HEALTH NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 February 1927, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES

MIDDLE AGE. < DIET AND RECREATION. (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Shakespeare, in his delightful comedy, “As You Like It,” puts into the mouth of one pf the characters, “the melancholy Jaques,” the wonderful linos': “All the world’s a stage, ’ etc*.., in which he depicts the world as- the stage of a theatre, and men and women as the actors. He divides the actors’ live® into seven ages, and he assigns character for each age: (1) The “puking infant”.; (2) the “whining schoolboy” j (3) , Die “ardent, lover”; (4) the “soldier, full ol strange oaths”; (5) the “judge, with his wise sayings”; .(G) the “lean and slippered pantaloon”; and last scene of all (7) “decrepit old age.” AH these characters we can recognise today as true to life, although described 300 years ago. Thanks to better knowledge in regard to their management. the infant and schoolboy do not display their characteristic and somewhat ‘ unpleasant' proclivities to the same extent, but the lover is still ardent and the soldier on service still tends to develop 'an inclination towards “strange 04th®.” Just as realistically as Shakespeare divided the life of man into seven age -roups or periods, so may the general health of mankind be dealt with. We can usefully classify these health ages into (1) of the infant; (2) of young childhood; (3) of school children; (4) of .adolescence; (5) of manhood; (6) of middle age; (7) of old age. It is the health of middle age that this article deals with, for it- is often during this stage of life that a great variety of functional and organic breakdowns occur. What years of life are included in this middle age? The “average duration and expectation of life” are considerably lengthened today in comparison with Shakespeare’s time, probably by 15 to 20 years, and what was regarded as old age then we would now only term middle age. We may. however, regard middle age as comprising the years 40 to GO. It is true, some men and women are comparatively young at 60 and old at 50. Preventive medicine has in this present century been largely concerned , with the protection of the health of the rising generation, and rightly so, , but the preservation of the health of ; the middle-aged individual is equally , important. The health of the rising . generation is primarily the responsibility of parents and the instructors of youth." This responsibility can, and’ should he when necessary, assisted by the State and voluntary institutions. so that every child horn into I the world shall have a good start in the “struggle of, life.” When the child comes to manhood and to middle age. the responsibility' is almost 00tireiv on the individual. That the individual should recognise and accept this responsibility is most, important, and in the interests, and welfare of the community. HOW TO KEEP FIT. How ,ean the individual keep fit and avoid sickness and disease, and by ®o doing safeguard these important interests? 'Hie individual to keep fit must exercise due care for all the functions and systems bf the body. In middle age there are two systems, which, in the writer’s opinion, more than any of the others require careful attention ; one is the digestive system and the other -the nervous system. This applies equallv to both the sexes, although possibly disorders of the nervous system are more common and more obvious in women than men, and especially during the menopause or climacteric period. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. The digestive system in middle age requires attention in the matter of suitable diet and necessary recreation. “Moderation in all things” is the keystone on which the health of middle life is maintained. The daily intake of food should be restricted to the amount- necessary for the nutrition of the body, which in middle .age requires’ less than in earlier age owing to restricted activity 1 . This does not necessarily mean- that the food we eat and drink must be accurately weighed or estimated in calories of heat production. It is not the “valetudinarian habit” that is required, but common sense. It is often stated that in New Zealand too much meat, that is nitrogenous food, is eaten. It probably is true that in comparison with other countries the consumption per individual is too high, but an active outdoor life which the majority of the people live enables more of this type of food to be consumed without detriment than in the case of like persons living a sedentary life. The digestive system is largely dependent on a proper amount of recreation, mental and physical, for its wellbeing. Overwork from excess of mental or bodily activity causes fatigue. Undue fatigue is a condition which affects both the digestive and; nervous systems, and must inevitably produce ill-health.

DIET. Besides being c*ean- and unadulterated. die diet must be ox the right composition and contain neither too niucn protein (meat, fish, cheese, etc.), nor too much .tat (butter cream, etc.) •nor have too large (amount of carbohydrate (staidly foods such as, potatoes, race, etc.). . For an excess of protein leads to -arferio scleroses. and gout; excess of fat and carbohydrates to obesity or to chronic dyspepsia, and flatulence, ilhe body] needs die right kind of food, mixed in suitable proportions. 'llhe middle-aged adult- is liable to eat too much, not recognising perhaps soon enough the lessened bodily activity due to increasing years, and in consequence the intestinal tract and the Liver .and kidneys are called upon to do inore work than necessary, and the body is loaded with the products of incomplete digestion in excess of normal. It is very important that movement oj the intestines conveying food along the tract be normal. If the movements are too slow constipation results, and waste material accumulates and poisons the body, and is liable to- cause indigestion, headaches, and ,sensations of fatigue and dullness often associated with middle life. Constipation should be avoided by w plain wholesome and suitable diet including- a sufficiency of green vegetables, fruit, ’land fluids, i.e.. ol water, better b yitself or as fluid diet or beverages, and exercise active enough to overcome the tendency to sluggishness of the elimination organs. This is;, best taken in the- form of active recreation. RECREATION. The amount of active recreation necessary to avoid fatigue is, as with the diet, a matter of ‘‘common-sense." The m-rention that .should be indulged in i.s to a great extent- .dependent on the 'particular needs, fancy, and choice of the individual. Sitting and watching games' played by others is not- a particularly.. healthful recreation to tho sedentary worker, neither is riding

about in a’ motof-cai'. No outdoor recreation calls into more easy play the activity of all the muscles of the body than walking exercise. It is probably one of the best of all active recreations for middle age, and might be supplemented by such games as tennis, bowls, or golf, in moderation.

SLEEP. Sleep is allied to l . recreation ill the preservation of good health. There is lid fixed aiiiiount for each andividiial. Oil© man can keep healthy and fit oh all amount that would probably prove to be too little for the miajority of other inen doing the same kind and amount of work. . , . THE ffl®. The nervous system is. closely allied to the digestive system inasmuch as tiio one system cannot be impaired for any length of time without' upsetting the other. The well-being of the nervous. system- largely depends on tlie avoidance of (!) unnatural excitement; alid (2) worry. The former more particularly applies to women and probably tlie latter to men. These two evil habits probably are the cause of more disease, mental and physical, in middle life than medical science is yet aware of. No doubt they are Ijabits that toe largely due to- the age in which, and the pace at which, we live. It is the duty of the individual to combat these two evil habits'. Literature, airt, find the practise of some congenial hob by beneficially diverts the mind from the pressing perplexities of life and assists the human body to adapt itself to- the. natural [changes taking place. For the human ■body never remains stationary. It is being broken down and built up continually. "During the middle of life it is therefore a wise policy fo.r women and men to he medically examined at regular intervals, say once a year, by their family doctor, the examination being supplemented by that of the specialist or the dentist if any unusual conditions have manifested themselves. By this precaution defects in the human machine may be corrected] in their early stages which, if neglected, lead to a, serious and’ permanent injury, resulting in decreased efficiency and shortened life.