The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-05
STRAIN OF MODERN LIFE
Adds to Number of Victims OF Heart
Disease.

From the New York Herald
since 1868 the annual death rate from
beart disease and Bright's disease up TO
Tho and of 1904 has increased from 1905
to 1852 per 10000 population In lsOS. with
the same ratio to 1904 there was an IN
crease in deaths from these diseases Oh
2.42 in each 10000. While this was con-
sidered an alarming increase IN the mort
uary records the fact that 10 persons
died last week from organic heafl us
ease. when the death rate the correspond
ing week in 1904 was only Sc, has given
rise to the belief among physicians that
New York residents are living too rapid
lives.
The strain of business and the cares at
tendant on fierce competition In the imam
cial center of the city ana the worry at
tendant on anxiety to gain wealth are
given as an explanation by physicians OF
the conditions which exist in the world
metropolis today
Physicians have established the fact
that the nerve forces which control both
the stomach and the heart are affected
by the hurry of men in the daily scramble
to bolt their food in order to quickly
resume their exciting careers. Many
young men now succumb to the complaint
where fifty years ago case was rare
when a person under thirty years, unless
bothered by a hereditary complaint, dleo
from heart disease.
Women are also Victims This is at
tributed to the manner In which they
worry over social engagements and the
strife to reach the top rung of the social
ladder. Worry and excitement, together
with many nerve shocks which come TO
all New Workers. in their daily life, are
the principal causes which snap the heart
strings and make living SO uncertain
DIR. F. C. Spizka, authority on nervous
disorders and complaints of the stomach,
said recently:
lone person in a hundred who have
their hearts examined has real organic
heart trouble. The other ninety-nine
most likely have stomach trouble of vari.
Gus degrees, accompanied by palpitations.
Out OF a hundred who have organic heart
trouble developing one knows 1t. The
other ninety-nine do not find 1t out until
they go to a life insurance company.
The overwhelming number of cases
where people complain of pain in the re-
gion of their hearts will show that the
heart is healthy. Excitement and strain
on the nerves of the stomach. which also
influence the heart. is one of the causes
for so many deaths from this disease.
This nerve exhaustion is often due to
stomach trouble Anxiety is very hurtful.
In athletics the young men and women
begin too young. There are too many
tremendous exertions In athletics. The
heart is developed prematurely. Phys-
clans are better able to diagnose com
plants of the heart than they were fifty
years ago.
DR.. Thomas Darlington, president of the
| board of health. said
1--WE are living to fast. We work too
hard and we worry too much. The bust
ness man etners his field younf. There
is not a moment of his life wasted when
he undertakes a business career. 1t Is
true also of the women who seek to keep
up their social engagements when they
should more often rest, and allow their
nerves to become calm"
DIR. George f. Shrady made the follow
ing comment:
| Our bushes men work too arduously
and women take upon themselves greater
mental and physical strains than they
can carry. It is the hustle and the hurry
to become wealthy. without regard to the
tension to which the nerves are brought
that causes disorders directly affecting
the heart Men engaged in business learn
too late that they have exhausted their
vitality and brought upon the hard work
ing organ of the body more strain than
it should stand"