Health Notes for the Farm

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 60, Issue 6, 15 June 1940, Page 491

Health Notes for the Farm

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Prevention and Treatment Of Heart Disease

BEFORE William Harvey in 1628 described the circulation of the blood and showed how the heart pumps blood through the body and how the blood comes back again to the heart to be pumped through the lungs, the heart itself was little understood. It was regarded by many as a sort of furnace for heating the blood, and it was thought that when the blood became cold it filled the heart, which heated it up again, just as a fire heats up a kettle of water. Some people thought that the body was full of blood, just as a sausage is full of meat, or a balloon full of air or gas, but even the cleverest scientists were firmly convinced that the blood ebbed and flowed up and down the same veins or channels. The arteries, they thought, contained air or spirits, and it was commonly suggested that a certain vapour and blood made their way up and down the blood vessels in the same way as a lift makes its way up and down a lift well. These obscure theories persisted until they were refuted by William Harvey in his book, “The Motion of the Heart and Blood.” Dedication The following words, a stimulus to those who plant new knowledge despite ridicule and disparagement, appear in his dedication of this work to the President of the Royal College of Physicians: — “The studious and good and true never suffer their minds to be warped by the passions of hatred and . envy. Neither do they think it unworthy of them to change their opinion ’ if truth and undoubted demonstration require them so to do. Nor do they esteem it discreditable to desert error, though sanctioned by the highest antiquity, for they know

full well that to err, to be deceived, is human; that many things are discovered by accident, and that many may be learned indifferently from any quarter, by an old man from a youth, by a person of understanding from one of inferior capacity. I avow myself the partisan of the truth above; and I can indeed say that I have used all my endeavours, bestowed all my pains, in an attempt to produce something that should be agreeable to the good, profitable to the learned, .and useful to letters.” At the tercentenary commemoration of his death it was said: “To medical practice, Harvey’s discovery stands much in the . same relation as the discovery of the mariners’ compass to navigation.” Heart Is A Central Pump The human heart, whose function Harvey shed such light upon, is a central pump of the body controlling the flow of its life stream. Beating at the normal rate of more than 70 times a minute, the heart will pump five quarts of blood. Often it is beating faster and pumping twenty quarts a minute. This hard-working, wonderful piece of mechanism needs to be treated fairly. It does not always receive fair treatment, and is liable to get out of order and even cease to perform its vital function. In New Zealand in 1938 there were 4171 deaths from diseases of the heart and arteries, that is 35 per cent, of the total deaths. Some may regard deaths from these diseases as the inevitable results of fair wear and tear, but analysis shows that many of these occur before the age of sixty had been reached, and even many before the age of forty. Many ,of these deaths might have been prevented. It cannot be said that

heart deaths occur only in those persons whose period of active workinglife is over. In the first place, many of the signs which a person may think mean heart disease can be caused by some other disease. Indigestion, lung trouble, and nervousness may cause pain over the heart, shortness of breath, fainting, and irregularity of the heart. If a person suffers from any of these symptoms or sensations of distress on undertaking some physical effort he is accustomed to perform in comfort he should go at once to a doctor for examination instead of worrying about it secretly. The doctor may tell him that he is not suffering from heart trouble, and will also find out what is wrong. If there is something wrong with the heart it is well to know it at an early stage, when proper care may bring the heart back to health. In many cases heart trouble is curable, or often serious trouble can be put off for years, if initial symptoms are detected early and proper care taken. Modern methods of diagnosis are So much more delicate and precise than formerly that it is possible to detect disease in its early stages. Main Causes of Disease The main causes of organic heart disease are rheumatism. certain diseases of childhoodsuch as diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, and tonsilitispneumonia, and improper habits of living. Children’s diseases should be followed by a careful medical examination. A child must not be allowed to play strenuously until the doctor is sure there is no danger or injury to the heart. /

Syphilis may attack the heart muscle. By using proper drugs under the advice of a qualified physician for overcoming this disease as soon as it appears the danger to the heart will be lessened. Eating too much, sleeping irregularly, the over-use of stimulants, and excessive tobacco smoking are all common faults which may affect the heart, particularly in persons with heart disease. Advice of a physician on the subject of drugs should be obtained. Some drugs are harmful to weak hearts. Therefore, no troubles, such as headaches, that continue for any length of time should be treated without expert diagnosis. The earlier heart disease is discovered, the easier it is to cure. Any strain, such as over-exertion or excessive emotion, causes the heart to beat faster, and thus lose part of its time for resting. When we are asleep our hearts beat more slowly. This is one of the reasons why plenty of sleep helps to keep the body in good condition.

Proper Exercise Exercise must be neither neglected nor overdone. It is agreed that properly conducted athletics are beneficial. On the other hand, exhausting competitive exercises may prove injurious. A twenty-mile tramp with muscles flabby from disuse means exhaustion and strain on the heart without benefit to compensate. It is wise for those who undertake strenuous competitive sports or mountain climbing to undergo graduated training for such forms of athletic . achievement. They should also be medically examined occasionally to ensure that they are physically fit to undergo tests of speed and endurance. High altitudes may have some effect on the heart and circulation. Altitudes up to 3000 feet above the sea level are considered of no importance, and are generally favourable in their effect on people with or without heart trouble provided too much exercise on steep slopes is not indulged in. When, however, we pass the altitude of 10,000 feet we note the beginning of a very distinct effect of high altitude on circulation. In the case of a newcomer to a very high altitude relatively little exercise can be indulged in without undue strain, but after long residence it is usually possible to increase steadily one’s capacity for work. Naturally, individuals with serious heart disease should be kept at altitudes below 10,000 feet and preferably under 5000 feet. '

Precautions If a person has heart trouble he should follow the doctor’s . advice in every way and then forget his heart as far as possible. He should watch his daily living habits, not watch his heart; and should learn to develop a calm, even attitude towards life, and avoid excitement or situations where he becomes angry and aroused. His exercise should be approved by a physician. Anything which makes him short of breath may be too strenuous. If a person is overweight he should try a simple reducing diet. It is inadvisable to enforce the habits of an invalid on a child convalescing from rheumatic fever, but strenuous

exercise, whether physical or mental, should not be taken until recovery is complete. The popularly called “growing pains” are rheumatic in origin, and indicate the necessity for care to avoid damage to the heart. Children with rheumatic heart disease should be warmly clad with wool next the skin, and should be protected against bodily chill, for instance, by quickly changing wet clothes or footwear. . Finally, in few departments of medicine is careful and skilful treatment of so great importance as in that of cardiac disorders, and in few is it so well rewarded. However, let the watchword be prevention. In the right understanding of the human machine lie the keys of health and life.

RECORDS of sickness and deaths show that the winter months are by far the most dangerous. This is not due to the cold directly, but to the fact that we are crowded together so much in closed rooms where infectious diseases have a good opportunity to spread. Reasonable precautions can do a great deal towards preventing colds, influenza, and pneumonia at this time of 'the year. The Children Get young children into the open. Exercise in cold weather is exhilarating, and promotes a healthy reaction. Wool is the best type of clothing, as it prevents too rapid evaporation of perspiration, and thus avoids danger of chilling. Keep their feet dry. Have your children join other groups for outside sports in parks or other play areas or open spaces. Public streets are often dangerous for play. Get them back into the house for a complete change of clothing before they become too tired or cold. Give them hot milk or hot cocoa when they come in at this time of the year. A good nutritious diet should be provided. Cod-liver oil should be given them daily. If a child has a cold it is safest to keep him in bed for a few days until the acute stage is past. As far as possible, keep children with any suspicious illness, however slight, away from others until they have fully recovered.

Cold Weather and Health

The Health Committee of the League of Nations recommends “That immunising a child against diphtheria should be carried out no later than during the pre-school period, after the end of the first year of life. If the children have not been immunised during the pre-school period, they should be immunised if possible during the first year of "school attendance.” In any case all children should be protected against diphtheria by being immunised. . The Old Folks ■ The slowing down of the body’s functions makes physical activity dangerous and prevents quick adjustments to changes of temperature. The old folks, therefore, cannot get the benefits of exercise in the cold, open air. A uniform indoor temperature sufficient for comfort is best. Fresh air should, be provided, day and night, but draughts must be avoided. A rundown condition, due to age or sickness, makes easy going for the germs of influenza or pneumonia. . Physical activity should be encouraged sufficient to keep the body functioning normally, but not so much as to produce laboured breathing or fatigue. ■ A healthy mental life is of value to youth and age. The winter should be the time of ample rest and simple food in strict moderation.