Top Eight Reasons/Diseases Why Japanese Will See a Doctor

In Japan we have social medicine. There is no reason to NOT go to a doctor. Practically EVERYONE has coverage. Do you hear that America?

Old people can often be found congregating in the waiting rooms of hospitals. There is a story about a group of old women in a hospital waiting room. One asks another where is Suzuki-san. And the other replies, "She didn’t come today because she didn’t feel well."

There are however reasons why Japanese do go to the hospital.

8. Tuberculosis – 10 in 100,000 will see a doctor.

7. Liver cirrhosis – 55 in 100,000 are told to give up drinking.

6. Heart disease – 157 in 100,000 are told to exercise, give up smoking and eat right.

5. Diabetes – 173 in 100,000 are told to follow #5 out the door.

4. Cancer – 203 in 100,000 will not be told that they have cancer but will keep going – Japanese doctors don’t tell, generally.

3. Cerebrovascular disease – 275 in 100,000 will go to the doctor.

2. Mental disorders – 415 in 100,000 think something is wrong with them but can’t remember why they went to the doctor to find out.

1. Hypertension – 477 in 100,000 is the number one reason/disease why Japanese will see a doctor. This number, however, is way down from its peak in 1996 – the heart/beginning of the long recession in Japan. But…more women suffer from hypertension than men – get the kids off to school, get the husband off to work, pick the kids up, take them to the tutor, to soccer practice, make dinner, clean the house, arrange the bath……..

Yep, women would be more tense.

Why do you go to the doctor?