The Danger Sign

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 50, 27 June 1930, Page 37

The Danger Sign

Nature’s Methods

"THE yawn, says this physician, is one of Nature’s danger-signals. She is warning you that your lungs are in need of oxygen and that certain tinused muscles in your face and neck are in need of exercise, Fatigue, headache, and drowsiness are all induced by lack of oxygen in the system. "They can also be resisted to a great extent by a plentiful supply of oxygen. Nature, being aware of this, and knowing: of its preventive, gives her- warning. You yawn, once or twice, perhaps, and the fatigue or headache gradually increases. You have not heeded the danger-signal at the first sign of fatigue. Go, then to an open window, stand erect atid breathe deeply ten times with arms extended. Prolong the acts of inhaling and exhaling thé air as. long as possiible. Do this every ten minutes and in half an hour or less au inctredse of vigour will be noticed. Véry often the incipient headache will have been driven entirely away. Few sleepers awake without the need of replenishing the oxygen in the system. This is why most of us have the impulse to yawn immediately on waking.’ It is not because we need more sleep, but because we need fresh air. Practisé deep breathing exercises every morning for two weeks and the habit will be formed. It will seem as nécessaty a part of "starting the day" as one’s breakfast, and it will surprise you how it will change your usual form of breathing. You will soon bréathe in a natural manner-that is, from the diaphragm -entirely filling the lungs, instead of breathing unnaturally, movitig the chest only and filling but the top part of the lungs. It is the seldom-used muscles that droop and sag as we grow older. Those that ¢ause’ the unpleasant sagging of the cheéks are the muscles funning from the ears to the corner of the mouth; those that extend from above the ear, over the jawbone, to the throat; and those directly under the chin. This sagging of the cheeks can be prevented, and, in every case, corrected to‘a great extent by giving these muscles exercises that harden them, and keep them in a youthful. contion. After practising your deep-breathing exercises 6n rising, lie down again, and place your pillow in a comfortable roll under. the back of the neck. Your head will thus be thrown back, your chin will point into the air, and you will feel the muscles of your throat become taut. Now, slowly, indulge in a wholehearted yawn. ‘Then, holding the mouth wide open, try to grin from ear to éar. Then, close the mouth slowly, puffing "out the cheeks as far as possible, taking care not to pucker the lips. Keep this position for one minute and repeat the exercise five times. Then, write to me in abdnt three weeks and tell me how muth younger your husband says that you are looking.