KaiMD goes to the Movies!
February 18th, 2017
I love going to the movies. They can be a great way to escape reality for two or more hours, but I love movies where the main subject is about illness, disease or health and wellness. There are plenty of movies in this genre. Here is a list of some of my favorites that I recommend. Not only are they very entertaining, they can help you understand certain illnesses from a more personal perspective and the impact these illnesses can have on the lives of individuals and the people around them. The next time its rainy or snowy outside, saddle up to your couch and watch one of them!
- A Beautiful Mind– A moving story based on mathematician, John Nash, and his struggle with schizophrenia. This was one of the best depictions of schizophrenia I have ever seen. You really understand how the illness creates an altered perception of reality.
- Inside Out– Extremely well done children’s movie about depression that is a great metaphor for how the brain’s neurotransmitters control our emotions and feelings, which sometimes don’t gel with our environment.
- Iris– Very touching story about Alzheimer’s disease from its early beginning and its impact on the caregiver.
- Supersize Me– Think that hamburger and fries are not affecting your mood and liver function? Think again! This was an amazing experiment which nearly cost the writer his life.
- Sicko– There is no doubt the US healthcare system is on life support. Many of the policies do not make sense and the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing.
- Awakenings– This movie is based on a true story of a rare form of Parkinson’s disease and a doctor who finds a way to cure his patients.
- The Doctor– A must-see for anyone in the healthcare profession or currently in school. A surgeon learns about compassion when he becomes the patient.
- Dying Young– Depicts a battle with leukemia and drug addiction and the toll they take on a relationship.
- Forks Over Knives– Want to eat healthier? This will convince you that eating right can reverse many diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Outbreak– I love suspenseful thrillers! This one is a fictional account of how a single disease can spread rapidly given our current age of extensive air travel.
- Silver Linings Playbook– Bipolar disorder is depicted realistically, and breaks the stereotype that the disease is just about “mood swings”.
- The Normal Heart– Very touching movie about the AIDS epidemic and how one group faced discrimination but through unity and civil disobedience were able to help millions.
- Flight– Depicts an airline pilot and his personal struggle with alcoholism.
- Steel Magnolias– Though not central to the story, a very realistic depiction of diabetes and it’s effect on the body.
