HEALTH OVERHAULS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 258, 31 October 1929, Page 22

HEALTH OVERHAULS.

REGULAR EXAMINATIONS

MODERN AMERICAN PRACTICE

"A FORM OF INSURANCE."

Although fifteen years have been added to the expectation of life at birth which obtained fifty years ago, such is mainly due to the reduction by more than half of the deaths in the first year of life, and the reduction by half of the death, rate from communicable diseases in the first decade of life (says Dr. J. fa. Purdy, metropolitan officer of health, Sydney, writing in the "Sydney Morning Herald"). As a matter of fact, the citizen of the Roman Empire and the ancient Egyptian, at the age of 40, had a better chance of a ripe old age than even the New Zealander, with an average expectation thereafter of 23, and the Australian with 20 years. However, one can prove anything by statistics —even the truth. Yet the fact remains that in spite or because of our civilisation and progress, death from degenerative diseases of the heart, kidney, liver, arteriosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries), cancer, diabetes, and nervous diseases have increased. Preventive

medicine, with its objective of promoting health and prolonging life, aims to check disease at its source and eliminate the causes of degeneration. To recognise the earliest premonition of a departure from health, a condition where every function is carried on without impairment of vigour, requires a periodic review of a man's mode of life whilst he is still "well." Many Unaware They are 111. When the years of a man's life have passed the two-score, there is need of an overhaul or stocktaking, need of an examination of the human machine. The removal of the causes of degenerative disease would allow us to look forward to at least as many years of life as a Rpman citizen or one of Cleopatra's slaves. Many people are not aware that they are not fit and well; some are unconscious that they do not enjoy good health; actually some unfortunate neurasthenic victims of self-pity appear to enjoy ill-health, although to their fellows there be no apparent reason therefor. Advocacy of health examination or

overhaul by a physician is now recognised feature of American healt propaganda, especially for the ma; whose years have passed the two-scon Whilst an ordinary visit to a doctoi or a medical examination for an insur ance company is primarily for th detection of disease, the health examina tion is primarily for the prevention o disease. A common cause of a man being "belov par" is so-called focal infection, such a: a septic tooth, a septic cavity of tin nose or the sinuses above the eyes, o: some other focus of infection. The medi cal examiner records the appearance physique, posture, condition of hands anc feet, heart, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys and other organs. Urine, stools, ant bloody may be examined, and if necessan an X-ray examination made. Witl ] egard to daily habits, a questionnain may be filled in by the patient as to diet drinking, sleep, bathing, condition as ti regularity of bowels, and other details Toxic absorption or self-poisoning i= found to be the most common cause oi disorder. In a routine examination oi over -five thousand employees of the Sydney City Council, one rarely found a man of 40 who had not a foul mouth using the term in its strictlv hygienic sense. Pyorrhoea arid septic teeth were so common as to lead to the employment of a municipal dentist, with consequent reduction of sickness. An annual overhaul may suffice for those who are well. The ordinary general practitioner or family doctor is the best man to make the examination, provided he appreciates the view-point of physiology and prevention rather than pathology and disease. The expense should be looked upon as a form of health insurance. What Investigations Show. An investigation of two million persons by the New York Life Insurance Co. showed that of those with a rise in blood pressure to 141, there is an excess mortality of 9 per cent, while the excess Mortality rate goes to 63 per cent in those with a pressure of 152, and 23G per cent excess mortality with a pressure of 175. At the age of 45, 401b overweight shows an excess mortality of 50 per cent. In other words, three die when but two should. Dr. W. V. Kennedy, of Newcastle, Indiana, records that in a health examclinic of supposedly healthy people in 4100 consecutive persons, taken just as they appeared, only 74 had normal teeth and 58 per cent, or 2700, had actual root abscesses.. Six hundred and fifty-eight had well-marked heart damage, and 492 had ■ combined heart and kidney damage. Of these more than 10 per cent had no idea of anything wronc with them. You ask why, and how sup° posedlv sane people neglect themselves. The answer is: "Lack of knowledge primarily, and the human factor of blind optimism and disinclination to face disagreeable facts." The American Medical Association has officially _ approved periodic physical examination and a health survey as a remedy against unnecessary avoidable and preventable illness, incapacity, and death. The Life Extension Institute of New York examined 6000 males of all ages and occupations, advising as to defects and keeping them under supervision for five years. Contrast was made with an equal number presumably in as good health. In these groups there were to be expected under standard mortality tables 303 deaths. In the examined and adinsed group there were 217, a saving «f 12 lives, varying between 20 and 45, over a period of five years. Not only does health examination mean life saving, but, as a corollary, extension of life, extension of usefulness, lessening of suffering, and of illness! lessened financial losses to the individual and incidentally to the community. Examination Must be Thorough. jJJZ Metropolitan Life, one of -the Tiuiilicfhn i I , 0 , . ins " rance companies, Ei linS a . bullet,n ' "52,000 lives saved shown +n 1 a iT? ge 0f 8 * ™s shown to be added to the life of the policy holders, with a saving of nearly T,?h ir« ollars in dca «i claims . le Health Protective Service of visitment of four and n linif +• , amount expended times tlie A periodic medical ovnrhnni t, physician is in a sense akin fn 1 'Y, a peculiar to parts of China, 0 ,a V !? !" J physician to keep you well rithe" M paying him when 1 you are sick "

Dr. Hayhurst, of Ohio, urges people to "spend a little money on the faithful old machine itself, less on driving it." Before sickness or disease actually appears, there arc premonitory finger posts or signs which the physician recognises. It is easier to find what is the matter with a . machine that has actually stopped than to detect defects which may lead to a stoppage, hence more care in deail is required for a routine health than an ordinary medical examination when the disease may be apparent. Every business man should recognise, in making an inventory of his assets, that his health is one of supreme importance. One writer asks: "Are you tin business for your health? If not, you ought to be, "if for no other reason than that you should put your health and well-being into your business and services." It pays to have a medical overhaul. Make it a birthday event, and you may have many more birthdays to celebrate."