Shirou Minami writes:
Patient T (Takahashi) will get heart
disease someday, I think, because he has recently been diagnosed hypertensive
(170/100-mmHg), he no longer exercises, he is overworked, and he is a heavy
smoker (2 packs a day). And more, his family has a history of heart disease.
Those are the main factors of heart disease. But, in spite of all this,
he doesn't feel that his situation is serious.
At first, I think he needs to change his mind about that point. In some
ways, it is up to his mind whether he gets heart disease or not. So we
must persuade him to consider his health, especially his heart disease.
And it is important for him to want to see a doctor.
Next, he must stop smoking and do exercising. These two factors are influenced
by his behavior. But to stop smoking and to continue exercising is a serious
and difficult thing. To stop smoking is related to the people, around him,
his wife, children, office staff, and so on. If these people smoke in front
of him, it is hard for him to stop smoking. So also they should stop smoking
or cut down their smoking in front of him. On the other hand, he must be
determined in his mind to stop smoking.
About doing exercise, he needs to start doing this soon, but not to exercise
too hard. Though it is true that he was marathon-runner, he has no exercise
these days. At first, it is good for him to walk an hour in the woods,
or jog in a pool, but not for too long a time, or perhaps to ride a bicycle,
and so on. Another trainer's idea would be for T to work out with his partner
(if it is possible) to do exercising gradually. And, if he does this, his
physical condition will get better. If not, his physical condition will
get worse.
Stop smoking and starting to exercise -- these two behaviors are not effective
in relieving short-term heart problems, such as pain, but they will be
effective in the long term.
Not only stopping smoking and doing exercising, but he should avoid overwork.
Long-term overwork brings about much stress that is a main factor of heart
problems. He needs relaxation, for example, walking in the park between
work on weekdays, going hiking on the weekend, after work to go to a party
with his partner, etc. Though we tend to think about overwork lightly,
we should consider it.
If he is going to feel better in the short term, he must listen to his
doctor's advice, take some medicine, and be ready to be looked after by
his doctor. And more, he should try to do less work. And his stress (that
is a factor of heart disease, too) will become less of a problem soon.
In the long term, he must do exercising and stop smoking. And, maybe he
should see other kinds of doctors who can help him practice other ways
that are effective in his stress, his breathing, and so forth. This way,
he will increase his chances for living a healthy long time.
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