, 1935-08-09
High Blood Pressure
Steals Up on Victim
By DE- FIsHBEIN
Editor. Journal Of the American Medical Association
and of Hygeia. the Health Magazine

Ely DE- NORRIS FISHBElN
Editor. Journal OF the American Medical Association
and u Hygeia the Health Magazine
Only about 80 years have passed since accurate and
convenient methods were developed for measuring
blood pressure. Actually it was q British preacher in
terested in experiments who first measured blood pres
sure by hitching a long glass tube to 9 blood vessel In
the neck OF a horse.
Most people with high blood pressure do not realize
IL for q long time. because the condition comes on
80 gradually and there are no serious symptoms to call
1t to their attention.
Sometimes. indeed. the extra blood pressure a-
tually seems TO be associated with a lot more drive
and spirit than most people have. This is particularly
the case when the pressure is associated with extra
activity Of the thyroid gland. For this reason. most
cases Of II. A. D." Comprehensive arterial disease,
are discovered when the person concerned happens
to be applying for more life insurance or for his first
life insurance policy.
Just because people are likely to neglect measure
ment Of the blood pressure until some occasion de-
mands 1t. the medical profession has been trying for
a long time to get them to 60 to their doctors at least
once each year for q complete physical examination.
which should always include this measurement.
Because people decline to be sentimental in asso-
citation with birthdays, 1t has been suggested that the
examination take place each year on the birthday.
OF course a complete physical examination will in
clude listening to the heart and the chest, looking into
the throat. nose and ears. looking at the retina In
back Of the eye. and complete examination Of the pa
tient with all clothing removed.
Moreover. the tissues should be examined. II there
is any sign Of the necessity for 1t. x-ray stuules should
be made. The blood should be studied and the cells
counted with q microscope.
Then, too. the execretions from the kidneys and the
bowels should be studied by all methods commonly
used to find out II there is sugar or albumen or pus
In the urine or II there Is mucus or blood In the
bowel excretions.
Al examination Of the blood pressure must be made
every time a person goes to q doctor for any condi-
ton affecting the body as o. whole. This means not
only men and women over 40, but young men and wom-
en- entering college as well.
It means particularly the young woman about 70
persensitive arterial disease. to have O baby Is a most
serious matter. It may mean life or death.
o. course a competent doctor viii always measure
her blood pressure If he finds she Is going to have a
baby. but he ought to know about the blood pressure
long before that
With q few exceptions. I don't think I did anything
on the screen a dozen others couldn't have done as
well better, perhaps. Helen Hayes.
We should use preventive crime medicine as we do
preventive physical medicine. - Judge Camille KEEL
ley, Of Memphis Juvenile court.
Individually and collectively. we (the British) are
enormously misunderstood abroad. The Prince
of Wales.
There must be a return to national sanity; the
government must function under and within the
law. - Governor Harry W.. Nice, Of Maryland.
The government just has to come to producing in
stead of buying the things it needs for relief purposes.
Upton Sinclair.
Ladies are like dodo birds almost extinct. We
should stuff d few for museum pieces before they dis
appear. Elsa Maxwell, New York writer.