VOA慢速英语20060308a

HEALTH REPORT - Tests Often Miss a Hidden Heart-Attack Risk in WomenBy Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, March 08, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Worldwide, almost as many women as men die from heart disease. Yet most treatment methods have come from studies of men. Researchers are now learning more about ways that heart disease can be different in women.


heart surgery

For example, they say a condition called coronary microvascular syndrome¹ appears to be more common in women than men.

When a heart attack is suspected, doctors look for a major blockage² in the arteries³ that supply oxygen to the heart. With coronary microvascular syndrome, fatty material spreads evenly in very small arteries of the heart. This buildup of plaque⁴ along the artery⁵ wall narrows the flow of oxygen. The pain can be similar to that of blocked arteries.

But doctors often miss this condition because it does not show up in the usual tests for blockages⁶. Women are often sent home, thinking they are OK. Yet many are at high risk for a heart attack.

In the United States, researchers say as many as three million women could have coronary microvascular syndrome. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology recently published findings from a government study.

The study is called the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation⁷, or WISE. Ischemic heart disease involves restricted blood flow. The study began in nineteen ninety-six and involves more than nine hundred women who suffer chest pain.

Researchers found large blockages in major arteries in about one-third of the women. The other women looked clear on an angiogram test for blockages. But the researchers say half of them had enough buildup in small arteries to cause a heart attack within five years.

Scientists have been trying to better understand why heart disease is often discovered later, and treated less aggressively, in women. Women are also less likely to react as well as men to treatment.

Experts note that women are generally older than men when they have a heart attack. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says women are also less likely to believe they are having a heart attack. So they are more likely to delay emergency treatment.

In men and women both, the most common warning sign is chest pain. But women are more likely to experience other common signs like shortness of breath, a sick stomach and pain in the back or jaw⁸. A cold sweat and feeling lightheaded can also mean a heart attack.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk, and can be found at www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

2 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

3 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 plaque   

n.饰板，匾，(医)血小板

参考例句：

• There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
• Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。

5 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

6 blockages   

n.堵塞物( blockage的名词复数 )；堵塞，阻塞

参考例句：

• The storms could increase the risks posed by river blockages. 暴风雨会增加因河道堵塞所造成的危险。 来自互联网
• An angiogram shows the location and severity of blockages in blood vessels. 冠状动脉造影能够显示血管内的阻塞位置以及阻塞的严重程度。 来自互联网

7 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

8 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。