On March 17, Steven Ma (馬浚偉) was admitted to the hospital after experiencing bouts of dizziness and high blood pressure. The 42-year-old, who suffers from a chronic heart condition that elevates his heart rate, regularly has medical examinations and carries his medication with him at all times. Steven revealed that he has been suffering from the condition for nearly ten years. Steven and his costars in the TVB drama Storm in a Cocoon <守業者> toured Tsim Sha Tsui in an open-top bus to promote the drama yesterday. Steven admitted that he was under hospital observation for a night. After scanning his brain, testing his blood, and checking his heart, the doctors still could not come up with an explanation of his sudden hypertension. Steven said he was most concerned about suffering a stroke, “That day in the hospital, I felt really dizzy. The back of my head felt like it was bloated from blood obstruction, and my arms and legs couldn’t stop shaking. My blood pressure went up to 180. Even the doctor said he was worried that I might be suffering a stroke. I am most afraid about not dying after having a stroke, and my family would have to take care of me.” The doctor later discovered that Steven’s worsened condition may have been a result of his bad habit of drinking five cups of black coffee a day. The doctors stressed that such a habit is like chronic suicide. After the warning, Steven worked hard on quitting black coffee. After promoting Storm in a Cocoon, Steven will go to the United States for a performance. As he has already signed the contract and tickets are already sold out, Steven has no choice but to perform as scheduled. Promoting “Storm in a Cocoon” Meanwhile, the cast of Storm in a Cocoon is hard at work promoting the series, which is currently averaging 27 points per episode. Evergreen Mak (麥長青) joked that if the series does not reach 42 points, TVB should continuously rebroadcast the show. Joking that this promotional tactic is copying ATV, he said, “How is that copying? Their shows can’t even reach 32 points!” Tavia Yeung (楊怡), who was under speculation for plastic surgery, boldly expressed that she does not need any. “They say I’m flawless, that I have a foreigner’s nose, and I have Angelina Jolie’s lips! I’ve been so busy with filming lately and I don’t even have the time to rest. That proves that I am keeping well. I am a beauty,” Tavia joked. In response to the plastic surgery claims, Tavia said, “They have nothing else to write. It’s not a very creative idea. At least they didn’t say I developed ulcers from stress.” Creds: Oriental Daily
