2010 was a year of awakening from the trance created by my conventional medical education and surgical profession. I was a complete workaholic, dedicating my life 24/7/365 to patients and hospital rounds, pursuing professional acclaim while neglecting my own body.
On January 10, 2010, I experienced a strange chest sensation and ran an ECG. My physician friend looked at the results in shock, asking, "Is this your ECG?" It showed severe irregular heart rhythm. He immediately prescribed emergency antiarrhythmic medicine and ordered a cardiology workup.
Those next 16 days of cardiac evaluation were the most challenging, introspective days of my life. Shattered, I realized: I was a highly skilled disease-care professional, but I knew almost nothing about preserving actual health.
I decided to rebuild my body. Re-studying physiology, biochemistry, and cell biology, I applied core health principles to myself. By January 10, 2013, when I took stock of my health gains and losses, my gains page was overflowing with energy, time, family connection, and zero stress, while my losses page was completely empty.
This eureka moment sparked my entry into health education: what saved my life can save the lives of millions.
