英语沙龙：Stress and Relaxation

Stress and Relaxation¹

It is commonly believed that only rich middle-aged² businessmen suffer from stress.

In fact anyone may become ill as a result of stress

if they experience a lot of worry over a long period

and their health is not especially good.

Stress can be a friend or an enemy:

it can warn you that you are under too much pressure and should change your way of life.

It can kill you if you don’t notice the warning signals.

Doctors agree that it is probably the biggest single cause of illness in the Western world.

When we are very frightened and worried

our bodies produce certain chemicals to help us fight what is troubling us.

Unfortunately, these chemicals produce the energy needed to run away fast from an object of fear,

and in modern life that’s often impossible.

If we don’t use up these chemicals, or if we produce too many of them,

they may actually harm us.

The parts of the body that are most affected³ by stress are the stomach, heart,skin, head and back.

Stress can cause car accidents, heart attacks, and alcoholism, and may even drive people to suicide⁴.

Our living and working conditions may put us under stress.

Overcrowding in large cities, traffic jams, competition for jobs, worry about the future,

any big changes in our lives, may cause stress.

Some British doctors have pointed⁵ out that

one of Britain’s worst waves of influenza⁶ happened soon after the new coins came into use.

Also if you have changed jobs or moved house in recent months

you are more likely to fall ill than if you haven’t.

And more people commit suicide in times of inflation⁷.

As with all illnesses, prevention is better than cure.

If you find you can’t relax, it is a sign of danger.

“When you’re taking work home, when you can’t enjoy an evening with friends,

when you haven’t time for outdoor exercise

—that is the time to stop and ask yourself whether your present life really suits you.”

Says one family doctor.

“Then it’s time to join a relaxation class,

or take up dancing, painting or gardening.”

1 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

2 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。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 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。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

7 inflation   

n.胀大，夸张，通货膨胀

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• The inflation of the airbed took several minutes.给空气床垫充气花了几分钟时间。