【美国总统夫人电台演说】2008-02-01

MRS. BUSH: Good morning. This is Laura Bush. For the weekly radio address, President Bush has handed the mic over to me. And today, I'd like to talk about something that's close to my heart -- America's heart health.

February is American Heart Month -- a time to start heart-healthy habits, and to learn about the risk factors for heart disease. These risk factors include smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, diabetes¹, high blood pressure and cholesterol², family history, and age. Heart disease affects more than 80 million people in the United States and claims the life of one American every minute.

 By now, many women who've tuned⁴ in may be tempted⁵ to tune³ out. A few years ago, I might have. Like many women, I assumed heart disease was a "man's disease." But the Heart Truth is this: that heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women. In 2002, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched the Heart Truth campaign, and asked me to join.

Over the last five years, I've seen the Heart Truth campaign spread the word to women about how they can protect their heart health. Symptoms of a heart attack can be different in women than in men. Symptoms in women can include persistent⁶ fatigue⁷, difficulty breathing, and a pain in the jaw⁸ or neck. If women have these symptoms, they should go immediately to the hospital.

Nothing draws attention like a little red dress, so this is the Heart Truth's symbol. Across the country, people are rallying around that dress. Women are taking heart disease more seriously. So are their doctors. And every year from 2000 to 2005, heart disease deaths among women decreased.

This is good progress, but we still want more people to know the Heart Truth. Too many women, especially African-American women, die of heart disease. More than 80 percent of middle-aged⁹ women have at least one risk factor and many of them don't know it.

Last year, as part of my work to tell the Heart Truth, I went on the Rachael Ray show, where I described the symptoms of heart attacks in women. One woman who watched, Candy Stauffer, says that a few weeks after she saw the show she woke up feeling nauseated¹⁰ and bothered by pain in the jaw. Candy's daughter remembered what she'd heard on Rachael Ray. And because Candy and her daughter paid attention to the symptoms of heart trouble, Candy got to the emergency room in time to be treated.

Since her close call, Candy has started exercising every day. She's dropped 45 pounds. Now she's calling on others to take better care of their hearts. "My family is more aware," Candy says. "My friends are more aware." Even in line at the grocery store, Candy will tell other people about heart disease.

I'm proud to serve as the Heart Truth's official national ambassador. But I'm even more proud of America's unofficial heart-health ambassadors. Across the United States, doctors, researchers, and patients like Candy Stauffer are telling the Heart Truth, and they're saving women's lives. This American Heart Month, all of us can be Heart Truth ambassadors. Start by protecting your own heart, and spread the word to others. February is a month known for Valentines. This February, encourage your loved ones to take care of their health. It's the best Valentine's gift you could possibly give. Thanks for listening.

1 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。

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 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

4 tuned   

adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。
• The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

6 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

7 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

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。

9 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

10 nauseated   

adj.作呕的，厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I was nauseated by the violence in the movie. 影片中的暴力场面让我感到恶心。
• But I have chewed it all well and I am not nauseated. 然而我把它全细细咀嚼后吃下去了，没有恶心作呕。 来自英汉文学 - 老人与海