The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-26


 as "Public Enemy No. One in the Pubic Health Field" and, at the same time termed "A friend Of the aged" is the omeWhatanomal- ous position occupied by heart dis ease, which in 1884 led all diseases as n cause of death among Amert- cans. This k according to Dr Don- aid E. Armstrong. third vice-presi- dent of the Metropolitan Life ln- surance company, speaking on "Compctitive Plagues" before the California Tuberculosis association, holding It's annual meeting here to- day.
 "The "Compctitive Plaques" treated by Dr Armstrong, included heart disease, cancer, pneumonia, chronic ncphritis, cerebral hemor- rhage, tuberculosis and accidents, with special attention to the growth of automobile fatalities. Since death rates for the general population are not available for 1884, Dr Armstrong took the ex- periencc of the Metropolitan Life Insurance company among its mll- lions of industrial pol!cyholders, which is n sufficiently large cross- section of the population to indi- cnte the trend of death rates in the country at large. He said that. among this class, heart disease recorded il death rate of 1927 per 100000; cancer, n death rate of 9G; pneumonia, GJ: chronic neDh- ritg, GAS: cerebral hcmorrhagc, G3.2; tuberculosis, 59.3; and all forms of accidents, 57.8 per 100.- 900.
 Heart disease is the outstand- ing leader on this list" said Dr Armstrong, "and its position seems to justify the reference many have made to 1t ns mankind'S greatest menace, or as Public Enemy No. one in the Public Health Field However, m anaIyBis of many fac- tors in this picture discloses that heart disease iB really not the 'menacc' go often portrayed. In fact. thIs analysis Jusiilics certain rather startling statements. It IS , TT belief that we can refer to the heart disease mortality today as Il of IL partial yet substan- tinl conquest and as IL very definite reward of previous accomplish ment in the public health field. Furthermore, heart disease, with Increasing frequency. may be classified as IL friend of the aged"
 Tho speaker noted that much had been done to decrease deaths from heart disease, In the age ranges from ono to A years to q point lower than ever before re- corded and that tho decrease was continuing. This imI rovement, sup pl 1menting decreases in mortality at younger ages from many other causes. was largely credited to de- clines in the diseases. fo childhood, which frequently leave the heart in Q weakened condition. This has al- so meant that increasing numbers have survived to reach the older age periods. ElabOrating on this theme. the speaked said:
 Tt is q fact that successful ef- forts at life conservation, at younger ages. have inevitably pushed ever increasing numbers of oer population into the old age periods, where they must die of something and where, with great CT and greater frequency. that something is,apt to be q degcnera- tive process in vital organ, such as the heart. In that very real sense. therefore. the appeara nee of heart disease at the head of the death list today is q symbol of suc- ceBsful conquest nt younger ages, and in reality is Il reward of ac- complshmont.
 "Thls high and increasing rntc of heart disease mortality among the older ages can scarcely be looked upon as matter of very great significance or importance. Much of it is of little concern, be- cause of It's inevitabillty. There is also. something to be said from the point of view of mans comfort, in favor Of the gradual increase of sudden cardiac deaths on the golf course and legewhere to the extent to which this method of termInat- Ing iifc eliminates long periods Of decline and invalidism. Looking at the problem from this angle, may we not even be justified tn referring to that type of heart dis case In the terms which Osier np- piled to pneumonia, namely "A fritnd Of the aged"
 Dr Armstrong suggested that q definite program against heart dis' ease should include continued re- search on the relation Of heart dis. co 10 acute rheumatic fever. the communicable diseases, and syph- Ills, with attention paid to focal in' fectiong, to QaTtDua teeth and sim. liar pathological problems. The program should also Include edu' catlonal efforts to prevent or post' pone gome Of the cardiac mortal- fly at older ages through personal hygiene and through 0n effort t0 t,h people how 10 live with dam aged hearts and how to mitigate the aging processes of tpe body.
 4 net improbable effect Of thif program. according to the speak CT. would be q downward turn in the combined mortality curve for all forms of heart disease. While one Vear's experience is Of tllRhi sigDihcnnce,' yet such downward turn. he pointed out, did actually occur among the industrial policy. holders Of the Metropolitan Life Insurice in she Pacific coats states in J934--ths rnfe declining from IIO.Z uaP IO0. .OOO E0 10aa.