Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-26
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
By PETER J. sTEINcRoHN

Here's a tongue-twister for
you: Observation-Disclosures
(Which means above normal
amount Of chloesterol in the
blood-above 225-250). But
patients are pronouncing it
as easily as appendicitis
(Which probably was con-
sidered a twister Of sorts in
its own day..
A common story goes like
this: A man decides to go to
his doctor for q physical
checkup. although he feels
perfectly healthy. During the
course Of the examination the
examination the doctor finds
q high blood cholesterol.
What shall the patient do?
observation-disclosures, X-rays
and all other examinations
are negative. Shall he forget
about the abnormal reading
or do something about it?
I think that while he is
about 1t, he should try to
track 1t down. Is there a
history of vascular accidents
in the family? Like coronary
disease, stroke, kidney dis
ease? How about hypothy-
roidism, in which there is a
tendency to high cholesterol?
Do others in the family have
high readings? Is there q
history of diabetes?
If all these are negative. I
tell him there is no immedi-
ate concern to do anything
about the cholesterol, except
keep his weight normal and
come in for periodic checkups
and scholesterol readings.
Otherwise he can 60 along
and live formally.
But If the history-taking
uncovers any suspicious sus-
ceptibility to arterial disease,
I think 1t advisable to take
early precautions to hold off
atheroSclerosis, with which
choleSterol seems to be tied
in-although 1t hasn't yet
been definitely marked guilty
as the actual cause. I would
stress the Importance Of nor
NAL weight; of substituting
polyunsaturated fats (like
corn oil, safflower oil, etc.
for many Of the saturated
fats (cream, butter, fatty
meats, fried foods, eggs, pas
try, etc. In an attempt to
lower the cholesteroi, in adj
dition there are drugs which
help bring down the level Of
cholesterol; like NICOTINE
acid, heparin, thyroid extract
and many others.
! would advise him to cut
down Cor cut out) his smok-
ing, and take a moderate
amount Of exercise. And to
live as tension-free a life
as he possibly can in this
tension-filled century. Then
to top it off, I'd tell him to
stop worrying about his blood
cholestrol level. That, in IT.
self. might keep 1t higher
than normal.
1T is TRUE that the cure
for some sick headaches is
the menopause. Probably it
has something to do with the
altered function Of the pitui-
tary gland or other glands of
internal secretion. I recently
asked a 50-year-old woman
who now lives In another
State. Are you still having
the terrible headaches you
used to have so frequently
since you were a young girl?"
She said, II haven't had one
since my periods stopped
when I was as" / was glad to
hear 1t, because when she
was under my care I had
tried everything I knew or
had heard about without any
success. She had been to
neurologistS and many other
men without being helped.
All I could say was: Good
old mother natIire!"
I KNOW OF NO special
diet that is guaranteed to
prevent the recurrence OF
attacks Of govt. About the
best procedure is cutting
down on fats generally, and
taking regularly drugs like
Benemid and colchicine to
control the excess uric acid
in the blood.
(Bell syndicate Featured
DR.. Steincrohn's leatIet,
Maybe Your Heart Trouble
Is Imaginary" tDiu be mailed
on receipt OF a stamped,
selt-Gddressed envelope, and
10 cents In coin for handling.
Address DR.. Steincrohn in