Heat and Health

83 炎热的天气可能引发疾病甚至导致死亡

DATE=8-14-01
TITLE=SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2137 - Heat and Health
BYLINE= Oliver Chanler

VOICE ONE:
This is Bob Doughty¹
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long with the VOA Special English program SCIENCE IN THE NEWS.  Today, we will tell about some health problems linked to heat.  And we tell about what you can do to prevent and treat these problems. 
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
Extremely hot weather is (1)common in many parts of the world. Although hot weather just makes most people hot, it can cause medical problems -- and death.
Parts of the United States have had extremely hot weather recently. One (2)professional football player died of heat (3)stroke² after (4)training in the heat in Mankato, Minnestoa two weeks ago.  At least fifteen people have died as a (5)result of the hot weather in Chicago, Illinois so far this summer. 
In Nineteen-Ninety-Five, more than six hundred people died in a similar heat wave in Chicago. Floods, storms and other terrible natural events kill thousands of people every year.  And, as expected, we hear much about them in news reports.  We generally hear little, however, about what experts say may be nature's deadliest killer³ -- heat.
VOICE TWO:
Health experts say that since the year Nineteen-Hundred, extremely hot weather has killed more people in the United States than any other natural event.  One year -- the unusually hot summer of Nineteen-Eighty -- heat was (6)linked to more than one thousand deaths in the United States.
Doctors say there are many things people can do to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat.  They say to stay out of the sun, if possible.  Drink large amounts of cool water.  Wear (7)loose clothes made from light-colored natural (8)materials.  And learn the danger signs of the medical problems that are linked to heat.
VOICE ONE:
The most common medical problem caused by hot weather is heat (9)stress.  Usually, it also is the least (10)severe.  There are many causes for heat stress.   These include hard work or (11)exercise, heavy clothes, hot weather or high (12)humidity⁴. Humidity is the amount of water in the air.  Several of these conditions together can raise a person's body temperature above safe limits.  The person (13)perspires heavily, losing large amounts of body water and salt.
VOICE TWO:
For most people, the only result of heat stress is muscle pain.  The pain is a warning that the body is becoming too hot.  Doctors say drinking water will help the pain (14)disappear after the body again has the right amounts of water and salt.
For some people, however, the result is much more (15)serious.  For people who are not in good health, heat can make an (16)existing medical problem worse.
VOICE ONE:
For example, doctors say some people face a greatly increased danger from heat stress.  These people have a weak or damaged heart, high blood (17)pressure, or other problems of the blood system.  Severe heat can help cause a heart attack or stroke.  Health experts say this is the most common cause of death linked to hot weather.
Doctors say severe heat also increases problems for very small children, older people and people suffering the disease⁵ (18)diabetes.  It also is bad for people who weigh too much and have too much body fat, and for people who drink (19)alcohol⁶. 
Hot weather also increases dangers for people who must take medicine for high blood pressure, poor blood (20)circulation, (21)nervousness or (22)depression.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE TWO:
If heat stress is not treated, it can lead to a more serious problem called heat (23)exhaustion⁷.  Perspiration⁸ is one of the body's defenses against heat.  It is a process during which the body releases⁹ water to cool the skin.  However, a person suffering from heat exhaustion loses too much water through perspiration.  The person becomes (24)dehydrated. 
The person's ability to work and think becomes sharply¹⁰ limited.  Experts say a reduction¹¹ of only four or five percent in body water leads to a drop of twenty to thirty percent in work ability.  The loss of salt through perspiration also reduces the amount of work that muscles can do.
A person suffering from heat exhaustion feels weak and extremely tired. He or she may have trouble walking normally¹².  Heat exhaustion also may produce a fast heart beat, breathing problems, (25)headache, chest pain and a general feeling of sickness.  Doctors say people suffering from these problems should move to a cool place and drink water.
VOICE ONE:
Heat exhaustion can develop quickly.  But it also can develop slowly, over several days.  Doctors call this disorder¹³ dehydration¹⁴ exhaustion.  Each day, a person's body loses only a little more water than is taken in.  The person may not even know the problem is developing.  But if the problem continues for several days, the effects will be the same as the usual kind of heat exhaustion. 
The treatment for dehydration exhaustion is the same as for heat exhaustion.  Drink large amounts of water, and rest in a cool place if possible.
VOICE TWO:
Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke if it is not treated.  With heat stroke, the body temperature rises to more than forty degrees (26)Celsius¹⁵.  The body stops perspiring¹⁶.  And the skin becomes dry and very hot.  A person may even become (27)unconscious.
Doctors say that if the body temperature goes higher than forty-two degrees Celsius, the body's (28)tissues and organs begin to (29)cook.  Permanent brain damage may result.  Often death results.
Immediate¹⁷ medical help is necessary for someone with heat stroke.  Doctors say treatment should begin immediately or the person could die before medical help arrives.
VOICE ONE:
Immediate treatment should begin by moving the victim out of the sun.  Then, take off the person's clothes.  (30)Pour water over the victim's body.  And, if possible, put pieces of ice in areas where blood vessels¹⁸ are close to the skin.  These areas include the (31)neck, under the arms and where the legs join. 
The purpose is to cool the victim as quickly as possible to stop the body's temperature from increasing.  Experts say it is important to know the danger signs of each of the medical (32)disorders linked to hot weather.  And they say you should know what to do if the signs appear.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
 VOICE TWO:
Experts say water is important for many health reasons.  The body itself is mostly water -- more than sixty-five percent water.  Water in blood carries hormones¹⁹ and (33)antibodies through the body.  Water in (34)urine carries away waste materials.
Water also is needed for cooling the body on hot days, and when we are working or exercising.  Water carries body heat to the (35)surface of the skin.  There, the heat is lost through perspiration.
VOICE ONE:
Health experts say adults should drink about two (36)liters of liquids each day to replace all the body water lost in urine and perspiration.  They say people should drink more than that in hot weather.  They say we should drink liquids even before we start to feel like we need something to drink.  This is because we sometimes do not feel (37)thirsty until we already have lost a lot of body liquid. 
We get some of the water we need in the foods we eat.  Most (38)fruits and vegetables are more than eighty percent water. 
VOICE TWO:
In hot weather, cold liquids are best.  They do more than just replace lost body water.  Doctors say cold liquids also help cool us faster than warm liquids.  This is because they (39)take up more heat inside the body and carry it away faster. 
Researchers also say, however, that sweet drinks are not good.  The (40)sugar slows the liquid from getting into the blood system.  Tea and (41)coffee also are not effective.  Doctors also warn against alcoholic²⁰ drinks.  Alcohol speeds the loss of body water through urine.
VOICE ONE:
In addition to drinking lots of cool water, doctors say there are other things to do to protect against the health dangers of heat.  Stay out of the sun, if possible.  Wear loose, light-weight and light-colored clothes.  Wear a hat or other head cover while in the sun.  Eat fewer hot and heavy foods.  And when possible, cook foods during cooler times of the day.  If possible, rest more often.  Physical activity produces body heat.
Health experts say these simple steps can prevent the dangerous health problems linked to heat.  They will prevent sickness, help you feel better and may even save your life.
(THEME)
VOICE TWO:
This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Oliver Chanler. It was produced by Caty Weaver²¹.  This is Sarah Long.
VOICE ONE:
And this is Bob Doughty.  Join us again next week for more news about science, in Special English, on the Voice of America.

(1)  common [kRm[n] adj. 共同的, 公共的, 公有的, 普通的, 庸俗的, 伪劣的; n. [复][总]平 民, 公有, 普通, 共通
(2)  professional [pr['feF[nl] n. 自由职业者, 专业人员, 职业运动员, 职业艺人; adj. 专业 的, 职业的
(3) stroke [str[Jk] n. 击, 敲, 报时的钟声, (网球等)一击, (划船等)一划, (绘画等)一笔, 一 次努力, 打击; vt. 抚摸
(4) training [treiniN] n. 训练, 练习
(5) result [[ri'zQlt] n. 结果, 成效, 计算结果; vi. 起因, 由于, 以...为结果, 导致
(6) Link [link] n. 链环, 连结物, 火把, 链接; vt. 连结, 联合, 挽; vi. 连接起来
(7) loose [lu:s] vt. 释放, 放枪, 开船; vi. 变松, 开火; adj. 宽松的, 不精确的, 不牢固的, 散 漫的, 自由的
(8) material [m['ti[ri[l]n. 材料, 原料, 物资, 素材, 布料; adj. 物质的, 肉体的, 具体的, 重 要的, 实质性的
(9) stress [stres] n. 重压, 逼迫, 压力, 重点, 着重, 强调, 重音; vt. 着重, 强调, 重读
(10)  severe [si'vi[] adj. 严厉的, 严格的, 剧烈的, 严重的, 严峻的
(11)  exercise [eks[saiz] n. 练习, 习题, 训练, 锻炼, 演习; v. 训练, 锻炼; vt. 行使, 使担扰
(12) humidity [hju:'mAniti] n. 人性, 人类, 博爱, 仁慈
(13) perspire [p['spai[] v. 出汗, 流汗, 分泌, 渗出
(14) disappear [dis['pi[] vi. 消失, 不见
(15) serious [si[ri[s] adj. 严肃的, 认真的, 严重的
(16) exist [ig'zist] vi. 存在, 生存, 生活, 继续存在
(17) pressure [preF[]  n. 压, 压力, 电压, 压迫, 强制, 紧迫
(18) diabetes [dai['bi:ti:z] n. [医] 糖尿病, 多尿症
(19) alcohol [Alk[hRl] n. 酒精, 酒
(20) circulation [s:kjJ'leiF([)n] n. 循环, 流通, 发行额
(21) nervousness [n:v[snis] n.神经紧张, 不安, 强健有力
(22) depression [di'preFn] n. 沮丧, 消沉, 低气压, 低压
(23) exhaustion [ig'zR:sF([)n] n. 用尽, 耗尽, 抽完, 精疲力尽
(24) dehydrate [di:'haidreit] vt. (使)脱水
(25) headache [hedeik] n. 头痛, 令人头痛之事
(26)  Celsius [sels[s] adj. 摄氏的
(27)  unconscious [Qn'kRnF[s] adj. 不省人事, 未发觉的, 无意识的
(28) tissue [tiFu:] n. 薄的纱织品, 薄纸, 棉纸, [生]组织, 连篇
(29) cook [kuk] n. 厨师; v. 烹调, 煮, 伪造
(30) pour [pu[] adj. 贫穷的, 可怜的, 乏味的, 卑鄙的
(31) neck [nek] n. 脖子, 颈, 颈壮物
(32) disorder [dis'R:d[] n. 杂乱, 混乱, 无秩序状态; vt. 扰乱, 使失调, 使紊乱
(33) antibody [AntibRdi] n. 抗体
(34) urine [jJ[rin] n. 尿
(35) surface [s:fis] n. 表面, 外表, 水面; adj. 表面的, 肤浅的
(36) liter [li:t[] n. 升(容量单位)
(37) thirsty [W:sti] adj. 口渴的, 渴望的, 热望的
(38) fruit [fru:t] n. 水果, 果实, 果类, 成果; vi. 结果实
(39) take up  v. 拿起, 开始从事, 继续, 吸收, 责备, 拘留, 占据, 认购
(40) sugar [FJg[] n. 糖, 食糖
(41) coffee [kR:fi] n. 咖啡, 咖啡树, 咖啡茶, 咖啡豆, 咖啡色

 

 

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 stroke   

n.笔画，击打，连续的动作，中风，心跳；vt.奉承，轻抚； vi.击打，心跳...

参考例句：

• He drove in a nail with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把钉子敲进去了。
• He broke the lock with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把锁砸坏了。

3 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

4 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。

5 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

6 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

7 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

8 perspiration   

n.汗水；出汗

参考例句：

• It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
• The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。

9 releases   

v.释放( release的第三人称单数 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy. 核裂变释放出巨大的能量。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Zemel says that when calcium levels are low, the body releases a hormone that helps squeeze the most out of every available milligram of the mineral. 泽莫尔博士说，当人体中的钙含量偏低时，身体里就会产生一种荷尔蒙，它能帮助肌体最大限度地吸收所摄入的钙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

11 reduction   

n.减少，减低，减缩；减少，减低

参考例句：

• Reduction in income tax will be welcomed with open arms.减少所得税将受到热烈欢迎。
• You will have a reduction for cash.付现金可以打折扣。

12 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

13 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

14 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

15 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

16 perspiring   

v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了，结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

17 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

18 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》

19 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

20 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。

21 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。