近數十年來,醫療已取得巨大的進步。例如,光纖的發現讓醫生能夠仔細檢查胃或腸道,並確認問題部位。電腦斷層掃描能呈現3D影像,而無需使用有害的X光。重症醫學、移植醫學和基因工程如今已能夠解決過去的不治之症。但目前仍有許多未知的科學領域,例如那些在現代文明發展下而出現的疾病。
Huge progress has been made in medical practice over recent decades. For example, the discovery of fiber optics has made it possible to take a close look at the stomach or intestine and identify problem zones. Computer tomography creates three-dimensional images without using harmful X-rays. Intensive care medicine, transplantation medicine and genetic engineering are now making it possible to tackle diseases previously regarded as incurable. But there is still much uncharted scientific territory, for example with regard to diseases that have only emerged with our civilization.
5.疼痛新療法–新方法治療老問題
Pain–A New Approach to an Old Complaint
腦部不同部位之間的複雜交互作用會導致疼痛,腦部能根據個別情況決定疼痛是否會被感知,及感知的疼痛有多劇烈。醫生能在疼痛管理時控制這種能力,對於有幻痛的病患,醫生使用心理治療來消除疼痛記憶;對於牙科病患,醫生使用催眠來抑制疼痛,甚至進行腦部手術時也能單獨使用催眠作為麻醉方法,其他領域的醫學治療也能用於疼痛管理。醫生發現用於泌尿科的衝擊波治療能應用在刺激緊繃的肌肉放鬆,傳統中醫的針灸也成功用於處理膝痛、腰痛、頭痛及背痛。