Lendon H. Smith, MD
It is not unusual to read of the death of a man (usually) withinthe few weeks following the death of his wife (could be husband).This would be especially true if they had been married anddependent upon each other for many years. His death certificatestates, "Heart Failure"; the lungs would show congestion and theheart would have stopped in systole -- the maximum contraction ofthe cardiac muscles.
There is a pattern here. My chemical consultant says that thechief factor is low potassium. The potassium level in the bloodfalls after emotional stress (physical stress diminishes thesodium). It is also quite possible to assume that the widowerwould not eat as well as when his wife was alive, especially fruitsand vegetables, the chief sources of potassium. He would becomedepleted, then, through these two mechanisms.
Decades ago Dr. Ringer experimented with frogs. When he dropped asolution of table salt (sodium chloride) on the exposed heart, theheart contracted and stayed in that tetanic contraction (systole).But a potassium salt solution dropped onto the heart made it stopin the relaxed position of diastole. Hence, the present daytreatment of hypertension: limit salt intake, but eat freely ofthe sources of potassium and fruit.
This all came to my mind when I heard a recent radio news report ofa condition called S.U.D.S., Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome. Ithas been striking down many young Southeast Asian men. Theirdeaths have been a mystery although families and friends know it isdue to fright. Victims will awaken in the middle of the night froma sound sleep, sit up, cry out as if terrified, and fall back dead.Visitation from dead relatives, guilt about past crimes, andsadness from leaving their native land all have their adherents.The basic factor appears to be stress, but our "wonderful American"low-potassium, high-sodium diet must be playing a significant role.I wonder if magnesium -- necessary for the maintenance of a regularheart beat, and selenium -- known to have an effect on heart musclefunction could be part of this. How about carnitine? Nothing isso simple that it can be understood by us mortals.
Like your mother said, "Eat your vegetables!" Let that be the dietslogan for the wake.
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THE FACTS
Lendon H. Smith, M.D.
Portland, Oregon
P.O. BOX 427
PORTLAND, OREGON 97207
