BLOOD PRESSURE RECORD

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 May 1933, Page 10

BLOOD PRESSURE RECORD

SIGNIFICANCE IN DIAGNOSIS. In the routine .examination of middle-aged and elderly patients it is now almost taken for. granted. that the blood pressure-sliduld be included (writes the Medical Correspondent, of the London “Daily Telegraph”). But there is probably no. subject on which there is a more general and very understandable degree of misapprehension. This may be attributed .to the . fact that the general recording blood pressure has been a- matter of comparatively recent practice; and there have necessarily been various adjustments of medical opinion as observations and data have accumulated. These are still in process of being collected and sifted, but one or two general conclusions may be said to have emerged. ... . The earlier ideas of what constituted an abnormally high blood .pressure, and the gravity with which, this was regarded, have been considerably modified. It has been. clearly demonstrated now that, in the same person in different circumstances, the blood pressure may vary within very large degrees. Physical exercise, mental activity, emotional excitement or apprehension may all be potent factors in producing a high but usually temporary and not pathological blood pressure; and these were factors that a few years ago were not perhaps sufficiently recognised.

GROUP INVESTIGATIONS. Again, extensive group investigations amongst young and healthy subjects have revealed the existence of what once were regarded as dangerously high blood pressures; and these have been found to be compatible with apparently perfect physical health. It is true that certain insurance statistics compiled in America would seem to suggest in such cases an ultimately decreased expectation of life, But the era. of accurate observation has scarcely been long enough, or sufficiently extensively applied, to establish any definite conclusions on this point. Meanwhile the present opinion of most expert and experienced, cardiologists has come to regard .a comparatively high blood pressure, in the absence of .any associated symptoms, with very much more equanimity than was once the case. A very large number of cases have now been followed up for a sufficiently long period to show that, even in middle-aged and elderly persons, a relatively high blood pressure can be consistent with good health and normal activity. From a practical point of view, while it may prudently be taken as a, hint for moderation in eating and drinking, it need not necessarily be the cause of alarm that it is so often apt to be.