The utilization of BMR measurements as a routine diagnostic procedure in normal health maintenance

The hypothesis that BMR measurements should become part of the routine diagnostics utilized by physicians in long term health maintenance programs is developed. The hypothesis is supported from two viewpoints. First, a number of conditions are known to cause increases in BMR. The conditions include endocrine disorders, cardiovascular abnormalities, and cancer. Thus an observed substantial rise in BMR could indicate the onset of a medical problem if the higher level is maintained over an extended period of time. Second, available data from a longitudinal aging study suggests that sustained periods of increased BMR indicate "killing" stresses which can be detrimental or even fatal to individual subjects. The recent improvements in BMR measurements techniques reported here now make it possible to set up an inexpensive, reliable, and easy-to-use apparatus. Thus it would not be difficult to incorporate BMR measurement techniques as one of the routinely utilized diagnostic procedures.