Heart Disease Study Points To Importance Of Exercise

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 12

Heart Disease Study Points To Importance Of Exercise

A general medical practitioner is three times more liable to a coronary attack than a dermatologist or pathologist, according to research into heart disease by the Health Department involving studies of various occupational groups. “Doctors, lawyers and dentists in general practice, constantly on call and working long hours, are considered to be under greater stress than colleagues who work in specialised fields,” the department stated.

In a study of these two groups, lawyers in general practice were found to have suffered three times as many coronaries than those who specialised. Dentists had coronaries in proportion to the demands their practices made upon them.

“Medical opinion suspects diet, stress, smoking and lack of physical exercise as the major causes of heart disease,” the department added. “Moderation, self-discipline and exercise could be a good insurance policy.” “A Harvard university group is studying the heart condition of Irishmen between 30 and 60 years of age who have lived in the United States 10 years or more, and a Trinity College group in Dublin is studying the condition of their brothers in Ireland.

“So far, 200 Boston Irish and 60 blood brothers in Ireland have been studied. The brothers in Ireland eat 300 calories more each day, but weigh less because they walk and cycle more. “Although they eat more

animal fats, including an average of lib of butter a week, they have less serum cholesterol, a fatty substance in the blood, than the Bostonians who suffer from greater blood pressure. “This study suggests that exercise could be more important than diet. “A study of civil servants in the 39-55 age group and others aged from 30 to 59, in Framington, United States, showed that cigarette smoking doubled the risk of heart attacks and of death from

heart disease. The risks increased three-fold in the heaviest smokers. “Prevention of blood-vessel disease by a suitable diet is still being investigated. Heart disease seems to be lower in men who have definite physical labour in their work and higher in those in sedentary or luxury classes. “Do doctors, business executives and important people of all kinds take daily exercise? The majority do not and coronary thrombosis takes heavy toll.”