Alcohol1 and Heart Attacks

 

Broadcast: Jan 29, 2003
By Jerilyn Watson

This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
A new study says drinking beer, wine or other alcoholic¹ drinks several times a week can help prevent heart attacks in men. Kenneth Mukamal (MUCK-a-mal) of Harvard University Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts led the study. It said men who drank moderate amounts of alcohol three or more times a week were about thirty percent less likely to have a heart attack than non-drinkers. The kind of alcoholic drink did not appear important.

Doctor Mukamal says drinking even a little alcohol several times a week can protect the heart. The study appeared in the New England Journal2 of Medicine. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center completed the study. They developed their findings from a twelve-year study of almost forty-thousand men. The men were ages forty to seventy-five.

The researchers recorded how much alcohol the men drank and how often. They noted² the kind of alcohol and whether the men drank it with meals. They also considered other facts. These included the men's ages, use of tobacco, physical activity and whether their parents had heart disease.

Doctor Mukamal says there are several reasons for the results of the study. Alcohol usually raises levels of H-D-L, the so-called good kind of cholesterol³. In addition, alcohol affects the body's reaction to the hormone3 insulin4. Insulin helps control sugar in the blood. And alcohol may improve how the body processes blood sugar. Alcohol also affects two important blood processes. This may help prevent blockages⁴ in blood vessels⁵ that cause heart attacks.

Earlier studies show moderate alcohol use also could help prevent heart attacks in women. But too much alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
However, not all doctors agree that drinking alcohol is a good way to prevent heart attacks. The head of preventive medicine at Columbia University in New York City says medicines currently in use can help prevent heart attacks. Ira Goldberg says people can take these medicines without the risk of diseases linked to alcohol.

Drinking too much alcohol is bad for the health. It can cause liver problems. And it can lead to deadly accidents while driving or operating machinery⁶. In addition, some people become dependent on alcohol.

1. alcohol [5AlkEhCl] n.酒精，酒
2. journal [5dVE:nl] n. 定期刊物
3. hormone [5hC:mEun] n. 荷尔蒙，激素
4. insulin [5InsjulIn] n. 胰岛素

1 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 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。

4 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

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。