新西兰英语 625 Men’s Health Week

 　　This week is men’s health week. Why do we need to think especially about men’s health? Perhaps it’s because men do not go to the doctor very often. Some men feel it is a sign of weakness to say they are not well so they do not tell anyone if they have health problems.

　　This week some well-known men have talked about their health problems or about the importance of seeing a doctor when necessary. They say that men should share their health stories. We know that men usually die younger than women and often it is because of stress in their work or life. More men than women are overweight, drink too much alcohol and smoke. More men than women have strokes or commit suicide¹.

　　Here is the website: Men’s Health Week. Men can take a survey on this website to find their health score. The questions are about blood pressure, blood sugar, exercise, diet (eating fruit and vegetables), signs of skin cancer, stress, depression and family history of diabetes².

　　Vocabulary

　　stroke – blood flow to the brain stops

　　commit suicide – kill yourself (these two words go together)

　　depression – feeling unhappy for a long time

　　diabetes – high blood sugar because of a problem with insulin

　　Questions

　　Statistics³ for European men, Asian men, Maori men and Pacific Island men are different. What about in your culture? Do men have the same health problems? Do they go to the doctor?

　　Do women share health stories with each other?

1 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

2 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

3 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。