BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 2, 19 July 1935, Page 65

BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS

\ Causes of Blood Pressure eee

(By

D. W.

Adamson

Wellington)

1 a discussion of the above subject last week I outlined in a genera way the- more important causes of high blood pressure and some of the ration: al methods of treatment for those caus- * es in whith hardening of the arteries is responsible. 5 This week I intend to deal with the remaining features,.to wit, hyper-ac-tivity of the adrenal glands, and congestion of such organs as the liver. Should a highly vascular organ as the r ie for instance, become congested, the reaction on the blood pressure is \similar, in at least one respect, to that of hardening: of the arteries, inasmuch as the resistance to the blood flow is greatly increased. When. we consider that the liver bas to handle. all the fats, starches and proteins which pass through the stages of digestion besides the toxic and other waste products of the processes of metabolism, it is not’ difficult fo understand that this much abused organ is apt to suffer from. overwork and "lie down on its job." The liver becomes congested and the increased resistance to the blood flow means a higher blood pressure. The adrenal glands are little glands situated on the border of the kidneys. Their activity is responsible for the behaviour of many of our internal functions as well as being responsible for some of our outward characteristics. For instance, lowerdd activity is associated with sluggishness und iv- ‘ netivity in general. On the other hand the hyper-activity of the glands hag yeuctions ranging from excessive activity of many of the internal processes of which high blood pressure is one, to excitablility . and feats of explosiye cnerey and temper, The blood pressure May not be con‘+inuously high but rise suddenly in respouse to anger or excitement which as is well known, causes a greater secretion of the adrenal fluid and greater activity of all the functions influenced by it. This. type of condition is not . considered unduly serious but there are . eases in which a chronie hyperactivity of the glands exists and in which the pressure remains high. For instance. a person may be living under’ conditions of great pressure or excitement cither in business or in "going the Chace." No apparent strain may he noticed for some time, but ultimately he wakes up to the fact that his pressure is high, a condition brought about by the reaction on the adrenal activity of the long coutinued strain of business or other activities, Everyone who burns ‘the candle at hoth ends. or who lives under conditions which jmpose unnecessary strain upon his nervous system, runs the risk of deyeloping high blood pressure, Fresh fruit and vegetables (both cooked and raw) shonld preponderate fin the diet, particularly such fruits as peaches, pears, oranges. and vezetables such as tomatoes, celery, lettnce and other greens. Meat and all other proteins should he reduced to one’s mini mum requirement as well as starches and sngars. Water should: be taken freely between meals. —