Silent and Deadly Transient ischemic attacks (TIAS), or mini-strokes, result from temporary interruptions of blood flow to the brain. Unlike full strokes, they present symptoms lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 24 hours. Rarely do they cause permanent neurological damage, but they are often precursors of a major stroke. "Our message is quite clear," says Dr. Robert Adams, professor of neurology at the Medical College of Georgia in August. "TIAS, while less severe than strokes in the short term, are quite dangerous and need a quick diagnosis and treatment as well as appropriate follow-up to prevent future injury." Unfortunately, mini-strokes are greatly under diagnosed. A study conducted for the National Stroke Association indicates that 2.5% of all adults aged 18 or older (about 4.9 million people in the U. S. ) have experienced a confirmed TIA. An additional 1.2 million Americans over the age of 45, the study showed, have most likely suffered a mini-stroke without realizing it. These findings suggest that if the public knew how to spot the symptoms of stroke, especially mini-strokes, and sought prompt medical treatment, thousands of lives could he saved and major disability could be avoided. The problem is that the symptoms of a mini-stroke are often subtle and passing. Nonetheless, there are signs you can look out for: *Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. *Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. *Confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding. *Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination. *Severe headache with no known cause. Along with these symptoms, researchers have identified some key indicators that increase your chances of having a full-blown stroke after a TIA: if you’re over 60, have experienced symptoms lasting longer than 10 minutes, feel weak and have a history of diabetes. As with many diseases, you can help yourself by changing your lifestyle. The first things you should do are quit smoking, limit your intake of alcohol to no more than a drink or two a day and increase your physical activity. Even those who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes can improve their odds—and minimize complications if they do have a stroke—by keeping their illness under control. If you experience any of the symptoms, your first call should be to your doctor. It could be the call that saves your life. It can be inferred from the passage that mini-strokes are ______.
A. more dangerous than major strokes
B. silent and deadly
C. difficult to cure
D. sure to lead to major strokes
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Caring for the Old 1. The old do not have to look exclusively to the past. Relieved of some of life’s responsibilities and fortified by many years of experience and knowledge, they may have a much better idea of how to spend their time enjoyably than they did in their youth. And not all enjoyment is restricted to the mental or philosophical. Healthy physical activity remains quite possible for most of us well into our later years. 2. Old people sometimes display surprising freedom and forthrightness in the expression of their thoughts and feelings, and an ability to transmit affection. It is as though some of the rituals which constrict us in earlier life fall away. 3. But a higher percentage of people suffer from emotional distress in old age than at any other time in adult life, and the gap between need and care is often filled by dubious measures, such as heavy-handed prescription of medicine. For many years it was assumed that old people were not appropriate candidates for psychotherapy. But a few clinicians have risen to the challenge and discovered that individual and group psychotherapy is just as effective with the old as with the young. 4. It is easy to understand why an earthquake causes terror. Yet in old age there may be terror of a very private nature, a sense of disintegration sometimes stemming from inner conflicts, sometimes from a premonition of death or the fear of becoming dependent. 5. Dependency is a grim choice: insecurity and deprivation must be weighed against loss of autonomy and integrity. But if there is nothing shameful about the dependency of a baby or a young child, there should be nothing shameful about the dependencies natural with old age and diminishing physical resources. 6. The complexity and impersonality of the bureaucratic establishments, which have the means to provide help, are often threatening to old people. The younger generation today, on the other hand, will have had many decades to interact with "the system" by the time they reach old age. 7. Many of us, including healthcare providers, assume that we know what old people and dying people want, but our assumptions are often a reflections of our own thoughts and feelings based on personal interpretations of scanty bits of observation. Such assumptions are really an excuse to avoid close contact with the terminally ill. Assuming we "know" what they want, we observe ourselves from being with them, and sharing their thoughts about the end of life. 8. We sometimes assume, wrongly, that old people are too confused or senile to be aware of the nearness of death. In consequence, communication between a dying and others is subject to extraordinary omissions and distortions. "Protecting" the dying from knowledge of their condition often serves to protect us from the uncomfortable prospect of talking about dying and death. Evasions like this only lead to increasing isolation at a time when emotional honesty and understanding are most needed. A. Knowing Better How to Enjoy Life B. Freedom in Expression C. Psychotherapy Effective with Some of the Old D. Period of Greater Emotional Distress E. Dependency. a Grim Choice F. Guiltiness. Dependency Paragraph 5 ______
Happy Marriage, Happy Heart Happily married people have lower blood pressure 1 unhappily married people or singles, a Brigham Young University study says. On the other hand, even having a supportive social network did not translate into a blood pressure benefit for singles or unhappily 2 people, according to the study. "There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage. It’s not just being married 3 benefits health—what’s really the most protective of health is having a happy 4 ." study author Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist who specializes in relationships and health, said in a prepared statement. The study included 204 married and 99 5 adults who wore portable blood-pressure monitors for 24 hours. The 6 recorded blood pressure at random intervals and provided a total of about 72 readings. "We wanted to capture participants’ blood pressure doing whatever they normally 7 in everyday life. Getting one or two readings in a clinic is not really 8 of the fluctuations that occur throughout the day," Holt-Lunstad said. Overall, happily married people scored four points 9 on the blood pressure readings than single adults. The study also found that blood 10 among married people—especially those in happy marriages 11 more during sleep than in single people. "Research has shown that people whose blood pressure remains high throughout the night are at 12 greater risk of heart disease than people whose blood pressure drops," Holt-Lunstad said. The study was published in the March 20 13 of the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine. The study also found that unhappily married adults have higher blood pressure than 14 happily married and single adults. Holt-Lunstad noted that married couples can encourage healthy habits in one 15 such as eating a healthy diet and having regular doctor visits. People in happy marriages also have a source of emotional support, she said.
A. which
B. that
C. this
D. what
Caring for the Old 1. The old do not have to look exclusively to the past. Relieved of some of life’s responsibilities and fortified by many years of experience and knowledge, they may have a much better idea of how to spend their time enjoyably than they did in their youth. And not all enjoyment is restricted to the mental or philosophical. Healthy physical activity remains quite possible for most of us well into our later years. 2. Old people sometimes display surprising freedom and forthrightness in the expression of their thoughts and feelings, and an ability to transmit affection. It is as though some of the rituals which constrict us in earlier life fall away. 3. But a higher percentage of people suffer from emotional distress in old age than at any other time in adult life, and the gap between need and care is often filled by dubious measures, such as heavy-handed prescription of medicine. For many years it was assumed that old people were not appropriate candidates for psychotherapy. But a few clinicians have risen to the challenge and discovered that individual and group psychotherapy is just as effective with the old as with the young. 4. It is easy to understand why an earthquake causes terror. Yet in old age there may be terror of a very private nature, a sense of disintegration sometimes stemming from inner conflicts, sometimes from a premonition of death or the fear of becoming dependent. 5. Dependency is a grim choice: insecurity and deprivation must be weighed against loss of autonomy and integrity. But if there is nothing shameful about the dependency of a baby or a young child, there should be nothing shameful about the dependencies natural with old age and diminishing physical resources. 6. The complexity and impersonality of the bureaucratic establishments, which have the means to provide help, are often threatening to old people. The younger generation today, on the other hand, will have had many decades to interact with "the system" by the time they reach old age. 7. Many of us, including healthcare providers, assume that we know what old people and dying people want, but our assumptions are often a reflections of our own thoughts and feelings based on personal interpretations of scanty bits of observation. Such assumptions are really an excuse to avoid close contact with the terminally ill. Assuming we "know" what they want, we observe ourselves from being with them, and sharing their thoughts about the end of life. 8. We sometimes assume, wrongly, that old people are too confused or senile to be aware of the nearness of death. In consequence, communication between a dying and others is subject to extraordinary omissions and distortions. "Protecting" the dying from knowledge of their condition often serves to protect us from the uncomfortable prospect of talking about dying and death. Evasions like this only lead to increasing isolation at a time when emotional honesty and understanding are most needed. A. Knowing Better How to Enjoy Life B. Freedom in Expression C. Psychotherapy Effective with Some of the Old D. Period of Greater Emotional Distress E. Dependency. a Grim Choice F. Guiltiness. Dependency Paragraph 3 ______
Silent and Deadly Transient ischemic attacks (TIAS), or mini-strokes, result from temporary interruptions of blood flow to the brain. Unlike full strokes, they present symptoms lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 24 hours. Rarely do they cause permanent neurological damage, but they are often precursors of a major stroke. "Our message is quite clear," says Dr. Robert Adams, professor of neurology at the Medical College of Georgia in August. "TIAS, while less severe than strokes in the short term, are quite dangerous and need a quick diagnosis and treatment as well as appropriate follow-up to prevent future injury." Unfortunately, mini-strokes are greatly under diagnosed. A study conducted for the National Stroke Association indicates that 2.5% of all adults aged 18 or older (about 4.9 million people in the U. S. ) have experienced a confirmed TIA. An additional 1.2 million Americans over the age of 45, the study showed, have most likely suffered a mini-stroke without realizing it. These findings suggest that if the public knew how to spot the symptoms of stroke, especially mini-strokes, and sought prompt medical treatment, thousands of lives could he saved and major disability could be avoided. The problem is that the symptoms of a mini-stroke are often subtle and passing. Nonetheless, there are signs you can look out for: *Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. *Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. *Confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding. *Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination. *Severe headache with no known cause. Along with these symptoms, researchers have identified some key indicators that increase your chances of having a full-blown stroke after a TIA: if you’re over 60, have experienced symptoms lasting longer than 10 minutes, feel weak and have a history of diabetes. As with many diseases, you can help yourself by changing your lifestyle. The first things you should do are quit smoking, limit your intake of alcohol to no more than a drink or two a day and increase your physical activity. Even those who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes can improve their odds—and minimize complications if they do have a stroke—by keeping their illness under control. If you experience any of the symptoms, your first call should be to your doctor. It could be the call that saves your life. The passage indicates that the symptoms of mini-strokes ______.
A. are always easy to spot
B. are frequently hard to recognize
C. usually last a couple of days
D. can by no means be avoided