The Carbon County news., 1931-09-24
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By DIR. WILLIAM ]. SCHOLES


One of the pamphlets distrib-
uted by the Association for the
Prevention and Relief of Heart
Disease makes the following clas-
sification of the causes of heart
disease:
/. Infectious diseases.
2. Jntoxications and poisons.
8. Improper modes of living.
Rheumatism is the Infection
most frequently causing damage
to the heart in the young, though
other infections also have a con-
siderable part in the production of
such damage.
Under the heading of intoxica-
tions and poisons, alcohol and to-
bacco are mentioned. 1t is only
fair to state that there are some
who do not believe that either of
these are noticeably injurious when
used in moderation by healthy in
dividuals. The rub is in what
is meant by their moderate use" !"
Opinions Differ
There is no difference of opin-
ion about the evil effects on the
body of excessive usage. Oliver
7. Osborne, in his book on Dis
turbances of the Heart, says in
regard to tobacco,-"No rule can
be laid lown as to what is enough
and what is too much. Theoreti-
cally, two or three cigars day
is moderate. Anything more than
five cigars a day is excessive.
Even one cigar day may be too
much"
What is a moderate amount for
one person may be an injurious
excess for another. But whether
or not alcohol and tobacco are al
ways harmful to the heart, they
are not regarded generally as be-
ing of any benefit to it. Athletes
do not use alcohol or tobacco when
training for good wind And,
having "good wind is largely a
matter of having a sound heart.
Improper modes of living in
clude lack of fresh air, insufficient
exercise, food of the wrong kind
and in the wrong amount. The
wrong amount is generally too
much rather than too little. Food
taken in an amount beyond the re-
quirements of the body adds to
the burden of work thrown upon
the heart and blood vessels. 1t
causes an accumulation of fat that
is, unfavorable to the continued
health of the whole body, and
consequently, the heart. Excesses
of any kind are injurious.
How To Avoid 1t
The logical way in which to
avoid heart disease is to avoid
those things that are known or
supposed to cause it. Among the
causes mentioned-Infection, is
probably the most important. 1t
often gains entrance to the system
through diseased teeth, tonsils and
adenoids. These are often found
closely associated with attacks of
rheumatism, the disease very fire.
quently causing injury to the
heart.
Growing pains in children are
usually symptoms of rheumatism,
and should not be neglected. Dis
eased teeth, tonsils, and adenoids
should be treated or removed. Con-
ditions that favor the development
of rheumatism, such as getting
wet and chilled, should be avoided.
Whenever infections do occur,
they should be promptly treated
so as to eradicate them as soon as
possible and lessen the chance of
damage being done to the heart.
A we'll regulated life favors the
development of healthy body, in
cluding a sound heart. The heart
muscle, like other muscles, is kept
in good condition by getting
enough exercise, by plenty of fresh
air, and by living on diet that is
we'll balanced and not in excess of
the needs of the body. Sufficient
rest is necessary.
Heart disease is now one Of the
most frequent causes of death.
Many Of the cases of heart disease
could be prevented by efforts to
avoid the causes, and prompt treat
ment to remove any of the causes
when they are present. Many peo-