Psychiatrist prescribes soccer tonic
The World Cup could prove the ideal tonic for the recession, a psychiatrist said yesterday.
Lee Sing from the Chinese University said the month-long soccer tournament, which kicks off today, could help take people's minds off money woes.
'The World Cup is a good anti-depressive drug for the gloomy economic situation,' he said. People had been looking forward to it for years and, as long as they were healthy, a series of late nights and early mornings in front of the television would not do much harm.
But he said public transport drivers, construction workers, surgeons and pilots should all exercise self-restraint in watching the matches from France.
His tips for the tournament include: Eating earlier; Recording some matches and getting up early to watch them before going to work; and Taking annual leave.
Fans were also warned that long hours spent watching the tournament could make them inattentive at work, less resistant to illness, and overweight.
Dr Tsang Fan-kwong from Castle Peak Hospital said lack of sleep could trigger mental illness.
People with anxiety or mental illness should not watch for too long as insufficient sleep could take its toll.
'Drivers and machine operators should also be cautious because their reactions will be much slower without sufficient sleep.'
