Article Written By: Dr. ARVIND NERAL RAIPUR: Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist who wrote of his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, wrote: "Man is not destroyed by suffering; he is destroyed by suffering without meaning. One of the challenges physicians face is to help people find meaning and acceptance in the midst of suffering and chronic ill- ness. Medical ethicists have reminded us that religion and spirituality form the basis of meaning and pur- pose for many people. At the same time, while patients struggle with the physical aspects of their dis- ease, they have other pain as well: pain related to mental and spiritual suffering, to an inability to engage the deepest questions of life. The technological advances of the past century tended to change the focus of medicine from a caring, service oriented model to a technological, cure-oriented model. Technology has led to phenomenal advances in medicine and has given us the ability to prolong life. However, in the past few decades physicians have attempted to balance their care by reclaiming medicine's more spiritual roots, recognizing that until mod- erntimes spirituality was often linked with health care. Spiritual or compassionate care involves serving the whole person the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Such service is inherently a spiritual activity. The word compassion means "to suffer with." Compassionate care calls physicians to walk with people in the midst of their pain, to be partners with patients rather than experts dictating informations to them. True healing requires answers to these questions. Cure is not possible for many illnesses, but I firmly believe that there is always room for healing. Healing can be experienced as acceptance of illness and peace with one's life. This healing, I believe, is at its core spiritual.Many studies have shown that people desire to be remembered. Some wish to fulfill this desire through their family and others through their life's accomplishments or impact. Some observational studies suggest that people who have regular spiritual practices tend to live longer, Increased levels of IL-6 are associated with an increased incidence of disease. A research study involving 1700 older adults showed that those who attended religions activities were half as likely to have elevated levels of IL-6. The authors hypothesized that religious commitment may improve stress control by offering better coping mechanisms, richer social support, and the strength of personal values and worldview. Spiritual health is that aspect of our well-being which organizes the values, the relationships and the meaning and purpose of our lives. Patients and healthcare professionals alive have experienced a growing recognition of the importance of spiritual health as a foundation for physical health and well-being. This well-being motivates individuals to care for themselve and optimize their health so that they can serve their Community and the God. As a reformed healthcare system places greater emphasis on etiology and prevention as opposed to relief of symptoms, creative and holistic partnerships between the medical profession and spiritual care givers can and will emerge. In studying the etiology of illnesses, healthcare providers must examine the underlying social problems of the day: violence, divorce, unemployment and a host of other factors that lead to disintegrating relationships. Considering the importance of the relationship between physical and spiritual well-being, providers must make spiritual assessments at the time of any triage. Healthcare institutions must seek partnerships with community organizations and leaders to monitor the effects of societal issues that lead to physical and spiritual distress. Characteristics of spiritual health include life free from addictive in habits, finds fulfillment in self, others, work and leisure and accepts limitations of humanity. It takes time to medidateor communicate with the Holy and finds illness as enabling, not disabling. It emphasizes that mortality is inescapable yet redeeming and takes responsibility for health. This gives the concept of health to serve others and balances between dependence and freedom. It brings the combination of spatiality with physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. As the healthcare system moves from a traditional medical model to a more culturally sensitive and holistic model, several lessons may be critical. Illness is often a metaphor for what is out of sync in our lives. Often illness is not an event but a process, which likely began months or years before the appearance of physical manifestations of disease. Resentment, anger, jealousy, anxiety, and unresolved grief are the silent and relentless precursors to illness. Social support, affirmation and a positive outlook have beneficial effects on the healing process. Spiritual commitment tends to enhance recovery from illness and surgery. A study of heart transplant patients showed that those who participated in religious activities and said their beliefs were important complied better with follow-up treatment, had improved physical functioning at the 12 month follow-up visit, had higher levels of self-esteem and had less anxiety and fewer health worries . In general, people who don't worry as much tend to have better health outcomes. Spirituality enables people to worry less, to let go and live in the present moment. Article Written By: Dr. ARVIND NERAL, Professor & H.O.D., Department of Pathology Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur ( C.G.)