The Coolidge examiner., 1935-04-12

"f"VN - tle Centrul pumping mech
anlsm. The large outbound vessels
from the heart are called arteries.
These gradually become smaller In
diameter the farther they get away
from the heart. until they finally
end In small threadllke capllaries.
There are many hundreds of capil.
iaries branching or like the limbs
of n tree from the small arteries
In the skin. muscles and organs.
The capillaries are the distributing
agents. As the blood in the large
arteries leading from the pumping
station, the heart. is under consider
able pressure in order 10 insure a
proper distribution OF blood. the
walls OF the arteries must be able to
bear the load. SO the larger the
artery, the heavier is the load.
After the blood passes through
the capIllaries II returns 10 the
heart through the veins. These
veins begin as very small vessels
close 10 The capIllarles and Increase
gradually In size as they approach
the heart But the walls OF the
veins are never as thick as those
of the arteries, FOR the blood Is not
under very much pressure In the
venous system.
The volume or amount OF blood IN
the body remains relatively con.
slant. The absorption of water
and other fluids and the excretlon
BY the Kidneys and the sweat
glands maintain constant blood
volume or balance. In case of high
blood pressure. the capacity of
The vascular system Is usually De
creased. Hence the pressure In
crpBses because the volume of blood
remains constant The capacity of
the vascular system decreases In
most instances because the arter.
ies become hardened and hence can.
not dilafe and Increase ln size with
each heart beat. as they should
The inability 10 dliate and Increase
IN size normally Is called arterio-
sclcrosis or aging of the arteries.
Certain forms or heart disease
also play a part In high blood pres
sure. High blood pressure In older
adults Is due many times 10 In
luries 0f the heart and the kidneys
during childhood or adolescence.
caused By some infectious disease.
The primary damage Is done AT that
time and the gradual development
of scar tissue finally uses up all
the reserve power Of either the
heart or kidneys and an elevation
In blood pressure Is manifest In
later life.
The important factors TO deter
mine In high blood pressure then
are t1l the state OF the arteries,
t2) the Size and efficiency OF the
heart. (31 the state OF the kidneys.
The fact that one has high blood
pressure Is usually brought out as
the result OF physical examina-
;ion made by physician. and the
control OF Il. after IL has devel-
oped. necessltates frequent medI-
cal examination and intelligent co
operation with the physician. Other
factors than the state OF the blood
vessels. the heart and the kidneys
may be involved too.
The best time to begin treatment
for high blood pressure is the time
when II starts TO rise. Everyone
OF course has momentary rises in
blood pressure due 70 anger. but
~ these periods last only a short
time. they are unlmportant from a
health standpoint.
The individual with high blood
pressure, after determining the cause
and following the physicians direc-
ton, should guard against strenuous
physical exercise as much as pos
sible.
Strong contractions of the muscles
OF the arms and legs always in
crease blood pressure by decreas-
ing the volume OF blood in the mus
cles while they are contracted, and
hence there is rapidly increased blood
pressure for a short time. This
may be disastrous to an individual
with high blood pressure. Worry
and oyerwork, sleeplessness and
physical exhaustion viii also in
crease the blood pressure above the
normal. and should be guarded
against.
Low blood pressure Is usually as
important a danger signal for the
older individual as high blood pres.
sure. Low blood pressure In many
instances is due to a decrease in
the efficiency Of the heart muscle.
There is decreased pumping of the
heart and hence a lessening pres
sure within the arterial system.
The individual with high blood
pressure or low blood pressure
should not delay In consulting a
physician.
@ Western Newspaper Union