Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-18
Stop Killing
Yourself

BY Dr.. Peter J. Steinerohn

There's no fool like an old
fool-if he stays a fool longer
than he should. When will the
elderly people writing to
you about cholesterol wake
up? I was one of the pack.
Stopped eating eggs, butter,
cheese, and everything the
doctors told me to cut out, in
Gliding salt. l quit for about
two months, then went back
on my regular diet.
l am still around and raring
to 60. / am only IS, next
birthday, so tell all those peo-
pie who worry themselves sick
about having a choleSterol
reading that is a little higher
than normal to wake up and
enjoy life. These older people
who get worried about cho-
leSterol tests ought to have
their heads examined.-Mr. L.
l KEEP telling those who
are 20 and over that they
have proved they have some
thing in them geared for
longevity that many others do
not. Therefore, l say, keep
on as you are"-unless there
are very specific reasons to
the contrary. / don't like to
change signals when the pa
tent is making good yardage
goalwise.
It is for this reason ! don't
take a few pipefuls Of tobacco
away from the 20 to 80-year-
old who enjoys 1t; l let him
have his liquor, his coffee, his
fats, his exercise Cor his mac
tivity), his 10 hours sleep or
his five Whichever he pre-
fers). l could 60 on.
What l am trying to say is
that we doctors must guard
against going overheard in
handing out unnecessary re-
strictions which take the Joy
out of life-when there Is a
reasonable doubt that the re-
strictions won't do any good
anyway.
-
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: / am
in mental misery and have
been for about 10 years. l have
a rather crooked nose which
I've wanted very much to have
improved. And 1t seems that
one of our children seems to
have inherited this too. Would
it be wrong for each Of us to
have plastic surgery done
now? Hy little girl is o.
Mrs. Y.
ONE YES VOTE for you
and a No vote for your
daughter. Readers of this col
umn know that l believe that
mother nature is not averse to
having any help where she
has fallen down In fashioning
our nose, ears or anything
else. She welcomes plastic
surgery in those who have the
courage and wisdom to take
advantage Of what modern
surgery has to offer.
Therefore, 60 to it and more
power to you l have known
scores of patients who almost
shouted in unison: 81 wish l
had it done years ago." Just
be sure that you have a plas-
tic surgeon Of fine reputation
do the job. Your medical so
ciety or family physician will
look up a list of those in high
standing.
The reason l say NO to
your daughter at this time is
that l believe she is too young
to have it done now. Her fea-
lures have not yet matured.
But take her along to your
doctor. He will tell you when
she will be ready for surgery.
Like mother like daughter
think both Of you will be hap
pier for eventual plastic re-
pair.
Mrs. H.: l know Of no oph-
thalmologists who believe that
special exercises will do away
with near-Sightedness. They
say that only glasses will cor
rect the abnormality brought
about by this defect.
Mr.. NJ: MononucleoSis is
not a "blOod deficiency" It is
thought to be a viral infection
in which the patient usually
gets fever, a sore throat, and
enlargement of the glands
especially in the neck. The
diagnosis is confirmed by spe-
cial blood tests. If hepatitiS is
a complication, the liver be-
comes temporarily enlarged
and tender.
DR.. Steincrohn'S IeGtlet,
"What You Can Do for High
Blood Pressure" tDiH be
mailed on receipt of a
stamped, selt-GddreSSed en-
Uelope and IS cents in coin
for handling. Address DR..
Steincrohn In care of The
Star,