VOA常速英语:研究表明，斯达汀可以降低心血管疾病风险

More than 17 million people will die from diseases of the heart and blood vessels this year.Even more have these diseases which are collectively called cardiovascular disease.
今年，有1700多万人都将死于心脏和血管类疾病。而越来越多的人罹患上述疾病，人们将这类疾病统称为心血管疾病。

“The risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and your age.”
“诱发心血管疾病的危险因素包括高胆固醇、高血压、吸烟、糖尿病以及自身年龄。”

Family history is also a factor. To combat the disease, many doctors recommend taking a daily cholesterol-lowering drug called a statin.
家族病史也是原因之一。为对抗该疾病，很多医生建议每天服用一种叫做他汀的降胆固醇药物。

“A statin is a drug that helps reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver. It primarily works by lowering the LDL cholesterol, which is the so-called bad cholesterol.”
“他汀类药物可以帮助减少肝脏内胆固醇的合成。其工作机制主要就是降低低密度胆固醇，也就是所谓的坏胆固醇。”

Ovens works on the US Preventive Task Force that continuously reveals information on a host of diseases.
欧文斯目前任职于美国预防工作小组，该组织一直致力于揭示各种疾病的相关信息。

The task force now recommends that adults age 40 and older at risk for cardiovascular disease take a daily statin.The recommendations appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
如今工作小组建议，40岁及以上存在心血管疾病风险的成年人都应该每天服用他汀类药物。这些建议见于《美国医学会期刊》上。

But it’s not just Americans who can benefit from statins.
而受益于他汀类药物的绝不仅仅只有美国人。

An earlier study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that most people at risk for cardiovascular disease would be better off taking one.
《新英格兰医学杂志》上发表的一项早期研究显示，大部分存在心血管疾病风险的人在每天服用他汀类药物之后，症状都有所缓解。

The study involved a racially diverse group of people on six continents, living in 21 countries. And it included both men and women.
该研究抽取的对象分别来自6个大洲，共计21个国家的不同种族。其中男女都有。
All were at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. In a five-year period, those taking a statin reduced their risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart-related deaths by 24 percent.
这些人全都有患心血管疾病的风险。在5年的时间内，服用他汀类药物的患者将自己心脏病发作、中风和以及与心脏有关的死亡风险降低了24%。

“The benefits of statins are a reduction in heart attacks, strokes and death.The harms of statins we judge base on our very comprehensive reviews of allergy to be small.And in patients who are at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, the benefits outweigh the harms.”
“他汀类药物的益处就是降低心脏病、中风和死亡的几率。而根据我们对他汀过敏症所做的全面评估，该类药物的危害其实很小。对于心血管疾病风险升高的患者来说，他汀类药物的益处远大于其危害。”

The researchers say this shows a very simple approach to treatment that can be provided around the world:Have older adults at risk of developing cardiovascular disease take a daily statin.
研究人员称，该结果验证了一种非常简单的治疗方案，可以提供给世界各地使用：让有患心血管疾病风险的老年人服用他汀类药物。

Carol Pearson, VOA news, Washington.
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