Healthcare is changing
rapidly and expectations are rising. Gone are the
days when one was expected to suffer pain &
other chronic diseases in silence. Everyone
desires to have a better quality of life. Quality of life means different
things to different people. “Quality of
Life is an individual’s perception of his position
in life in the context of the culture and value
system in which he lives, and in relation to his
goals, expectations, standards, and concerns”
(WHO, 1994). Physical
functioning, psychological well-being, social
functioning, freedom from disease symptoms and
treatment-related side-effects are the main
dimensions to be included in Quality of
life.
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Just imagine life of a
cerebral palsied child ( and that of the parents
too), or life after a stroke with aftereffects, or
life with intractable pains and / or with chronic
musculoskeletal disorders and so on. These
conditions are not fatal but severe morbidity adds
to the woes. It takes
away everything from life like looking after
oneself, working efficiently, enjoyment,
socialization if not life.
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.This I realized
as early as in 1979 and added acupuncture &
then physical medicine & rehabilitation in a
modest way to improve patients’ quality of life. These all are not curable by only allopathy But something can be done and should be done. Here
comes the real meaning of improvement in quality
of life by improving health and quality of life by
bringing together the best of West (modern
medicine) and East (Acupuncture) to provide
healthcare that is safe, effective, affordable and
accessible to individuals, families and
communities. This is adding life to years; this is
nothing but “rehabilitation”. The term “adding
life to years” is more meaningful and acceptable
rather than “rehabilitation”. I adopted the WHO
slogan “adding life to years” (1982). Recently
most medical journals, health centers are
stressing on offering better “Quality of Life”.
That is why it is said that “ILLNESS is inevitable
but suffering is optional”.
Now, let us look at our middle aged &
geriatric population. Most of them get
osteo-arthritis at knees, spine and other joints.
We have no drugs to cure, most of them are advised
not to squat, not to sit cross legs and to use
commode etc. Imaging how difficult for our rural
& Indian cultured populations to adopt such
things so easily. Social, finance and problems of
space within house make them to use half squat
and/ or standing posture for natural calls. Not
only these postures are painful or awkward, they
in turn increase the disability & pain. They
are shy to tell others and suffer in silence.
Is there any answer for such problem? Yes!
Acupuncture alone or acupuncture with simple
exercises (therapeutic) can help most of them if
not all. Acupuncture can not cure arthritis but
can improve quality of Life. Acupuncture relieves
pain without side effects, improves range of
movements, improves muscle functions, improves
immunity, improves sleep, improves appetite, and
above all generates of feeling of well being. This
is nothing but “Adding Life to Years”. That is why
it is said Pain is inevitable, suffering is
optional. Add life to years with
acupuncture.
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