ate of Medical Observation
October 2007

Narration

A 30-year-old male consulted me complaining of feeling of bloatedness and easy fatigability.

He claimed to be 40 lbs heavier. His waistline enlarged so as his belly.

What used to be a “no sweat” two straight games of basketball now seems to be an insurmountable task.

Climbing up a flight of stairs was enough to put him out of breath.

These would have not bothered him if not for two other persons known to him who complained of somehow similar symptoms and was diagnosed with heart ailments.

He recalled few years back when he had an episode of palpitations and was found out to have Atrial Fibrillation on ECG.

This thing of the past was kept buried on his memory only to be awakened by the recent turn of events.

Fear of failing health…

Shouldn’t he be talking to an Internist?

As I turned to tell him just that, I realized that I was actually looking at the mirror… talking to myself.

….. seeing all the flab and unsightly bulges that were not there just two years back.

Those days before I entered my residency training.

INSIGHT

Physical, Ethical, Psycho-social

Discovery, Stimulus, Re-inforcement

We treat people.

We  heal their ailments.

We promote health.

All the days of my life here in the hospital will start and end with caring for my patient.

Just recently, I paused and taught for a while.

When was the last time I considered my own health?

Am I eating right?

When was the last time I played ball or even jogged around the neighborhood?

Am I still healthy?

Am I still fit to meet the demands of my job? of my family?

I know of one surgeon who was on the peak of his career but died of heart attack while playing golf.             

I don’t want that similar fate to happen to me.

Something must be done and the time to start is now.

END