Heart Disease

The heart is a very remarkable and a very wise organ. It knows how to relax and, if beating at a reasonable rate, puts in a great deal of rest during the 24 hours. For each contraction of the heart muscle (systole) is followed by a rest period (diastole), while the heart fills up again.
It is the job of the heart to deliver an adequate amount of blood into the circulation; it is the job of the circulation to distribute and shunt the blood so that every cell and organ of the body may receive its proper supply of oxygen and nutriment, and extra supplies to meet immediate local needs in response to special activity or exer¬tion.
Failure on the part of the circulation to supply sufficient blood to the heart muscle, as occurs in coronary disease, or failure to return an adequate quantity of blood to the heart, as occurs in 'shock' will embarrass the heart and interfere with its function. Weakness of the heart muscle, leaky valves, irregular heart rhythm may also embarrass the circulation because insufficient blood is pumped into it. Obviously, therefore, the heart and the circulation are dependent on one another, and disease of either the heart itself or the blood-vessels will interfere with the all important function of tissue nutrition. Moreover the task of elimination, removal of waste or toxic products, via the lungs, the skin, the kidneys and the bowel, is also dependent on an adequate performance by heart and circulation.
Apart from congenital abnormalities the heart may suffer damage in its muscle, its valves, its blood-vessels, or in the nervous mechanism which controls the rhythm and rate of its action. Slight damage may cause little distress or interference with function. Moreover

symptoms of pain, palpitation, or distress in the region of the heart, may be due to causes outside the heart altogether, 'wind' for example, and may occur in the absence of any disease of the organ. Again a heart with a 'murmur' or a heart which reacts violently to psycho¬logical stress, may be a perfectly efficient one.
The important thing is the test of performance. A somewhat damaged heart can often carry out its task quite efficiently provided that it is protected from overstrain by the sensible avoidance of stress, both physical and emotional, on the part of its owner. A life of invalidism is usually not called for but merely a wise restriction of activity within reasonable limits, varying with the individual.
The presence of symptoms suggestive of disorder of the heart calls for careful investigation as to cause. This will often include X-rays and an electro-cardiographic test. The treatment of heart disease must, therefore, be under the direction of a doctor, and homoeopathy has many remedies of proven value.