HEALTH REPORT-Heart Disease and C-Reactive Protein

HEALTH REPORT-Heart Disease and C-Reactive Protein
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

American researchers have found evidence that a blood protein linked to inflammation of the arteries¹ is a cause of heart disease. Two independent studies found that lowering the amount of the protein in the blood is just as important as lowering bad cholesterol² to prevent heart attacks.

Until recently, doctors were concerned with lowering the amount of bad cholesterol and raising the amount of good cholesterol in the blood. But new research has shown that levels of C-reactive protein, or C.R.P, also must be reduced in order to prevent heart disease.

Studies during the past ten years have found that a major problem in heart disease is inflammation. Inflammation cannot be easily measured. So doctors use blood tests for C.R.P. to measure it.

C-reactive protein is a substance released by the liver. Some experts say the protein is directly linked to fatty plaque³ buildup in the arteries leading to the heart. They say the protein causes the plaque to break up and form blood clots⁴ in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.

Two studies appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. Paul Ridker of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston led the main study. Patients in the study already had severe heart disease and were taking drugs called statins to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Statin drugs also lower levels of C-reactive protein. The researchers found that patients who already had lowered cholesterol levels could reduce their risk of another heart attack by lowering their C.R.P. levels.

The studies showed that even when bad cholesterol levels were normal, people with lower levels of C.R.P. had slower progression of heart disease and fewer heart attacks and deaths.

Doctors say statins are not the only way to lower C.R.P. They say exercise, a healthy diet and stopping smoking also reduce it.

The new findings are only for people who already have heart disease. A separate study is being done to see if lowering C.R.P can reduce heart attacks in healthy people with normal cholesterol levels, but higher levels of C.R.P. Almost half of all heart attacks happen in people with normal cholesterol levels.

Researchers are hopeful that the new information can lead to new medicines to prevent and treat heart disease.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Gwen Outen.

1 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》

2 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

3 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。

4 clots   

n.凝块( clot的名词复数 )；血块；蠢人；傻瓜v.凝固( clot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• When you cut yourself, blood clots and forms a scab. 你割破了，血会凝固、结痂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Milk clots when it turns sour. 奶变酸就凝块。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》