Woman Doctor Treats Elderly Patients, Helps Them Live High-Quality Lives

Liu Meilin poses for a photo. [Women of China]

Liu Meilin is director of the geriatric internal-medicine department under Peking University First Hospital (PUFH). Liu has devoted the past 30-plus years to preventing and controlling cardiovascular disease (CVD). She has promoted a healthy lifestyle and good dietary habits to the public. She hopes more people will live high-quality lives.

Influencing People

Nowadays, CVD is the leading cause of death globally. In recent years, because of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits, the amount of people who suffer from CVD has increased in China. Now, there are nearly 290 million Chinese who suffer from CVD.

"Many people will be confined to bed for decades, and they will not be able to take care of themselves after they suffer from CVD. Some seemingly healthy people may die suddenly from CVD. That is the reason why we need to attach particular importance to prevent and control CVD. If patients can control risk factors and receive treatment for diseases (that might cause CVD, such as high blood pressure), nearly 90 percent of them can avoid suffering from CVD," says Liu.

"As for preventing and controlling CVD, people need to take measures … One aspect is to use medicines that have proved beneficial during clinical research. The other aspect is to change bad living habits and live a healthy lifestyle, including having a healthy diet, doing aerobic exercises, having a good mood, maintaining standard body weight and reducing stress. Now, many people seem to be healthy, and there is nothing wrong with them. However, they may actually be unhealthy. Cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction and even death, may be induced by habitually working overtime and staying up late. A healthy lifestyle is vitally important. Also, the lifestyle that we promote to prevent CVD can also help prevent tumors," says Liu.

She was associate chief physician of the Department of Cardiology under PUFH before 1999. She worked in the ICU (intensive care unit) at that time. She often needed to treat patients who suffered from acute myocardial infarction late at night. She gained rich clinical experience, and she was proud whenever she saved a patient's life.

Liu graduated from Uppsala University, in Sweden, in 2002, with a doctor's degree. When she was studying in Uppsala, she learned about the concept of disease prevention. "At that time, Professor Tom Saldeen, my tutor, asked me to read a research article written by an American physician. According to his research, people who do not eat fish are more likely to suffer from CVD … I was affected by the article. I realized that only the changing of dietary habits has a great influence on a person's health. In the past, I believed that I was capable because I mastered the therapeutic techniques, and because I was experienced in treating patients with severe CVD. I knew the importance of disease prevention after I went to Sweden," recalls Liu.

She has devoted more energy to preventing and treating CVD, promoting a healthy lifestyle and good dietary habits, and participating in public-service activities, since she returned to China. As a doctor, she believes she is responsible for promoting advanced health concepts.

Women's Cardiovascular Health

Liu has called on society to pay attention to women's cardiovascular health in recent years. She believes it is her inescapable duty, especially after having been named (earlier this year) a national March 8th Red-banner Holder. The Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) is the largest international congress of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China. Women's Health Forum, under the congress, was initiated in 2008. Liu organized the forum.

"In the past, there was some understanding of CVD. Many people thought most of the CVD patients were men, and that few women suffered from the disease. In fact, because of estrogen, women are less likely to suffer from CVD when they are young. However, women are apt to suffer from CVD after menopause. The disease has become the leading cause of death among women. The clinical manifestations of CVD among women are not typical, and the patients may be misdiagnosed. Women CVD patients need to be treated with therapies that differ from those used with men. Doctors must pay attention to gender differences when we treat patients for CVD. So, I initiated the forum," says Liu.

"Deepening the understanding of CVD not only benefits women, but also has an influence on their families. In China, women undertake more responsibilities in their families. The health of the whole family is closely related to the hostess' health concepts and dietary habits. So, I hope to change the lifestyle of families by changing the lifestyle of women," Liu continues.

People have paid more attention to women's health in recent years because of the women's health forum under GW-ICC.

Liu has written some articles about how women can prevent CVD. She stresses that medical workers should pay more attention to women's health, the features of CVD, disease diagnosis at an early stage and normalized treatment. She calls on society to pay more attention to women's health, and especially CVD among women, and she strives to improve women's health.

Enjoying Her Work

Liu has been a doctor since 1984, after she graduated from Peking University Health Science Center. However, studying medicine was not her original intention when she wrote the college-entrance examination.

"My mother was often sick, and she thought being a doctor was a good job. My parents hoped I would study medicine … I did not like learning by rote. I thought learning medicine was boring … I really liked being a doctor, and I was determined to become a good doctor, until I became an intern at a hospital. I felt happy when I helped patients, by treating their illnesses and giving them relief from pain," recalls Liu.

"We (doctors) need to devote our time and energy to our patients. We need to treat patients as well as continue to learn new knowledge. Every day, I keep learning after work. If we master advanced treatment technology, we can treat more patients. Many people in Western countries enjoy their work, as they work at what is of interest to them. They enjoy the happiness that is brought about by work. I also enjoy working as a doctor. I never regret becoming a doctor, and I want to benefit more people," Liu says.

The geriatric internal- medicine department under PUFH was established in 1990. It is more difficult for doctors to treat elderly patients. "Diseases of the elderly are complicated. Many elderly people suffer from several diseases. When we treat elderly patients for heart disease, we also need to offer intervention services … Promoting healthy aging is an important national policy, and it helps more elderly people live healthy, happy and high-quality lives. It is the best thing that we should do in an aging society," says Liu.

Liu Meilin (left) is at work. [Women of China]

(Women of China)