HEART DISEASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 6

HEART DISEASE

1 HE heart is one of the strongest organs of the body. It will not give out unless it is abused. There are fewer people with weak hearts than is generally assumed, and many of those who believe themselves to be subjected to a weakness of heart could rectify their health by more normal habits of Jiving. The foregoing generalisation is not falsified by the figures given in the annual report of the Director-General of Health, despite the fact that heart disease is increasing as a cause of death. Last year deaths certified as being caused by heart disease totalled no less than 3458. In the report cited. Dr. T. li. Ritchie points out that since i• •>1 the death rate due to some form of heart disease has moved ■ ’ follows: Death rate due to heart disease Year. per 1000 1931 19.50 1932 20.15 1933 .. .. 21.12 1934 22.67 1935 23.27 The increase between the year 1931 and 1935 is 3.77, and some explanation of this development should be sought. Dr. Ritchie comments as follows: “Judged from these figures the outlook does not appear promising, but when the figures are analysed and the various factors affecting the number of deaths are considered, the position is found to he more encouraging. When the factor of changing age and sex constitution of the population is eliminated by standardising the death rate, the i ale thus obtained still shows a marked increase, indicating that heart disease, as a certified cause of death, is increasing. When, howeiei, the population is divided into two groups, those under 65 years of age and those of 65 years and over, the standard rates are calculated, it is found that the increase during the past 35 years has occurred in the older age group.” This means that more people who pass the 65-year mark die of heart disease in some form than formerly. Seeing that more people reach the period of old age than formerly it is not surprising that the increase is taking place in. the number of heart disease eases. It would appear that more people wear out tha’i lornv'rly was the ease*