The Night I Stopped Believing in Medicine
How watching a young man die changed everything I thought I knew about health, healing, and what it means to truly save a life.
Why would a passionate medical student, dedicated to healing, find herself disillusioned with the very field she once adored?
Read my story on how my dream came to life:
And today’s article is the story of how this love was reshaped.
The Night That Changed Everything
It was a cold winter evening. The kind of night where even the hospital walls felt tired.
I was just a fourth-year medical student, buried in paperwork behind the ER nurse’s station with my friend—half-asleep, half-starving, going through the endless rhythm of patient histories.
And then, the code hit.
“Code 99, CPR Room. All resuscitation team members report immediately.”
There was a split-second pause in the room, like the air held its breath.
Then chaos.
We heard running—nurses, doctors, interns—all rushing down the corridor. My friend and I dropped our pens and followed the noise. As we reached the resuscitation room, a woman burst through the double doors, barefoot, screaming. Her voice cracked with terror.
"My son, my son—please, save him!"
He was 32.
I still remember how surreal it felt to see someone that young on that table—lifeless, his shirt cut open, the cold electrodes stuck to his skin. The chief cardiology resident was already yelling orders, pumping his chest, the rhythm fierce and fast. We joined the line to rotate through chest compressions. One by one, we pressed down on his sternum, as if we could press life back into his body.
His name was Amir. A father of two. On his wrist, a tiny handmade bracelet—probably from one of his kids. He came home late, had dinner, sat on the couch… and never got up.
No warning. No disease history. Just like that, his heart stopped.
An hour later, we lost him.
The silence in the room after they called it was heavier than any grief I’d ever known. His mother sank to the ground outside the door. No one had the heart to look her in the eye.
That night, I locked myself in the pavilion room and cried.
And the worst part? He wasn’t sick. Not really. His charts came back clean—except for one thing: years of high stress, bad food, no exercise, and barely four hours of sleep on a good night.
With a positive familial history it was a slow death in fast-forward.
We found out his father had died of a heart attack at 72.
Amir died 40 years younger.
That number still haunts me.
That was the moment something cracked in me. And I’ve seen similar scenarios many times since then. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Not because medicine didn’t work—but because we were using it only like a fire extinguisher in a house already burned to the ground.
I had always loved medicine. But from that moment on, I knew I couldn’t love it the same way anymore.
Not if we only showed up after people were already dying.
Not if no one was talking about why this was happening in the first place.
The Awakening: A Medical Student's Journey
In the hallowed halls of medical school, I embarked on a journey fueled by a fervent desire to heal. The rhythmic cadence of lectures, the scent of antiseptics, and the weight of the stethoscope around my neck symbolized my commitment. Yet, amidst this pursuit, an unsettling realization took root.
Day after day, I encountered patients ensnared by chronic diseases—diabetes, heart disease, hypertension. Our interventions, though grounded in evidence-based medicine and effective, often felt like mere band-aids on festering wounds. We treated symptoms, but the underlying causes mostly remained unaddressed. The question haunted me:
Why are we perpetually reacting to disease rather than preventing it?
"We are not made to live in emergency mode. Yet most of us do."
— Emily Nagoski, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
The Limitations of Reactive Medicine
Evidence-based medicine has undeniably revolutionized disease treatment. However, its focus predominantly lies in managing conditions post-diagnosis. A study published in PubMed emphasizes that while medical interventions have advanced, they often address diseases after onset, neglecting preventive measures that could mitigate these conditions from arising in the first place.
Modern lifestyles have ushered in a surge of chronic diseases. Sedentary behaviors, poor dietary choices, and chronic stress have become ubiquitous, leading to a decline in overall well-being. This not only burdens individuals but also strains societal infrastructures and disrupts our harmony with nature.
"The physician treats, but nature heals."
— Hippocrates
Embracing Lifestyle Change: A Holistic Approach to Well-being
The paradigm shift towards lifestyle modification offers a beacon of hope. Adopting healthier habits can enhance physical health, bolster mental clarity, and foster emotional fulfillment. Beyond personal benefits, these changes ripple outward, strengthening relationships, nurturing families, and cultivating vibrant communities. Aligning our lifestyles with nature's rhythms further deepens our connection to the world around us.PubMed+1PubMed+1
Research underscores the profound impact of lifestyle choices. A study highlighted by Verywell Health reveals that regular physical activity not only mitigates chronic disease risk but also elevates mood and energy levels. Similarly, dietary patterns emphasizing whole foods and plant-based nutrients have been linked to reduced cancer risks, as noted in Time magazine.Verywell HealthTime
The Power of Self-Awareness in Crafting a Healthier Life
True transformation begins with introspection. Understanding our strengths, acknowledging our weaknesses, and delving into factors like sleep patterns, hormonal balances, gut health, past traumas, and innate curiosities pave the way for authentic lifestyle changes. This self-awareness becomes the cornerstone upon which a healthier, more fulfilling life is built.
The Ripple Effect: How Chronic Diseases Impact Families and Society
In the quiet, sterile hallways of the hospital, I didn’t just see patients in pain—I saw their families hurting too. Chronic illness doesn’t only affect the person who’s sick. It puts stress on everyone around them. It can change family relationships, create tension, and bring emotional and financial pressure that lingers for years.
One study on PubMed explains just how deeply chronic diseases affect families, showing why we need to care for the whole person—and the people around them—not just treat the illness.PubMed
The societal ramifications are equally profound. As patient numbers swell, healthcare systems grapple with resource allocation, often prioritizing disease management over prevention. This reactive stance perpetuates a cycle where quality care becomes elusive, and the essence of medicine—to heal and prevent—gets overshadowed.
The Science Speaks: Unhealthy Lifestyles and the Surge of Chronic Diseases
Data paints a stark picture. The prevalence of chronic diseases has escalated globally, with lifestyle factors playing a pivotal role. Studies have established correlations between sedentary behaviors, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and the rise of conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.PubMed
Conversely, embracing healthier lifestyles has shown promising outcomes. Research indicates that lifestyle modifications can prevent a significant proportion of inflammatory bowel disease cases. Furthermore, such changes enhance life quality, uplift moods, and empower individuals to forge brighter futures for themselves and subsequent generations.PubMed
The Butterfly Effect: Small Changes, Monumental Impact
Philosophy and science converge on the notion that minor behavioral shifts can instigate profound transformations. The ancient Chinese medical philosophy emphasized prevention, advocating for harmony between body and environment. This preventive ethos resonates with the concept that individual choices can catalyze widespread societal change.
As the Quran imparts, "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." This profound wisdom underscores the power of personal transformation as a precursor to broader societal evolution.
A Call to Action: Embrace the Journey Towards Holistic Health
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
— Benjamin Franklin
Looking back on my journey through medicine, what started as disappointment has now turned into a deep passion for helping people change their lives—before it’s too late.
I know some factors like genetics are very effective, but I know a patient with a strong familial history who had delayed diabetes and its complications for 18 years with healthy lifestyle. And 18 more years of healthy life is a lot.
Real health isn’t just about pills or treatments. It’s about the small, conscious choices we make every day. It’s about knowing ourselves, listening to our bodies, and living in a way that feels more natural and true.
I’m inviting you to start this journey with me. Begin by turning inward. Make one small change. Then another. Watch how it impacts not just your health, but your energy, your relationships—your whole life.
Together, we can move from reacting to illness to preventing it. And in doing so, we can build a brighter, stronger future—for ourselves, our families, and everyone who comes after us.
Start today. The version of you a few years from now will be so glad you did.
References:
The impact of chronic illness on the health and well-being of family members
Lifestyle medicine: the future of chronic disease management
Lifestyle factors for the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease
12 Benefits of Regular Exercise, Backed by Research
6 Things to Eat to Reduce Your Cancer Risk
The 17 ways you can slash your risk of stroke, depression and dementia all at once revealed
Want to Live Long? Lifestyle Matters More Than Genes