The Nome daily nugget., 1936-01-22

eAss Izsa system of vessels
 in the body. The heart is the central pumping mechan- Ism. 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 thread-like capillaries. There are many hundreds of these capillaries branch ing off like the limbs of a tree from the small arteries in the skin, muscles and organs.
 The capillaries are the distributing agents. As the blood in the large arter- ies leading from the pumping station, the heart, is under considerable pres- sure in order to insure a proper dis tribution 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 1t returns to the heart through the veins. These veins begin as very small vessels close to the capil- laries 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 constant. The absorption of water and other Ami nd hn hy ho IytI neys and the sweat glands maintain a constant blood volume or balance Tn case of high blood pressure, the ca pacity of the vascular system Is usual ly decreased. Hence the pressure in. creases because the volume of blood remains constant. The capacity of the vascular system decreases in most in- stances because the arteries become hardened and hence cannot dilate and increase in size with each heart beat. as they should. This inability to di- late and increase in size normally Is called arterio-sclerosis or aging of the arteries
 Certain forms of heart disease also play part In high blood pressure. High blood pressure in older adults is due many times to injuries of the heart and the kidney during child hood or adolescence, caused by some infectious disease. The primary dam- age Is done at that time and the gradual development of scar tissue finally uses up all the reserve power of either the heart or the kidney and an elevation in blood pressure is mani- Tested in later life.
 The important factors to determine in high blood pressure then are CD the state of the arteries, @ the size and efficiency of the heart, (3) the state of the kidneys. The fact that one has high blood pressure is usually brought out as the result of phys. ical examination made by physician. and the control of 1t, after it has de- veloped, necessitates frequent medical examination and intelligent co-Opera- ton 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 1t starts to rise.
 The individual with high blood pres sure. after determining the cause and following the physicians direction, should guard against strenuous physi- cal exercise as much as possible. Strong cOntractions of the muscles of the arms and legs always increases blood pressure by decreasing the vol tune of blood in the muscles while they are contracted. and hence there is rapidly increasing blood pressure for a short ime. This may be disas. trous to an individual with high blood pressure Worry and overwork, sleep lessness and physical exhaustion, will | also increase the blood pressure above the normal, and should be guarded against
 | Low blood pressure Is usually as i'm. portant a danger signal for the older individual as high blood pressure. Low blood pressure in many instances is due to a decrease in the efficiency of the heart muscle There Is decreased pumping force of the heart and hence lessened pressure within the arteria system.
 The individual with high blood pres. sure or low blood pressure should not delay in consulting a physician. c. Western Newspaper Union