VOA标准英语2012--Different Blood Pressure in Both Arms Linked to Heart Disease

Different Blood Pressure in Both Arms Linked to Heart Disease

Cardiologist Oscar Garfein takes blood pressure readings from both of his patients' arms. That technique saved the life of one of his patients.
"I found that in one arm, it was very, very low, and in the other one, it was normal," says Garfein. "And it helped me arrive at a diagnosis¹ of a potentially-lethal condition."
Garfein's routine is supported by a new study showing that different readings in the right and left arms could be a sign of heart disease or blood vessel² problems. If the two readings of systolic blood pressure - the pressure of blood in arteries³ when the heart is contracting - differ by 15 or more, it could indicate a narrowing of arteries to the legs, decreased blood flow to the brain, heart disease and a 70 percent increased risk of dying from either heart attack or stroke.
If heart or blood vessel disease is diagnosed at an early stage, changing risky⁴ behavior or taking statin drugs can reduce death rates.
"You want to search for the risk factors that are associated with this," says Garfein, "such as high blood pressure or cigarette smoking or high cholesterol⁵, and treat them very aggressively."
Many cardiologists routinely check blood pressure in both arms, but the practice is much less common on a routine doctor's visit. This study, published in The Lancet, confirms a double reading could flag an underlying⁶ vascular⁷ problem in someone who otherwise seems to be healthy.
The study shows it doesn't matter what the systolic number was, it's the difference between the two readings that matters.
"All it takes is about a minute and you can find something that really, most of the time, points to the fact that this patient has established vascular disease," says Garfein.

1 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

2 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

3 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 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。

6 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

7 vascular   

adj.血管的，脉管的

参考例句：

• The mechanism of this anomalous vascular response is unknown.此种不规则的血管反应的机制尚不清楚。
• The vascular changes interfere with diffusion of nutrients from plasma into adjacent perivascular tissue and cells.这些血管变化干扰了营养物质从血浆中向血管周围邻接的组织和细胞扩散。