It is a fact that medical science has been developing unstoppably for thousands of years. From my youth, I have been learning the art of healing, paying particular attention to a holistic approach. I am convinced that “suppressing”, “cutting-back” the symptoms of a disease does not mean the root eradication of the problem. This is why it is of great importance that both the doctor and the patient be aware of the most modern treatment options. So this is what I started writing my blog about. Please, get to know the main drivers of my mission.
Rapid development for curing diseases
Five hundred years ago, people did not know what circulates the blood in our bodies, how we breathe. One hundred years ago, people died in masses of diseases such as chickenpox (varicella), whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, appendicitis, and so on. There were no antibiotics 70 years ago, so a tonsillitis was also a life-threatening disease. 30 years ago, the diagnosis of heart attack meant almost a certain death, and today a catheter is floated through the vascular system into the heart removing the blood clot from the inside.
The goal of development is to treat the diseases more effectively, and to improve a symptom or condition faster. Moreover, it has been proven that at least 80% of the diseases are caused by our own lifestyles, so, today the real goal is prevention.
The privilege of healing
Even today, there is a widespread “belief” that only a doctor can cure, only she/he can perform a treatment. Although this is still true in many cases today, but no longer for all the patients and diseases!
Sudden illness, such as trauma injuries, perforated stomach, ruptured aneurysm require immediate intervention. The tumour also has to be removed from the body at the earliest possible stage. Thus, many interventions, also today, cannot do without the doctor’s presence and work.
Today, however, most diseases are not such acute conditions, but rather featured by slowly developing, slow course disease states that do not endanger life directly.
The diseases have also changed
Prior to World War II, life expectancy was determined primarily by diseases of poverty (infections, malnutrition, and poor hygiene). After the Second World War, there was a significant change in the people’s lifestyles and living conditions, which triggered also the transformation of diseases.
As a result of the use of piped, clean water, eating regular meals and healthier housing conditions, sanitation, the hygienic circumstances began to improve, thus cholera, dysentery, typhus, leprosy, etc. had almost disappeared. Vaccines and antibiotics have swept away diseases (variola, diphteria, pertussis/whooping cough, tuberculosis), which previously claimed the lives of too many victims.
However, instead of the old diseases, previously non-existent or very rare diseases appeared and began to spread rapidly. Today, hypertension, diabetes, COPD, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, pain, allergies, (mental) decline and dementia, tumours account for the vast majority of diseases.
They do not endanger your life directly, but they torment you for years, decades, until eventually one of their complications causes your death.
Medicine adapts to change
No matter whether you run to visit the doctor’s office everyday with your high blood pressure, diabetes, or joint complaints caused by your overweight, it won’t affect your condition! The role of doctors, especially GPs / family practitioners has changed.
While the success of appendectomy depends almost exclusively on the medical-surgical team, treating high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis is today only a few percent the responsibility of the doctor, and 96-98% your job.
Because of your first complaints, your doctor will examine you, and determine the diagnosis based on the test results. This needs to be done only once. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (or another persistent condition), this condition will accompany you for the rest of your life. It makes no sense to repeat the medical examination every week.
Once you have the diagnosis, it is the doctor’s job to prescribe the medications, and to recommend home therapeutic treatments. She/he also provides other advices, for example, suggests incorporating more exercise into your schedule, and a proper diet. The doctor’s job ends here, and you will have to visit her/him at most in the event of a significant change of your health status.
If you take the medication properly, apply the home treatment methods, follow the instructions, change your lifestyle, your condition may improve. If not… Well… as I said… the doctor has a minimal role in your improvement.
All chronic diseases work like this, that is, crucially, it’s up to you to get better!
Self-treatment methods
In most countries of the European Union, what I have described is natural today.
They know that a long-term illness requires daily, regular treatment and maintenance, which should not be performed in a hospital, not in a specialist clinic/outpatient clinic, and not even in a general practitioner’s office! It is not realistic for the patient to travel to the hospital/outpatient clinic/GP’s office on a daily basis, and line up for a treatment that would otherwise only take a few minutes. …and do this for decades?
The best place to treat a chronic illness is the patient’s home.
Technological advances provide tools that can be used safely and effectively without the presence of a physician, and which a patient can use in her/his home without the presence of (but as recommended by) the physician.
Basic skill
According to the official health statistics, at least one hundred million Europeans suffer from conditions that do not justify hospital treatment, but cause constant complaints, discomfort and suffering. The bigger problem, however, is that a long-term illness prevents you from working, and without it, you won’t earn an income. A persistent illness slowly impoverishes you, pushes you to the margins of society, and you will be on your own.
As a result of technological advances, today, the use of computers and mobile phones or the Internet has become almost indispensable. I consider knowing about home medical devices as knowledge that is essential for everyday life.
In my opinion, devices like TENS, EMS, MENS, therapeutic ultrasound (TUS), blood pressure, and blood glucose meter, etc., are just as important to a household as a plate, spoon, fork, or a knife.
My mission
A common feature of the latest technologies is that they are released sooner than the knowledge about them would spread. Initially, hardly a few people have a clue about a freshly launched device (such as a soft laser), few people know whether it is eaten or drunk.
If you look at the popular health magazines, you can see that they are predominantly supported by drug ads. Therefore, in addition to the textbook description of diseases, mainly their pharmacological treatment methods are described. At best, they mention new technologies, but you don’t get any meaningful information about them.
With my blog, I want to “patch” this gap. I write about what, with what and how you can (do to) improve your long-term illness.
Dr Zsolt Zátrok
Disclaimer
The writings, pictures, illustrations/figures, videos, as well as the related comments posted on the www.elethosszig.hu website are not considered medical advice.
Although Dr Zsolt Zátrok is an experienced doctor, he is not your therapeutist!
Dr Zsolt Zátrok does not have remote diagnostic or remote healing/telemedical abilities (providing telemedicine over the Internet).
The information presented in the blog reflect the personal conviction of Dr Zsolt Zátrok, and is not intended to be a substitute for medical examination and establishing medical diagnoses! Without the diagnosis, arbitrary treatments may impair your condition.
Dr Zsolt Zátrok is not responsible for the consequences of self-diagnosis and self-therapy based on the data and knowledge published on the website!
This blog was created for, being prepared and expanded by Dr Zsolt Zátrok to help the people, patients in need of proper information and help, get to know the medical technology devices and learn how to use them as intended.
These medical advices are valid and correct in general. However, an answer to the question, whether the given method or technique can be applied in your case, can only be given by your doctor or physical therapist, who knows your medical history, condition and treatments in person. Please, ask for their opinion!