What happens during a heart attack? - Krishna Sudhir

翻译人员: Guohui He 校对人员: Yolanda Zhang

Approximately 7 million people around the world die from heart attacks every year,

世界上每年有7百万的人 死于心脏病发作

and cardiovascular disease,

而心血管疾病

which causes heart attacks and other problems like strokes,

能够导致心脏病发作和 其他问题，比如中风

is the world's leading killer.

使其成为了世界第一大杀手

So what causes a heart attack?

是什么导致了心脏病发作呢

Like all muscles, the heart needs oxygen,

像所有的肌肉一样， 心脏也需要氧气

但在心脏病发作的时候，它就会缺氧

and during a heart attack, it can't get enough.

Fatty deposits, or plaques,

脂肪堆积，或者斑块

develop on the walls of our coronary arteries.

会出现在我们的冠状动脉壁上

Those are the vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart.

这些血管能够供应含氧血液到心脏

These plaques grow as we age,

这些斑块会随着我们的年纪增长

sometimes getting chunky,

有时候变大

hardened,

变硬

or enflamed.

或者发炎

最终，斑块会变成堵塞物

Eventually, the plaques can turn into blockages.

If one of the plaques ruptures or cracks,

如果有一个斑块断裂或者破损

a blood clot will form around it in minutes,

在其附近便会立即形成一个血块

and a partially closed artery can become completely blocked.

本来部分堵塞的动脉就会完全堵塞

Blood flow is cut off to the cardiac muscle

到心肌的血液供应就会被切断

and the oxygen-starved cells start to die within several minutes.

在随后的几分钟之内， 缺氧的细胞就会开始死亡

This is a myocardial infarction,

这就是心肌梗塞

or heart attack.

或者 心脏病发作

Things can rapidly deteriorate in the absence of treatment.

在得不到治疗的情况下 病情就会迅速恶化

The injured muscle may not be able to pump blood as well,

病发的心脏不能再供血

and its rhythm might be thrown off.

心跳可能失去节奏

最糟糕的情况是， 心脏病发作可以导致猝死

In the worst case scenario, a heart attack can cause sudden death.

And how do you know that someone is having a heart attack?

那么怎样才能知道 一个人是否心脏病发作了

The most common symptom is chest pain

最常见的症状是胸口痛

caused by the oxygen-deprived heart muscle.

是心肌缺氧导致的

Patients describe it as crushing or vice-like.

患者将其形容为牢牢的压迫感

It can radiate to the left arm,

它可以蔓延到左臂

jaw,

下颚

back,

背部

or abdomen.

活着腹部

But it's not always as sudden and dramatic as it is in the movies.

但心脏病发作并不一定 像电影中那么夸张

Some people experience nausea

一些人只是感到恶心

or shortness of breath.

或呼吸急促

Symptoms may be less prominent in women and the elderly.

女性和长者的症状或许更不明显

For them, weakness and tiredness may be the main signal.

他们也许只会感到无力和疲倦

And surprisingly, in many people,

出人意料的是，在一些人群中

especially those with diabetes, which affects the nerves that carry pain,

特别是糖尿病患者， 由于疼痛神经受到影响

a heart attack may be silent.

心脏病发作时也许并不易察觉

If you think that someone might be having a heart attack,

如果你觉得某人心脏病正在发作

the most important thing is to respond quickly.

最重要是迅速应对

If you have access to emergency medical services, call them.

如果有机会获得紧急医疗服务， 就迅速联系他们。

这是就医的最快途径

They're the fastest way to get to a hospital.

Taking aspirin, which thins the blood,

阿司匹林可稀释血液

and nitroglycerin, which opens up the artery,

硝酸甘油则能扩张动脉

can help keep the heart attack from getting worse.

服用这些都可以缓解心脏病发作

In the emergency room, doctors can diagnose a heart attack.

在急救室，医生可以诊断心脏病

They commonly use an electrocardiogram

通常用心电图

to measure the heart's electrical activity

来测量心电活动

而验血可以测量心肌损伤

and a blood test to assess heart muscle damage.

The patient is then taken to a high-tech cardiac suite

然后患者会使用先进的心脏医疗设备

where tests are done to locate the blockages.

来定位心血管堵塞的位置

Cardiologists can reopen the blocked artery

心内科医生可以用血管成形术 （使用充气气球扩张）

by inflating it with a balloon in a procedure called an angioplasty.

来扩张阻塞的动脉。

Frequently, they also insert a metal or polymer stent

医生通常还会植入金属或聚合物支架

that will hold the artery open.

它能使心脏动脉保持扩张

More extensive blockages might require coronary artery bypass surgery.

严重血管堵塞则需要 进行心脏搭桥手术

Using a piece of vein or artery from another part of the body,

手术使用其他部位的动脉或静脉

heart surgeons can reroute blood flow around the blockage.

来改变血液流通路径

These procedures reestablish circulation to the cardiac muscle,

这些手术恢复了心肌的循环

restoring heart function.

恢复了心脏功能

Heart attack treatment is advancing,

心脏病治疗在进步

but prevention is vital.

但预防是关键

Genetics and lifestyle factors both affect your risk.

基因遗传和生活方式影响都会 影响患病风险

好消息是你可以通过 改变生活方式降低风险

And the good news is that you can change your lifestyle.

Exercise, a healthy diet, and weight loss

锻炼，健康饮食，控制体重

all lower the risk of heart attacks,

都可以降低心脏病发作的风险

无论你以前是否患过心脏病

whether you've had one before or not.

Doctors recommend exercising a few times a week,

医生建议一周进行多次锻炼

doing both aerobic activity and strength training.

包括有氧活动和力量训练

A heart-healthy diet is low in sugar and saturated fats,

健康饮食包括低糖和 低饱和脂肪

which are both linked to heart disease.

这些都与心脏病发作有关

那你应该吃些什么呢

So what should you eat?

Lots of fiber from vegetables,

多吃蔬菜纤维，

chicken and fish instead of red meat,

鸡肉和鱼肉来取代红肉

whole grains and nuts like walnuts and almonds

全谷物和坚果，如核桃和杏仁

all seem to be beneficial.

这些都是有益的

A good diet and exercise plan can also keep your weight in a healthy range,

健康的饮食和锻炼 可以令你保持健康的体重

which will lower your heart attack risk as well.

能够降低心脏病发作的风险

And of course, medications can also help prevent heart attacks.

当然，药物也可以防止心脏病发作

Doctors often prescribe low-dose aspirin, for example,

比如医生通常会开 低剂量的阿司匹林

particularly for patients who've already had a heart attack

给已经有过心脏病发作的人

and for those known to be at high risk.

或那些高风险群体

And drugs that help manage risk factors,

还有能够减低其他风险因素

like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes,

比如高血压，胆固醇和糖尿病的药物

will make heart attacks less likely, too.

也能降低心脏病的发作几率

Heart attacks may be common, but they don't have to be inevitable.

心脏病发作也许很常见， 但并非不可避免

A healthy diet,

健康饮食

avoiding tobacco use,

不抽烟

staying fit,

健身锻炼

and enjoying plenty of sleep and lots of laughter

睡眠充足，开怀大笑

all go a long way in making sure your body's most important muscle

都可以让你的心脏， 这块人体最重要的肌肉

keeps on beating.

保持健康