In a recent episode of the Chinese health awareness talk show “Healing View” aired on October 31, famous Chinese actor Hu Ge shared some deeply personal and troubling news. Over the past two months, he has lost two close friends to heart attacks, a revelation that has left many of his fans shocked and concerned.
During the recording of the show, Hu Ge was visibly affected when he learned of the passing of veteran actor You Benchang, a colleague from the set of his recent project “Blossoms.” The heart-wrenching news caused Hu Ge to pause in silence, his face reflecting the weight of his grief. He candidly remarked, “In the last two months, two friends left us. One was in his fifties, and the other was of the same age as me, both due to heart attacks.”
The loss of multiple friends this year has taken a severe emotional toll on Hu Ge. Now at 44 years of age, he mentioned that he often reassures himself by thinking that his departed friends have gone to a better place. However, he struggles to emotionally accept these repeated goodbyes, stating, “It’s very sad, very painful; let’s not talk about it anymore.”
The show host expressed concern for Hu Ge’s current health status, to which Hu Ge jokingly acknowledged that he has begun to pay more attention to his health, though he feels it might be too late for some changes.
Hu Ge revealed that after spending approximately seven months working in a high-altitude area last year, he underwent a health check upon his return home and discovered some concerning issues, including discomfort in his heart.
The actor expressed a profound realization of the decline in his physical well-being since turning 40. He noted, “In the past, I could pull all-nighters while shooting and would recover almost instantly by the next day. But that’s no longer the case. Especially during the filming of ‘Blossoms,’ which lasted over three years and often required long night shoots, I really felt my stamina depleting, and it affected my health significantly.”
Hu Ge disclosed that he has entered the life stage of “having elderly parents and young children,” emphasizing the importance of taking care of himself first in order to properly support his family.
In a surprising twist, during the program, Hu Ge demonstrated that he now carries emergency heart medication, stating, “I really do carry it with me. Not just me, many of my colleagues do as well; it’s for emergencies.”
Even more surprisingly, he mentioned that while traveling for work, he now carries a portable automated external defibrillator (AED), which is used for emergency cases of cardiac arrest. He explained, “Initially, I didn’t want to carry it, but then I thought, what if I encounter someone in a sudden health crisis? Then I’d be able to help.”
During the episode, Hu Ge also tested his cholesterol levels and mentioned that he has been smoke-free for quite some time. Reflecting on his health, he remarked, “I feel like health and life are similar to credit cards; when you’re young, you keep borrowing without thinking about repayment. Now, it’s time to start paying it back.”
Hu Ge’s candid admission about carrying emergency heart medication and AED equipment quickly gained traction on social media, making headlines on platforms like Weibo. The topic sparked widespread discussion regarding the importance of young individuals carrying heart medication, with many young professionals and middle-aged netizens sharing their own experiences and affirming that they too carry such emergency aid.
Many fans expressed their sorrow for Hu Ge, who has brilliantly portrayed the character “Bao Zong” in “Blossoms,” yet they were taken aback by the toll that continuous nighttime shootings and high-intensity work were taking on a top-tier actor’s health.
Hu Ge’s analogy comparing health to a credit card that you recklessly overspend on while young, leading to a phase of substantial debt in middle age, resonated strongly with Chinese workers. Netizens lamented, “Even celebrities who earn a hefty income and have access to top medical resources are bowing under the stress of night shifts. What about ordinary workers who are pushing themselves to the limit every day?”
There is a deep understanding among netizens regarding Hu Ge’s pain and panic over the loss of peers due to heart issues at such a relatively young age. Many expressed that as they face the frequent departure of those around them at this stage in life, they are suddenly compelled to acknowledge that they must prioritize their health and well-being for the sake of their families, stating, “We can no longer afford to just give up.”