Doctors urged to take holistic approach<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Medical doctors are being advised to take a holistic approach
\nwhen diagnosing their patients, especially those possibly
\nsuffering from heart disease, in order to ensure more effective
\nmedication and to minimize incorrect diagnoses.<\/p>\n
Cardiologist Lukman Hakim Makmun, the chair of a symposium
\ntitled the Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular Disease, said on
\nFriday a holistic approach to diagnosis took into account all
\naspects of the patient, including all of the patient's organs and
\nany psychological conditions and social problems that might
\ntrigger stress.<\/p>\n
Supporting Lukman's statement, Miftah Suryadipradja, a
\ncardiologist and one of the speakers at the symposium, said heart
\ndisease never stood alone.<\/p>\n
"It is usually related to other organs like the brain, blood
\nvessels, the kidney, lungs or stomach. Medication, therefore,
\nshould not be given before considering the condition of the other
\norgans," Miftah said at a media conference after the opening of
\nthe three-day symposium.<\/p>\n
"For example, a doctor may give aspirin to treat a case of
\nheart disease, but the doctor must consider the condition of the
\nstomach. If a patient has a stomach problem then aspirin must not
\nbe given to him because it will worsen his condition," said
\nLukman.<\/p>\n
"It cannot be assumed that a pain on the left side of the
\nchest indicates something wrong with the heart; it could be
\ncaused by a strained chest muscle.<\/p>\n
"A problem with the heart might also be caused by external
\nfactors like stress. A doctor, therefore, must consider external
\nproblems to deliver efficient medication," he said.<\/p>\n
Focusing only on the heart could make a doctor miss the real
\ncause of a disease, he added.<\/p>\n
Another medical expert, Iskandar Zulkarnaen, who chairs the
\nContinuing Medical Education (CME) program at the Internal
\nMedicine Division of the University of Indonesia\/Cipto
\nMangunkusumo Hospital, said holism was not a new method.<\/p>\n
Indonesian medical students are taught to take a holistic
\napproach early in their studies, Iskandar said.<\/p>\n
"It is strongly advised that doctors specializing in internal
\nmedicine, who have sub-specialties like heart or lung diseases,
\nconsult with doctors from different sub-specialities for the sake
\nof effective medication," Iskandar said.<\/p>\n
This is the second time the symposium has been held by the
\nIndonesian Cardiocerebrovascular Association (IKKI), in
\ncooperation with CME.<\/p>\n
"We are considering inviting public health experts next year
\nto promote a thoroughly holistic approach," he said.<\/p>",
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