2006年VOA标准英语-Study: Screening of Young Athletes Can Reduce R

By Melinda Smith
Washington, DC
05 October 2006
 
watch Athletes Heart Risk

One of the leading causes of death among young athletes on the playing field or court is a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.  But the results of a 25-year study in Italy shows there is an effective way to screen young athletes for this type of sudden death.

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In 1993 sports fans were shocked when star player Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics basketball team collapsed¹ on the court and later died of what doctors believe was sudden cardiac death.  

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a muscle thickening in the heart's lower left chamber²  
  
Young athletes like Lewis and others are supposed to be in top physical condition.  But this unexpected death can be the result of a hidden disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a muscle thickening in the heart's lower left chamber.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is unusual.  One in every 500 people is estimated to have it.  Yet the chances of catching³ this hidden condition early have been enhanced by results of a 25-year study in Italy. There all potential athletes like this teenager must undergo a thorough medical exam before they're allowed to play sports.  Doctors look for a family history of heart disease and use an electrocardiogram to check for cardiovascular abnormalities.

Dr. Gaetano Thiene  
  
The Center for Sports Medicine in Padua, Italy has participated in a study to prevent sudden death in athletes.  Dr. Gaetano Thiene is with the Center says the sport activity is a factor. "The major effort indeed is to identify these people and then disqualify from sport activity.  Don't forget that the sport activity and effort is a trigger for sudden death in people affected⁴."

More than 40,000 young Italian athletes...ranging in age from 12 to 35...have been tested.  Researchers believe the screening has helped reduce the incidence of sudden death among these young men and women by almost 90 percent. 
 

Health screening  
  
Dr. Thiene agrees. "This was absolutely amazing because this was proving that the pre-participation screening is a life-saving tool."

In Italy, the price of each screening is about$40 per person.  Some experts say they're afraid the high cost might eliminate many children before they even get the chance to try out.

1 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。