Doctors urged to take holistic approach
Doctors urged to take holistic approach
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Medical doctors are being advised to take a holistic approach
when diagnosing their patients, especially those possibly
suffering from heart disease, in order to ensure more effective
medication and to minimize incorrect diagnoses.
Cardiologist Lukman Hakim Makmun, the chair of a symposium
titled the Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular Disease, said on
Friday a holistic approach to diagnosis took into account all
aspects of the patient, including all of the patient's organs and
any psychological conditions and social problems that might
trigger stress.
Supporting Lukman's statement, Miftah Suryadipradja, a
cardiologist and one of the speakers at the symposium, said heart
disease never stood alone.
"It is usually related to other organs like the brain, blood
vessels, the kidney, lungs or stomach. Medication, therefore,
should not be given before considering the condition of the other
organs," Miftah said at a media conference after the opening of
the three-day symposium.
"For example, a doctor may give aspirin to treat a case of
heart disease, but the doctor must consider the condition of the
stomach. If a patient has a stomach problem then aspirin must not
be given to him because it will worsen his condition," said
Lukman.
"It cannot be assumed that a pain on the left side of the
chest indicates something wrong with the heart; it could be
caused by a strained chest muscle.
"A problem with the heart might also be caused by external
factors like stress. A doctor, therefore, must consider external
problems to deliver efficient medication," he said.
Focusing only on the heart could make a doctor miss the real
cause of a disease, he added.
Another medical expert, Iskandar Zulkarnaen, who chairs the
Continuing Medical Education (CME) program at the Internal
Medicine Division of the University of Indonesia/Cipto
Mangunkusumo Hospital, said holism was not a new method.
Indonesian medical students are taught to take a holistic
approach early in their studies, Iskandar said.
"It is strongly advised that doctors specializing in internal
medicine, who have sub-specialties like heart or lung diseases,
consult with doctors from different sub-specialities for the sake
of effective medication," Iskandar said.
This is the second time the symposium has been held by the
Indonesian Cardiocerebrovascular Association (IKKI), in
cooperation with CME.
"We are considering inviting public health experts next year
to promote a thoroughly holistic approach," he said.