Читать книгу Old Age Deferred - Arnold Lorand - Страница 12

Table of Contents

Apoplexy is the consequence of a condition, which may be considered as the highest degree of a scale whose lowest step is often a slight elevation of the blood-pressure, when in a younger person. Thus, if before the 45-70 year period the blood-pressure is somewhat elevated and remains so for a certain length of time, we must, if there are no special reasons for this elevation, for instance, kidney trouble, be suspicious of arteriosclerosis. It is true, that there are cases of this disease without a high blood-pressure, but if we find, besides considerably elevated blood-pressure, traces of albumin in the urine and also renal elements, a swelled liver and an accentuated second sound at the aorta, there cannot be much doubt that we have probably to do with arteriosclerosis. A high blood-pressure can most frequently be caused through difficulties in the circulation of the kidneys; therefore in each such case the urine must carefully be examined. By improving the circulation through the kidneys we can also influence favorably the blood-pressure. Certain drugs producing a great flow of urine have indeed given good results in high blood-pressure, like, for instance, diuretin in some cases. I am, however, averse to the use of drugs if there are more natural remedies, and so I would advise the use of a quite harmless one like the juice of lemons. It is very diuretic and, as I have observed, there are also cases of chronic inflammatory conditions of the kidneys which are very favorably influenced through a treatment by lemons, in the same way as also gout and the uric acid ailments in general. I have found that with lemon-juice given in mineral water we obtain still better results if a little glycerin is added. Besides lemon-juice the juice of certain other fruits like grape-fruit, oranges, and grapes can also give good results. Besides a good diuresis, a thorough cleaning of the intestines is desirable, high blood-pressure often being caused by habitual constipation with stagnation of the intestinal contents and subsequent flatulence. I must repeat with emphasis again that daily bowel movements do not prove at all a clean intestine following a good evacuation, and I am sure that the good results obtained in the treatment of arteriosclerosis in certain spas, like Carlsbad, Marienbad, and Kissingen, are not so much due to the action of these waters upon arteriosclerosis, but simply to their eminently purging action. Neither of these springs has a direct effect upon arteriosclerosis, but besides the dietetic advantages of the installation of these spas, the waters from their springs evacuate thoroughly the intestines, ridding them of toxic products most deleterious to the arteries, and at the same time facilitating in a powerful way the circulation of the blood through the abdomen with its most wholesome repercussion upon the whole general circulation. A thorough intestinal evacuation can relieve a high blood-pressure nearly the same way as an extensive venesection. A good perspiration can also give good effects; however, to produce it there would be necessary to take hot-water or air bath, which may prove most deleterious. There are means, however, to avoid this for, as I know it from my own experiences, it is possible to have a profuse perspiration without the sensation of great heat and a red head through application of electric light bath with blue light. In this blue light bath, studying its action, I have myself obtained, after about twenty minutes’ time, the desired effect without the depressive feeling afterward as so often is the case with the usual steam bath. These baths are the more indicated in cases of a nervous heart.

There are also different drugs, which may in many cases prove useful: thus, a French preparation, prepared from the viscus kinds called guipsin, then diuretin prepared by different concerns. Very valuable are the nitrate preparations, especially in cases with coronary sclerosis, also vasotonin, etc. But from my own experiences I give in many cases the preference to preparations of iodine. But I have found that iodine should not be given in too small doses and that they must also be taken for a certain length of time. Besides iodine I have found, as most efficacious in cases with very high blood-pressure, the application of electric currents after the system of D’Arsonval (arsonvalization). In each case of several patients I have seen the dropping of the blood-pressure to the normal. As soon as we find a high blood-pressure in a patient we must do our best to diminish it, for if we allow it to become persistent the high blood-pressure will produce a loss of the elasticity of the walls of the blood-vessels, there will arise pathological alterations and arteriosclerosis may easily establish itself. Aided by persistent, very high blood-pressure the degeneration of the walls of the blood-vessels may in the long run go so far that a destruction of their tissues can arise. Then by any sudden great elevation of the blood-pressure it may come to a rupture of the vessel, to apoplexy. If such a thing happens to a blood-vessel of the brain, then such vital parts of the brain may be destroyed that sudden death will follow. But in many cases, happily, other less important parts are affected, without involving death, and then follows lameness of those regions of the body which are provided with nerves coming or going to these parts. Sclerosis and degeneration of arteries happen most frequently in parts of the body where the circulation is the most copious by hyperfunction of these parts; thus in the legs of country people walking and climbing much (Romberg).

Mental exertions produce a great afflux of blood toward the brain each time, with deep thinking more blood arrives to the brain and it is therefore not surprising, as I show in my book on “Human Intellect and its Improvement through Hygienic and Therapeutic Measures.” Such an appalling number of prominent brain workers, men of science and of business, are suffering from hardening of the brain-vessels and are struck by apoplexy of the brain, sometimes even at early ages, before or shortly after their fiftieth year. Indeed a vast majority of the great men of science and business are thus afflicted, as I show in this book, apoplexy being very frequent amongst them. It is reckless overwork, unhygienic methods of mental work that may with surety produce a hardening of the arteries of the brain. It would exceed the short space allowed to this chapter if I should enter here upon the hygienics of mental work, which I am treating in several chapters of my book on the “Human Intellect,” but it will suffice here to emphasize the necessity of interpolating resting days between days of mental overexertion. It would be too much for me to demand that a successful man of business retire entirely from his affairs, but what he could do, especially if the head of the business, is to leave the city on Saturday for the country, with the custom of walking about in the fresh air, returning Monday with fresh strength; and, further, to avoid anything that produces high blood-pressure, hill climbing, hot or cold drinks, strong coffee, tea, and above all tobacco, which is one of the very surest means to increase the blood-pressure. There is no condition where smoking can produce such fatal effects as in arteriosclerosis, and especially if the arteries of the brain, as so often in brain workers, are affected. In inveterate smokers, perhaps a few de-nicotinized cigarettes or cigars may be allowed. In place of regular coffee or tea, coffee without caffeine and the Brazilian tea, maté, whose properties I have described in my book on Rational Diet, may be allowed, but also not in indiscriminate quantities. If too much of them is taken, they may prove not less harmful, therefore also caffeine-free coffee and maté should be taken with wise moderation. Against the troublesome symptoms of arteriosclerosis of the brain like dizziness, loss of memory, difficulty of reasoning, headaches, feeling of pressure upon the brain, etc., I have seen, as I described in special chapters of my book “The Human Intellect,” very good results through the combined use of preparations of iodine and extracts of the thyroid gland. The dizziness disappeared and also the headaches, the memory got much better and also the reasoning power. These effects were, however, obtained in cases not too advanced. As a preventive against arteriosclerosis of the brain and as a remedy against headaches and feeling of pressure in the head I am recommending snuffing in my book on Intellect, showing that through its use the circulation of the congested brain is much relieved. In confirmed cases of arteriosclerosis of the brain, however, snuffing should be avoided, for it may have fatal results. Excessive snuffing is also deleterious to healthy men, especially when tobacco is used. To prevent apoplexy the hygienic advice we have given in the beginning of this chapter to avoid high blood-pressure must strictly be followed. I should like to add to them hot foot-baths for about five minutes, to which mustard powder could be added. There should also be a special care for a wise diet, avoiding constipation; of meat only very little should be taken, fish should be preferred, and of meat only chicken and veal allowed. The best food against arteriosclerosis and heart trouble consists of a milk and egg diet, with vegetables and fruit, to which fish and cheese may be added. As a most valuable food for overwork of the heart and the general circulation, I recommend honey, whose merits I show in next chapter.