Dr Joseph Cheung
Total Health and Fitness Revolution
First published by Possible Press, 2012
Sydney, Australia
Email:
Phone: 0468946773
Copyright Joseph Cheung, 2012, 2013, 2019
First edition 2012, printed twice, reprinted 2013
Second edition, revised and updated, 2019
First ebook edition, 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, by photocopy or otherwise, without the prior writer permission of the publisher and copyright holders.
Title: Total Health and Fitness Revolution
ISBN: 9780995443877 : ebook
This book is dedicated to my late father who taught us the meaning of life and the virtue of hard work
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
In 2005, I first thought of writing a book based on my 40-odd years clinical practice to help people avoid chronic medical conditions. Back then, the idea seemed daunting, but it was also an exciting challenge to me. Since then, this manuscript, like a great many others by budding writers, has gone through cyclical phases of disappointment, set-backs, uncertainty and frustration. Without the great support and encouragement of my family as well as my many wise friends and learned colleagues, it might never have been able to get off the ground. I am particularly thankful to my scholarly son, David, who has regularly kept me up to date with a steady stream of new books and relevant clippings, and to my charming daughter, Deborah, who brought her editing skills and linguistic talent to the introductory section. I am very proud to see them both pursuing their medical careers with great zest.
My indebtedness extends further, to my two valiant brothers: Nelson, the beloved dental surgeon, and Stanley, the ground-breaking neurosurgeon in Hong Kong, for their invaluable support and advice on numerous topics; and also to Mandy, from whom I learnt what courage really means. I am grateful to all the hard-working staff in my old Glenroy Road Clinic they are an incredibly energetic and dedicated bunch of people. And, as regards my many delightful patients, past and present, I feel indebted to all of them for the numerous lessons in life they taught me, helping me to open my eyes and to build up my clinical experience.
Last, but not least, is Jan Scherpenhuizen, my superb editor and publisher. Without his great talent, skill and visionary spirit, this book would not have been possible. I am greatly appreciative of his timely advice and tireless assistance right through our close association. I would like to say a big thank you to him for helping my dream come true.
A Short Profile of Dr Joseph Cheung
Dr Cheung, OAM, was brought up in Hong Kong, the third son in a family of five. His father, an ENT professor at Sun Yat Sen University in Canton, China, impressed upon all his children the virtue of being a good scholar and a hard-working community-minded professional. As a result, Dr Cheungs older brother, Nelson (now deceased), became one of the most popular dental surgeons in Sydney, and his younger brother, Stanley, was renowned as one of the top neurosurgeons in Hong Kong prior to his retirement.
| Left: Young Joseph at a sporting event in Hong Kong, 1949, where he won the breast-stroke champion-ship |
Not satisfied with just scholastic achievements, the young Cheungs were constantly encouraged to participate in all manner of sports and attained remarkable achievements in open swimming championships and cross- harbour swims in Hong Kong during the post-war years. Regular physical exercise has since become part and parcel of Dr Cheungs life.
In 1960, Dr Cheung graduated from the University of Sydney. He soon moved back to Hong Kong to serve in Kwong Wah Hospital, the best and biggest charity hospital in the colony, before being forced to flee with his family to Canada during the notorious riot of 1969. There he studied pathology under Professor D Magner, the head of the Canadian Tumour Registry, and the Department of Pathology of the University of Ottawa. Joseph participated in research into renal transplants and ovarian cancer, and in publications on those topics.
After returning to Australia and settling into a medical clinic in Melbourne, Dr Cheung continued to practise what he preached by swimming and jogging daily. He even made a successful run in the 1988 marathon from Frankston to the city as part of the celebration of the Bicentenary year of the nation. Over the years, he started to notice the therapeutic benefits of Oriental medical practices such as acupuncture and Tai Chi. He has since fervently promoted these aids to health to his patients, with excellent results, as published in his article in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine in 1985.
His proudest moment came in 1998 when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day, for his service to medicine and the community, in particular, to the Australian Chinese Medical Association.
Dr Cheung feels deeply honoured that his efforts have been recognized and he has vowed to continue to serve the community at large by promoting the preventative measures of regular exercise, sensible eating and lifestyle that contribute to the ultimate healthy longevity.
Foreword
Dr Joseph Cheung has devoted his life to the service of the community. As a general medical practitioner, he is both loved and respected, not just for his dedication to patients welfare, but also for the manner in which he approaches the myriad problems that have crossed his desk. Dr Cheung is not just a medical professional who listens, examines and analyses before trying his best to resolve the problems presented to him, he is also a firm believer in the power and benefits of preventative medicine. He takes great care to educate his patients, in order that they become aware of the reasons they have taken ill and, importantly, the measures that can be taken to prevent future mishaps.
There is another dimension to Dr Cheungs professionalism. His lifelong interest in the Eastern ways of health maintenance has enormously broadened his overall perspective on health care, enabling him to comfortably introduce principles of alternative medicine into his practice.
This book embodies his beliefs on how to improve and maintain good physical and mental health in a holistic manner that will benefit both young and old alike. It is well thought-out and written in a manner easily understood by the layperson.
The only medical section is a Chapter devoted to preventive medicine, alerting readers to tell-tale signs of common diseases and appropriate action that can be taken to prevent them. The importance of exercise, including Tai Chi is emphasized and, unusually for a book of this genre, it contains a section on healthy eating. The reader also gets a glimpse into aspects of alternative medicine as practiced in the East and how they can be incorporated into our daily lives.
The motivation behind this book is Dr Cheungs desire to impart the knowledge and experience he has accumulated over many years to present and future generations. It is a personal tale and well told.
