the researchers say the presence of high levels of the protein in the blood shows that the heart muscle is under pressure in some way. the study involved mostly men, so the researchers could not say for sure5 that the results are also true for women. they say the patients with the highest levels of nt-probnp were older and had other problems like diabetes or high blood pressure.
other researchers say more studies are needed to confirm if knowing the protein levels of a heart patient should affect that person’s treatment. they also would like to know if more aggressive treatment6 could reduce the patient’s chance of a heart attack or stroke. the study appeared in the journal of the american medical association.7
could a little sleep during the middle of the day reduce the risk of a heart attack? an unrelated study earlier this month in the archives of internal medicine8 suggests that the answer may be yes. in countries like the united states, afternoon naps are mostly for children. but they aremon for adults in mediterranean countries. and these countries generally have lower rates of heart disease. so scientists in the united states and greece wondered if naps could play a part. twenty-three thousand healthy adults took part in the study by harvard university and the university of athens.9 those who took thirty-minute naps three times a week had a thirty-seven percent lower risk of death from heart problems than people who did not take naps.
the researchers say napping may improve heart health by reducing stress. they say the research suggests that naps are especially good for working men. but they say not enough female subjects died during the study to judge the benefits for women.
词汇：
nap n. vi. (白天)小睡，打盹;睡午觉
failure n. 衰竭
diabetes n. 糖尿病
archive n. (常用复数) 档案;档案室
mediterranean adj. 地中海的
greece n. 希腊
subject n. 受实验者
注释：
1. napping to a healthier heart? 午睡可以使心脏更健康吗?to在这里表示达到某种结果或效果。
2. heart attack：心脏病发作
3. heart failure：心力衰竭
4. nt-probnp：n端-脑型利钠肽原(或：n末端前脑利钠肽)。它是心肌中的一种压力指示因子，有望成为预测冠心病转归的生化标志物。
5. for sure：确实，毫无疑问地
6. aggressive treatment：损伤性治疗(aggressive原意是“有攻击性的，侵略的”)
7. american medical association (ama) ：美国医学会
8. archives of internal medicine：内科医学档案
9. harvard university：(美国)哈佛大学
university of athens ：(希腊)雅典大学
练习：
1. paragraph 2
2. paragraph 3
3. paragraph 5
4. paragraph 6
a effects of napping in females still uncertain
b older males have higher levels of nt-probnp
c development of a simple but important test
d evidence of positive relationship between napping and heart disease
e how to control the levels of nt-probnp
f effects of nt-probnp on heart disease
5. according to some researchers, by measuring the levels of nt-probnp in the blood people may know
6. if a person has a high level of nt-probnp
7. people who take regular afternoon naps
8. so far there have not been definite data to confirm
a where fewer people die from heart problem.
b whether they have the risk of heart attack, heart failure or stroke.
c would probably have lower rates of heart disease.
d how to test a person’s nt-probnp level in the blood by himself.
e his heart muscle would be under pressure in some way.
d that napping is of great benefit to women too.
参考答案：
(napping to a healthier heart?)
1.f 本段后面两句说到，通过检查心脏病人的nt-probnp水平，发现水平最高的病人与水平最低的病人之间患心脏病的可能性相差近八倍。
2.b 本段说到，他们所查的是男性，并发现老年男性且患有糖尿病和高血压者nt-probnp的水平最高。
3.d 本段说到，地中海国家的成年人普遍都有午睡，而且患心脏病的比率较低。哈佛大学和雅典大学的研究证明，每周午睡三次、每次30分钟的人比完全不午睡的人死于心脏病的比率少37%。
4.a 最后一段说，午睡对工作的男性尤其有益，虽然调查时死亡的女性并不多，但午睡对女性的益处文章并没有给出一个明确结论。
5.b 答案来源于第一段的第二、三句。
6.e 答案来源于第三段第一句。
7.c 答案来源于第五段第三、四句和该段最后一句。
8.f 答案来源于第三段第二句和文章的最后一句v。
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