Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-01-11
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
By Dr.. Peter J. Steincrohn

to their doctor for what
might turn out to be some
minor complaint that took up
his valuable time. You said
that a common failing Of
people is to wait until a fire
becomes a four-alarm blaze
before seeking help.
We have a wonderful doc
tor. But why, after going
through the waiting and
worrying, do they make you
feel guilty for thinking you
may have something serious:
and make you feel like a
pest for taking their time
If you go back for something,
that persists2 -,
I certainly don't enjoy run .
ming to a doctor to have him
tel me to take an aspirin.
/ hope I have enough in
telligence to take them with d
out doctors advice for minor
discomforts. Maybe If I ig-
more my aches and pains,
they'll go away or maybe I'll
have a four-alarm blaze on
my hands-but either way it
won't be because I didn't
seek help. Mrs. w.
ALL DOCTORS should be
prevention-minded, no mat
ter what their speciality or
interests. The doctor who
makes you feel silly because
your fears are groundless
isn't a good doctor.
For it is true that often
the most serious maladies be- I,
gin as apparently pinpoint
flames that don't seem to
endanger the patient. When,
they are allowed to break out
into a hot inferno, then
everybody is sorry. But under
such conditions 1t is the,
patient who gets the worst
of 1t.
Many's the case Of I'M
suspected diabetes I have
seen whose only presenting
symptom was IT had my
glasses changed only q few
months ago, but I can't see
like I used to-" Or the ap-,
parently innocent "indiges-
ton" which is the first evil
dence Of coronary failure.
Keep being silly, Mrs. W.,
and you'll live longer.
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: Will
you explain enlarged hearth
What causes it? Is there
anything to do for it7 Can
a person live a few more
years with it? How should
a person take care of it2
Mrs. M.
INSTEAD OF answering
your questions one by one
I'll try to give you one
answer which may give you
the information you seek. a.
The first thing to rememE
Der is that there is more
than one kind of heart dis
ease. People have a tendency
to put heart disease into just
one classification. That's not
right.
To name q few types:
Rheumatic heart disease.
congenital heart disease, n.y.
pertensive heart disease, ar
teriosclerotic heart disease,
coronary artery disease. thy
roid heart disease, heart dis
ease due to infection Qike
subacute bacterial endocardi-
tis), etc.
Whatever the type, en-
largement Of the heart
muscle doesn't usually take
place within hours. 1t is only
after months or years Of
pumping against the odds Of
disease, that the heart muscle
begins to enlarge and fail"
During the early stages Of
enlargement there may be no,
symptoms. Then, gradually, T.
do we find that the patient,
complains Of shortness Of
breath. cough, indigestion.
fatigue. swelling Of the,
ankles and legs, and enlarge
ment Of the liver with fluid
in the abdomen.
There is much we can do
for these various conditions
which cause heart enlarge
ment. Digitails. quinidine,
antibiotics. drugs to remove
excess fluid-are only a few
Of the methods we use toy
help the enlarged heart. How
well he does depends upon
how well he co-operates with
his doctor: How he takes his
medicines. how he lives
work. smoking, drinking. va
cations, lack Of too much
tension, etc..
Does this give you some
idea, Mrs. M? r
CBell Syndicate Feature) Il
Or. Steincrohn's IedfIet.
"Hints on How TO Overcome
Headaches" tDiH be mailed
on receipt OF a stamped,
selj-addressed envelope and
10 cents in coin for handling.
Address Or. Steincrohn IN
care OF The EuentnO Star.
USELESS
INFORMATION