英语课程计划-World Asthma Day

World Asthma¹ Day takes place every year to raise awareness² of asthma throughout the world. It is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Many other healthcare groups pool resources to help GINA spread the word. All of these groups prepare leaflets and websites to highlight how millions of people suffer from asthma. Their aim is to provide all asthma sufferers with the treatment they need to control their condition. They particularly want to reduce the number of worldwide deaths caused by asthma. The different groups hold activities throughout the world to raise money for asthma research. World Asthma Day started in 1998. There is a different focus each year.

Asthma is a very common disease throughout the world. It affects people’s breathing by irritating the airways³. These are the small tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. A number of things can happen that cause the airways to get smaller and become inflamed⁴. This makes breathing very uncomfortable and can cause death. People can have an “asthma attack” after breathing in things like cigarette smoke, perfume, dust or even moist air. Other triggers that can set off an attack are exercise and emotional stress. The symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. Asthma is increasing in cities. Health officials report that up to 25 per cent of children in urban areas suffer from the condition.

1 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

4 inflamed   

adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His comments have inflamed teachers all over the country. 他的评论激怒了全国教师。
• Her joints are severely inflamed. 她的关节严重发炎。 来自《简明英汉词典》