Health Notes

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Health Notes

Need Not Be Dangerous rpHK condition usually spoken of as "blood pressure" is n constant menace to the peace of mind of many people; especially those over forty years of age. There are many misconceptions a to what is really meant by blood pressure. In the first place most people mean by the term excessively high blood pressure. Pressure of the blood in the circulation is necessary for life, and without this pressure circulation would stop and death occur. The actual pressure of the blood in the arteries depends on the size of the vessels and the force of the heart beat, and this varies with age, sex, bodily activities, food taken, time of day, and other factors. It usually increases with age, and is higher in women than men. It is higher after food and exercise and is lower during sloop. The size of the blood vessels, and consequently the blood pressure, is also regulated by the emotions. The blush of shame or the flush of anger causes dilatation of the vessels and a fall in blood pressure. This is followed, in the case of rage, by a riso. Foar and tho pallor of faintness from emotion also have an effect on the blood pressure. " Three Associated Diseases It will be seen from tho above that blood pressure is like pulso rate and temperature, a definite thing about which it is possible to say that a certain pressure is ox* is not normal. What is normal for one person would be abnormal for another person ol tho same atce, sex. and environment. There are, however, three important diseases associated with raised blood pressure. -These are 13right's disease, "essential high blood pressure, and arteriosclerosis, or diseaso of the blood vessels. If high blood pressure is accompanied by evidence of kidney disease or weakness of the blood vessels, it is a serious condition. It is this kind or blood pressure that earries tho danger of apoplectic strokes. The symptoms of high blood pressure of a serious nature are headaches, breath lessness, and sometimes pain over tho heart. There is a common belief that stout, red-faced people are suffering from high blood pressure, whereas most of the serious cases occur in pale, and sometimes in thin, people. (

High Blood Pressure

If one has high pressure one should have a complete medical overhaul. If the arteries and kidneys are sound one should forget tho fact that the pressure is high. The Correct Diet Tho treatment of high blood pressure, if the kidneys or arteries are involved, is a matter for prolonged and skilful medical attention. It consists of diet control, of bodily exercise, and care of the bowels. The diet should consist of light meat, eaten once a day only, and plenty of water. There is no difference between red and white meat. It is a good rule to avoid taking more than one protein food at the samo meal. Those arc meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and cheese. Much mental misery is caused by pcoplo being told by doctors that they have high blood pressure in the absence of serious kidney or arterial disease. It would be better for their peace of mind if sphygmomanometers had never been invonted.