Aging vs Otolaryngological Needs/Services in Asia: A Sociological Appraisal Volume 6 - Issue 1

Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi*

• Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Alzahra University, Iran

Received: January 21, 2021   Published: February 08, 2021

Corresponding author: Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Alzahra University, Iran

DOI: 10.32474/SJO.2021.06.000226

Abstract PDF

Mini Review

Population as a global variable has sociologically witnessed a great change since 1950, during which population quantitatively changed status; increased and aged. In this way and due to many factors including social change, aging gradually appeared. Aging people as depreciated individuals are highly in need of general medication, especially otolaryngological services. Aging people are very vulnerable people. They experience more health disorders as compared with younger age groups whose bodies are stronger and healthier. Aging people are double-sidedly increasing in Asian countries; those born in cities, plus those added from rural areas in their old age. Sad to say, older people in Asia have more increased as compared with medical facilities in majority of countries. Those in balanced situation even face more elderly people in the years to come. As women live longer compared with men, they get hurt more than men who live shorter. As observed in table above, Asian countries had almost half the life expectancy in 1950 as compared with the year 2000. As earlier, infants and children were widely subject to death, life expectancy used to remain low. In this way, many parents could not even have the chance of seeing their grandchildren. Aging and seniority cause a large number of diseases and disorders. Asia with about fifty countries is facing increasing aging people. Many countries of the continent do not have enough medical doctors particularly specialty for aging people (geriatricians). Those seniors with disease, or want to seek anti-aging therapies, usually refer to otolaryngologists for their treatments.

List of Selected Diseases/Disorders that Aging People Face in Asia

a) Digestive disorders

b) Pain in stomach

c) Nausea

d) Vomiting

e) Diarrhea

f) Constipation

g) Unexpected weight loss

h) Tiredness

i) Bloody stools

j) Celiac disease

k) Jaundice

l) Heart burn

m) Chests burn.

n) Reflux

o) Sinus infections

p) Coughing

q) Hoarseness, or sense of pressure in throat

r) Body aches as a symptom of flu

s) Sore throat

t) Sinusitis

u) Thyroid disorders

v) Swallowing disorders

w) Hearing loss

x) And many more

The elderly people facing disorders, they usually see an otolaryngologist. As otolaryngologists specialize in both medicine and surgery, they do not normally need to refer patients to other physicians to follow treatments. Plastic surgery as a surgical specialty involves restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of human body. It is practiced in some countries of Asia in the form of cosmetic surgery among some groups of aging people such as those in South Korea, Japan, Iran, China etc. to make them younger and more attractive. Some Asian countries like China widely use Traditional Chinese Medicine to cure patients in need. The practice includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy etc. [1]. Kampo medicine or the Chinese medicine has been used in Japan since the 7th century [2]. Many other East Asian countries use Chinese Medicine including South Korea. India too, uses Greek or Perso-Arabic Medicine as a part of its medications. Howsoever, Asian countries are mostly and widely dependent on modern Western medicine. Many countries in Asia in short of otolaryngologists, have to refer to general practitioners for their treatments, or inevitably refer to herbal medicines [3,4]. As Asia is facing increasing population, it needs to improve and increase its medical services. Sociologically speaking, it is advised to ever balance population with medical improvement in all the Asian countries.

References

1. (2015) Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Center for Contemporary and Integrative Health.
2. Subhuti D (2010) Kampo Medicine: Practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Japan.
3. World Population Data Sheet (2020) Population Reference Bureau, Washington DC, USA.
4. (2017) World Population Prospect.