VOA常速英语:给力：心脏病和中风可通过验血进行预测了

Getting a blood test to measure cholesterol is part of a regular physical for many adults.But now, there may be a better test to see who’s at risk for heart attack or stroke.This test measures the level of ceramides in your blood.
对于很多成人来说，通过验血来测量胆固醇算是一项常规体检。不过如今科学家们又研发出一种效果更好的化验手段，可以用来检查出有患中风和心脏病风险的人群。该项检查可以测量出人体血液中的神经酰胺水平。

“Ceramides are lipids, similar to cholesterol, so they are waxy molecule.Unlike cholesterol, they are very biologically active, so cholesterol is barely …”
“神经酰胺也属于脂类，跟胆固醇有些类似，所以它们都是蜡质分子。而与胆固醇的不同之处是，它们具有生物活性。胆固醇却正好相反……”

Jeff Meeusen spoke by Skype, ceramides help LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol cross into the wall of the artery.Once it’s there, he said, ceramides develop plaque, which causes the artery to harden and become narrow.This increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Jeff Meeusen通过Skype接受了我们的采访。神经酰胺可以帮助低密度脂蛋白，也就是坏胆固醇穿过动脉壁。一旦坏胆固醇出现，神经酰胺就能够合成血小板，进而导致动脉硬化并变窄。最终增加中风和心脏病的风险。

“We found even if you have a very low LDL cholesterol,this ceramide test is able to identify who is going to be at risk for developing a heart attack or stroke later in life.”
“我们发现，即使低密度脂蛋白胆固醇偏低，神经酰胺测试还是能够检验出今后有患中风和心脏病风险的人群。”

The good thing is, patients can improve their health by taking a statin,one of classic drugs that lower the risk of heart attack by 40 percent.
不过幸运的是，患者可以通过服用他汀类药物来改善健康状况，他汀是一种经典药物，可以将心脏病风险降低百分之四十。

Lifestyle changes like losing weight and exercising can also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.What’s more, Meeusen says, when they make these changes, patients can see better results in just 6 weeks.And that gives them an incentive to take better care of their health.
改变生活方式，比如减肥和锻炼也可以降低中风和心脏病风险。另外Meeusen称，病人们开始改变自己的生活方式以后，不出6个星期就可以收到良好的效果。这也可以激励他们好好照顾自己的身体健康。

Carol Pearson, VOA news, Washington.
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