In the past two days, I have been experiencing a discomforting sensation in the location of my heart. Every few minutes, it feels like someone is squeezing my heart, although it is not painful and there are no other abnormal conditions. Initially, I thought it was temporary, but since it persisted for more than a day without improvement, and considering it involves the heart, I decided to see a doctor.
The receptionist and the doctor were both friendly, and my symptoms were surprisingly well described as feeling "ギュッと握られている感じがする" (feeling like the heart is being squeezed). Later, I asked if it would be painful and how long it would last. Afterward, I was taken for various examinations: electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and blood tests. Before the examinations, I did some research online, and the symptoms I currently have best match the feeling of angina, known as "心絞痛" in Chinese.
The doctor looked at the electrocardiogram and X-ray and said, "結構綺麗ですね" (the structure looks beautiful). However, since the electrocardiogram can only measure the current situation and the X-ray showed no significant problems with the heart, the severity can be temporarily ruled out. The doctor mentioned that excessive stress could also lead to such a condition, but recently, although there has been some increased stress, it hasn't reached such a level. Therefore, the doctor made an appointment for me to undergo a cardiac ultrasound examination to actually see if there are any major issues with the blood vessels.
Lastly, let's talk about the cost. 5,100 yen may seem expensive in the eyes of Taiwanese people (even though it already includes health insurance), but I think this price is just right, especially considering the various tests conducted on the same day. Taiwan's health insurance is too cheap, which can easily lead to abuse, but it seems that changing this situation is not something that can be done overnight.
Next, I'll briefly explain the health insurance system. The health insurance system in Japan is different from Taiwan. It is mainly divided into "National Health Insurance" and "Social Insurance." National Health Insurance is managed by the government as an insurance company, while Social Insurance is composed of associations. Currently, I am using TJK (Tokyo Information Service Industry Insurance), which is a type of social insurance that most working people join. In Japan, health insurance covers 30% of the expenses uniformly, unlike in Taiwan, where the payment is based on income brackets.
What's special about Japan is that they prioritize the medical classification system. It means that for minor illnesses, you go to a clinic first, and for more severe illnesses or comprehensive examinations, you go to a large hospital. Otherwise, if you directly register at a large hospital, you will be charged a high registration fee. Also, you can't just walk into the emergency room and register. Usually, they only accept patients whose conditions have rapidly deteriorated or those brought in by an ambulance. Actually, this is quite good because it prevents a bunch of people without serious problems from occupying the emergency room and abusing medical resources or going to a large hospital for no reason to get medication.
Recently, I read a news report from Japan titled "[50代に糖尿病で亡くなった男が残す痛切な筆録]" (Heartbreaking Record Left by a Man Who Died from Diabetes in His 50s). It described his journey and diary of being diagnosed with diabetes. In the face of illness, human strength is truly insignificant. I hope everyone takes good care of their health.
