'This is unbelievable – she broke her bone just by turning over in bed?' Another added: 'This is so extreme. Was she also crash dieting in addition to avoiding the sun? Seriously, everyone needs some sunlight every day.' A third remarked: 'Sadly, this reflects how society has conditioned many Chinese women to prioritise fair skin over their health.' More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Woman who avoided sunlight to prevent tanning breaks bone while turning in bed
In an unusual and alarming case, a 48-year-old woman from Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, suffered a bone fracture simply by turning over in her sleep, an injury doctors linked to years of excessive sun avoidance, reported the South China Morning Post. The case came to light after Dr. Long Shuang, an attending physician at the emergency department of XinDu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, shared details of the incident. According to Dr. Long, the woman had avoided sunlight since childhood, never wore short sleeves outdoors, and was meticulous about sun protection to maintain fair skin. Also read: Scotsman travels on India's 'worst airline' and leaves pleasantly surprised. Watch This extreme lifestyle eventually led to a critical deficiency in vitamin D, which plays a vital role in calcium absorption and maintaining bone strength. Medical tests upon her admission confirmed that the woman had developed severe osteoporosis, making her bones so fragile that even the slightest movement caused a fracture. While it is not known whether her family ever raised concerns about her sun-avoidance habits, the injury served as a stark wake-up call to the hidden dangers of extreme sun protection. The incident has reignited a national conversation around China's growing trend of aggressive sun shielding, particularly among women, reported the outlet. It is increasingly common to see people using wide-brimmed visors, long gloves, face masks, and UV-resistant clothing to guard against sun exposure. This cultural shift has drawn criticism from health professionals. Jiang Xiaobing, Chief Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, warned about the unintended consequences of such practices in an online video. 'It is now common to see people fully covered from head to toe for sun protection – this is indeed unhealthy. All the bones in our body regenerate every 10 years, but from age 30, we begin to lose bone mass at a rate of 0.5 to 1 per cent per year. Low calcium intake, lack of sun exposure, and vitamin D deficiency all hinder calcium absorption. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive drinking also compromise bone health.' 'We need to ensure adequate calcium intake, exercise regularly, and limit smoking and drinking. For instance, no more than two cans of beer per day if the alcohol content is five per cent. Menopausal women, in particular, should be exceptionally cautious,' he advised. Also read: 'You want Google output at $8,000 per year?': Indian techie lashes out at US clients, asks them to 'chill'
