The impact of modern medicine

Medical science has come a long way from its inception. Humans are now living longer than ever before, and many diseases which were once considered life-threatening are no longer a big deal at all. The impact of modern medical practices has revolutionized mankind on this planet, and things are only going to get even better from now on.

Ancient medicine was based on the principle of theorization. Diseases were thought to occur because of an imbalance among the various humours in the body, among various other causes. Many diseases were attributed to sin or the work of the devil. A doctor was a highly respected professional who was bound by a set of principles. The Hippocratic Oath, which originated in Greece about 2500 years ago, is still taken by every doctor before the commencement of his professional practice. Doctors were looked up to as healers who possessed great knowledge about the workings of the human body.

In spite of this, medical care was still at a nascent stage. Unscientific practices such as blood-letting, purging and treatment with snake venom still occupied a significant position. As a result of this, many diseases were considered incurable and the overall life expectancy was quite poor.

The impact of modern medicine has changed many of those prevailing conditions. The advent of antibiotics has been a potent weapon against a multitude of diseases. The advances in radiology such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans have made diagnosis of diseases a lot easier. Modern surgical techniques such as transplants and bypass surgeries have given millions a new lease of life. Many disabling conditions such as cataract and arthritis have ceased to be a major problem. The development of vaccination has also made several health afflictions a thing of the past. Smallpox, once a deadly disease, has now been eradicated from the world. Recently, India has also become free of polio and neonatal tetanus.

It is interesting to note that modern medicine has incorporated several techniques from ancient medicine as well. Honey, prescribed in Ayurvedic texts as a potent healing agent, is now being preferred by many doctors all over the world for dressing wounds. Some of the primary drugs used nowadays to treat heart failure, high blood pressure and malaria, among others, have been tested and found to be effective based on the knowledge derived from ancient Indian and Chinese texts. The beneficial power of meditation and yoga is now accepted all over the world. Many surgical techniques described in books hundreds of years old are also a part of mainstream medicine nowadays.

Despite so many advances, the journey is far from over. New discoveries in modern medicine are being made at a relentless rate and there are still many areas in the world who have not yet received the complete benefit of this impact. The onus is on us to ensure that no one remains deprived of this – only then, can it be said that the impact of modern medicine has truly been all-encompassing.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.