Lifestyle Illnesses In Japan

What happens when you find yourself with a life-long condition in Japan?

Living in Japan isn’t all sunshine and sushi, and yet many people make it a permanent move. With all the culture shock, work and immigration factors to consider, many may neglect their long-term health. I’m guilty of that myself, and as a result, I ended up with a health scare a year ago. I’m not the only one; many foreign residents also discover unexpected health conditions during their time in Japan. In this article, we’ll cover common lifestyle illnesses in Japan, why they’re often found late and feature real-life stories.

What Is A Lifestyle Illness?

A lifestyle illness, or seikatsu shukan byo (生活習慣病), is a non-communicable disease caused by a person’s lifestyle or habits. The term was first proposed in 1996 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Council on Public Health, intended to differentiate it from non-communicable diseases and conditions strongly associated with aging.

A lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits and smoking are the main factors behind developing a lifestyle illness. However, your ethnicity and family history can also influence how your health evolves.

Some common lifestyle illnesses in Japan include:

Lifestyle illnesses often come without any warning symptoms or with symptoms that can easily be ignored or attributed to another health issue. It is typically a condition that can’t be cured outright but can be managed, often with prescription medicines and lifestyle changes. Illness rates in general increase dramatically from about age 40, which is why your Japanese national health insurance rate increases at that age, too.

“You have to start paying for the Long-Term Care Insurance Premium at 40, in order to provide for the long-term care needs of the elderly, but also for anyone over 40 who has an age or lifestyle-related illness. It’s expensive, but beneficial” (Keiko, Japanese, 31).

Getting A Diagnosis in Japan

If something feels “off”, see your doctor as soon as you can. As women, our medical needs are often ignored, so advocate for yourself or maybe get a friend or partner involved, too. To learn more about the process of consulting a doctor in Japan, refer to this article.

In my case, I was getting routine blood work when I was diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency and a couple of levels my doctor called “interesting.” I’m not sure I like hearing a medical professional say that in any language, but in Japanese, it somehow feels more worrisome. Going to the doctor doesn’t have to be scary. If you aren’t comfortable speaking Japanese, it’s not always easy to express what your health concerns are to a doctor here, either.

“I smoked, I gained weight while living in Japan. I had a check-up, and when I mentioned some breathing trouble to my wife, she told my doctor, and he had me go to the hospital for some testing. Long story short, I had a tumor in my lungs. I had to quit smoking, change my diet and lose weight… It took years to undo the damage I did to myself” (Scott, American, 57).

“I’m no spring chicken, so when I was told I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease), I assumed it was from age. No, apparently my diet had been doing me in for years and I never noticed it until I got these yellow spots on my eyelids” (Kathy, American, 65).

“I got homesick, living in Japan for so long, and I started eating more dishes like those my mother made. I was diagnosed with hypertension after my employee health check” (Sarah, British, 43).

Living With A Lifestyle Illness

Being diagnosed with a lifestyle illness is a sign that, while serious, you can still reduce the effects of the condition on your health. That being said, making drastic changes to your lifestyle is easier said than done. Starting to exercise, changing your diet, stopping bad habits, taking medications and that with whatever else you have going on in your life is a huge hurdle.

“I work long hours. I know I live a sedentary lifestyle, but now I’ve been told I need to start moving or else I’m going to die before I’m 60. It’s ridiculous, really. I spend my best years working hard, and then all that work means I’ll die before I can retire?” (Masato, Japanese-American, 50).

“When I was first diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, my first thought was to move home. Health care is free, or at least cheaper there, and I’d have my family to support me. I still consider it when things get tough, but I’m getting better at coping” (Lindsey, Canadian, 42).

“Hearing that I had cancer was like a punch in the gut. I’ve never felt more alone in my life, and I know I went a bit anti-social as a result. I suppose you could say I was a hikikomori, or at least withdrawn, while I got treatment” (Paul, Australian, 47).

The psychological impact of learning you have a lifestyle illness can be surprising, too.

Building Healthy Habits

Whatever your diagnosis is, doing what’s best for your health (mental and physical) is vital. Aside from taking your medications (if applicable), here are some other things to prioritize:

• Educating yourself as thoroughly as possible about your current diagnosis.
• Scheduling regular checkups with your doctor.
• Going for regular walks in your neighborhood is far easier (and cheaper) than joining a gym all of a sudden.
• If you need to change your diet, consider a grocery or meal service while you make your adjustments. Eat a more balanced diet of whole foods while reducing or eliminating processed foods as much as possible.
• Managing your stress by journaling, meditating and other mindfulness practices.
• Focusing on getting good quality sleep each night.
• Sharing your diagnosis with your friends and family so you can receive the support you need.

Hopefully, while making these changes, you’ll be able to live a long and happy life despite this diagnosis. “You got yourself into this mess, you can get yourself out” is the advice my own doctor gave me, and so far, it seems to be working. Be well!