Advice From a 104-Year-Old Doctor

Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, from Japan, turned 104 recently. One of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators, Hinohara's magic touch is legendary. Since 1941, he has been healing patients  and teaching. He has published around many books since his 75th birthday, including "Living Long, Living Good", which sold more than 1.2 million copies.

As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Dr.Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life - a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself. Nearly 10 years ago, he was interviewed, and gave his advice for a long and healthy life. Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara's main points for a long and happy life are: 

1. All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common: None are overweight.

For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat.

2. Always plan ahead.

My schedule book is already full until next year, with lectures and my usual hospital work.

3. There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65.

The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese people were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100...

4. Share what you know.

I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

5. When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure.

Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery? I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

6. To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff.

I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

7. My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler."

My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

8. Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it.

If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: we all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

9. Don't be crazy about amassing material things.

Remember: you don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place.

10. Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors.

We designed St. Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

11. Science alone can't cure or help people.

Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

12. Life is filled with incidents.

On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

13. Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do.

My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at Duke University in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

14. It's wonderful to live long

Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours a day, seven days a week, and love every minute of it.

15. Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot

We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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Ways to deal with Toxic people

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn’t so. Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity.  If you can, avoid spending too much time with people who are indicative of these behaviors, you’ll feel a lot happier.

Here’s how you can best deal with a toxic-persona:
Question yourself
If you know someone who insists on destructively dictating the emotional atmosphere, then be clear: they are toxic.  If you are suffering because of their attitude, and your compassion, patience, advice, and general attentiveness doesn’t seem to help them, and they don’t seem to care one bit, then ask yourself, “Do I need this person in my life?” When you delete toxic people from your environment it becomes a lot easier to breathe.

Stop giving them leverage
Don’t be fooled.  Short-term ease equals long-term pain for you in a situation like this.  Toxic people don’t change if they are being rewarded for not changing.  Constant drama and negativity is never worth putting up with.

Speak up!
Do not accept their behavior.
Most of these people know they’re doing the wrong thing and will back down surprisingly quickly when confronted.  In most social settings people tend to keep quiet until one person speaks up, so SPEAK UP.
Define boundaries
Your dignity may be attacked, ravaged and disgracefully mocked, but it can never be taken away unless you willingly surrender it.  It’s all about finding the strength to defend your boundaries. Demonstrate that you won’t be insulted or belittled.  

Be practical
Sometimes it makes sense to be sympathetic with toxic people whom you know are going through a difficult time, or those who are suffering from an illness.  There’s no question about it, some toxic people are genuinely distressed, depressed, or even mentally and physically ill, but you still need to separate their legitimate issues from how they behave toward you.  

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                           https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              

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How to defuse a child’s tantrum with one question

This isn't my story, but by a mother of a tantrum child.

This parenting tip could change the game with your little ones.

I have not read every child psychology book, nor did I take a course on how to avoid/stop/end a child’s tantrum. But because of a personal experience with my 5-year-old daughter, I really want to share a “formula” that I learned recently so that people can change course when kids insist on getting all worked up over something small.

But first, I need to tell you a story. My daughter started kindergarten and she was a little anxious. She kept saying she wasn’t going to be able to keep up. And this behavior ended up unfolding at home: she was increasingly throwing tantrums over anything, even the smallest most meaningless things. On the school’s recommendation, we booked a few sessions with a child psychologist so that the child could talk about what she was feeling in hopes things would calm down.

Among the many tips that psychologist  gave us, there was one that I found fantastic, although it was very simple — and that’s exactly why I feel it’s worth sharing.

The psychologist explained to me that we need to make children feel respected in the sense of acknowledging what they are feeling. And so, at the time of a crisis, whatever the reason for it, we need to help kids (ages 5 and up) think and figure out what is going on with them. When we acknowledge what they are going through, and at the same time make them participate in solving the problem, we can disarm the tantrum.

More objectively: When a tantrum starts — either because the doll’s arm came off, or because it’s time to go to bed, or because the homework did not come out the way she wanted, or because he did not want to do a chore — whatever the reason, we can ask them the following question, looking into their eyes and in a calm voice: “Is this a big problem, a medium problem, or a small problem?” 

For my daughter, those moments of sincerely thinking about what was going on around her have become magical, at least here at home. And every time I ask the question and she answers, we find a way to solve the problem, starting from her perception of where to look for the solution. A small problem is always quick and simple to solve. There are some problems she considers medium. They will most likely be solved, but not at that instant, and she has to understand that there are things that need some time to happen. If a problem is serious — and obviously what is serious from a child’s point-of-view is not something to be dismissed, even though it may seem silly to us — you might need to talk it over more and help her understand that sometimes there are things that do not go exactly the way we want.
 
I can give many examples where I have used this little question recently. During one instance, we were choosing clothes for school. My daughter often makes a big fuss over her outfits, especially when it’s cooler out. To summarize: she wanted to wear her favorite pair of pants but they were in the wash. She started to melt down and I asked, “Alice, is this a big, medium, or small problem?” She looked at me sheepishly and said quietly, “Small.” And I once again explained that we already knew that small problems are easy to solve. I asked for her suggestions on how we would solve that small problem (I learned that it is important to give her time to think and respond) and she said, “Choosing other pants.” And I added, “And you have more than one pair of pants to choose from.” She smiled and went to get another pair of pants. I congratulated her on having solved the problem herself because, of course, valuing the solution is an essential aspect, to finish off the story.

I do not think there are any miraculous solutions for raising children. The other day I was thinking about how it is a real saga, this mission of putting people in the world: going through all the phases, walking along paths that sometimes lead us into an ambush, having the humility to turn back and try another way. In all honesty, this advice comes from my great desire to share a light that appeared on my path as a mother, and I hope from the heart that it will work for you too.


  this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
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Cancer: Breaking the bad news to patients

For Dr Ranjana Srivastava, who began working as an oncologist in Australia 10 years ago, breaking the news to patients suffering from cancer is part of the job.

"A doctor must be able to read a patient in order to break bad news. I ensure they have at least one close family member present when I tell them. This way, the patient has another pair of ears as well as support after I leave the room," she says, over a telephone call from Melbourne.    

Srivastava's decision to be a cancer specialist, she says, was influenced by her experience of watching her grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer, slip into a coma and pass away. She was 10 at the time. While the family consulted a reputed doctor in Bhagalpur, Bihar, where she grew up, they were given little information about the disease or what the patient would go through. "I wish that the oncologist had held my grandmother's hand and told her what to expect," she says.

In her book Tell me the truth; conversations with my patients about cancer, life and death (published by Harper Element), Srivastava uses real patient experiences to discuss how different patients deal with the news and how families can cope.

The C-word: According to the World Cancer Report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly seven lakh Indians die of cancer every year, while over 10 lakh are newly diagnosed with some form of the disease. While doctors are consumed by growing queues in hospital waiting rooms, and the churn of diagnosis and treatment, in most cases, patients are left with inadequate knowledge of their condition.

In many cases, patients have a hint about the disease while going through the tests. The prolonged wait to be diagnosed only adds to the stress. Srivastava prefers to tell a patient that she needs to discuss serious news and suggests calling in a family member. It's important to be prompt in organising such a meeting, she says.

"Cancer is a frightening term and countless patients have said that once they hear the word, they are incapable of processing anything more. So, I keep the initial discussion short until the patient has gained some control of their thoughts," she says.

There are many patients, who want to protect their family, and insist on hearing the news alone, Srivastava ensures her staff or a social worker is present to talk to the patient. "This doesn't mean that they will never want their family involved; often it's a matter of time before they let others in," she explains.

Focus on facts: Not all cancer is terminal, especially when the disease is caught in the early stages. "It is vital to inform and educate patients about their particular cancer, available treatment and outcomes," says Srivastava. A large part of her job, she reveals, includes listening to patients who are simply left feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Families go through a particularly hard conundrum. They feel bad for the patient but don't know how to help, she says. Part of her role is also to speak with families about how they can best help the patient.

Ask Questions: The initial shock, patients have revealed, leaves them with a lot of questions but they are unable to articulate them. It's important to tell patients to expect this. Srivastava advises them to write down questions as they come up.

No question is too small or simple to ask, reiterates Srivastava.

"Never be afraid of sounding silly or uneducated in front of your doctor.
Cancer is a highly specialised field and many experts in the profession also aren't able to fully understand the workings of the human body," she offers to families seeking answers. If you are unable to understand medical terms, ask the doctor to simplify it in plain language.

If you are a web junkie, be careful not to trust all the information you find online. Srivastava suggests taking along the research to clarify it with a doctor.

Dealing with pain: When it comes to palliative care, an area of medicine that deals with controlling pain and ensuring comfort of the patient when a disease is not curable, Srivastava's focus includes dealing with anxiety and emotions as well.

For many patients, home-based palliative care is suitable, where trained workers monitor symptoms and provide advice under the supervision of doctors. Patients who are too ill to be managed at home or whose complex symptoms require closer attention may be admitted to an in-patient hospice for stabilisation or end-of-life care.

Barriers to palliative care remain with a lack of awareness and availability of facilities. "When people believe that palliative care equates to just letting a patient die, it is natural to avoid discussing it and even being against such care. But the focus is on making sure the patient lives with dignity," explains Srivastava.

In Melbourne, Srivastava conducts a communication workshop for healthcare professionals on dealing with patients. Key notes include; talk less, listen more; be comfortable in silence; look for and respond to emotion; and avoid information overload.

Her efforts are to allow an open doctor-patient relationship. She says, "It is fundamental to cancer treatment, which relies not only on medications but also on human touch which is vital." 

 

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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