2006年VOA标准英语-Heart Disease, Stroke Top Killer of Women

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
13 February 2006
 

Red lights illuminate¹ the American Falls in Niagara Falls to bring awareness² of heart disease in women, February 3, 2006  
  
The World Heart Federation³ says heart disease and stroke is the number-one killer⁴ of women worldwide, killing⁵ more women each year than all types of cancers, HIV/AIDS, malaria⁶, and tuberculosis⁷ combined. The federation urges people to give a healthy heart to their loved ones on Valentine's Day and every day thereafter.

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The World Heart Federation says 17.5 million people around the world die of heart disease and stroke. Women account for one-third of these deaths.

And yet, World Heart Federation chief executive officer Janet Voute says many women are not aware of the risks they run. She says they often believe that cardiovascular problems afflict⁸ mainly men. Therefore, they do not take the appropriate preventive steps.

For the same reason, she says, doctors often misdiagnose heart disease in women.

"Women are just as susceptible⁹ to heart disease and stroke," she said. "I think what has led to the myth is the difference in the age of onset¹⁰. And, it is somewhat younger -about 10 years younger in men - and women have a certain protection that comes with menopause. Up until menopause, there is a slightly protective mechanism¹¹. After that age, their risk in fact is higher."

Voute says the incidence of heart disease and stroke is on the increase because risk factors such as being overweight or obese¹², inactive and smoking are on the rise.

She says the adoption¹³ of healthy life styles like eating well, exercising regularly, and stopping tobacco use could cut deaths from heart disease and stroke by half. She says the problems, the risks, and the solutions are as relevant in poor countries as they are in rich ones.

"Women in developing countries are certainly as susceptible. The presence of heart disease and stroke would vary by individual country. But, 50 percent of all deaths in developing countries of women over 50 can be attributable to heart disease and strokes. So, indeed women do definitely die in very large numbers of heart disease and strokes in developing countries. And, often the medical system is not at all attuned¹⁴ to their needs," added Voute.

Because developing countries have scarce resources, Voute notes these tend to be used for maternal¹⁵ health care. As a consequence, the needs of older women often get ignored. She says health care systems must be structured so they can help people maintain good health throughout their lives.

The World Heart Federation is focusing on Valentine's Day to encourage women around the world to learn how to love their hearts and adopt healthy habits for life.

1 illuminate   

vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释

参考例句：

• Dreams kindle a flame to illuminate our dark roads.梦想点燃火炬照亮我们黑暗的道路。
• They use games and drawings to illuminate their subject.他们用游戏和图画来阐明他们的主题。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 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。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

7 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

8 afflict   

vt.使身体或精神受痛苦，折磨

参考例句：

• I wish you wouldn't afflict me with your constant complains.我希望你不要总是抱怨而使我苦恼。
• There are many illnesses,which afflict old people.有许多疾病困扰着老年人。

9 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

10 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

11 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

12 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

13 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

14 attuned   

v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音

参考例句：

• She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
• Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

15 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。