Man in thirties nearly dies of heart attack following drop in temperature 天冷氣溫低 三旬男心肌梗塞險死

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. artery n.動脈

2. block v. 阻塞

3. cardiogenic shock phr. 心因性休克

4. cold sweat phr. 盜汗

A 37-year-old man recently went to the Changhua Christian Hospital after experiencing sudden chest pain. During a cardiac catheterization, which revealed that his right coronary artery was completely blocked, the man suddenly suffered heart failure due to cardiogenic shock. The doctor immediately performed a surgery to unblock the arteries that supply blood to the heart and, with the help of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) equipment, saved the man’s life. The patient had not had a health check-up for some time, and was unaware he had diabetes and high blood sugar.日前一名年三十七歲的男子因突發胸痛前往彰化基督教醫院就醫，透過心導管檢查發現右冠狀動脈完全阻塞。檢查過程中，男子突然心臟衰竭及心因性休克，醫師使用葉克膜搶救並迅速打通血管，救回一命。原來該名自認健康的病患，早有糖尿病及高血脂，只是一直未檢查而不自知。

Changhua Christian Hospital cardiology physician Chien Szu-chi points out that myocardial infarctions, commonly known as heart attacks, usually occur to people of age 50 and above with high risks of cardiovascular diseases. However, he adds, with increased consumption nowadays of refined foods and exposure to additional environmental risk factors, people are developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood fats, as well as having heart attacks, at increasingly younger ages. 彰化基督教醫院心臟血管內科醫師簡思齊指出，心肌梗塞好發於五十歲以上有心血管風險者，但隨著國人飲食習慣精緻化及環境中的危險因子增加，導致高血壓、高血糖和高血脂的「三高」發生年齡及心肌梗塞發生年齡都下降。

Cold snaps and extremely hot weather can also increase the chances of heart attack. When a heart attack occurs, the patient should be sent to hospital immediately, as acute myocardial infarction can lead to death within an hour. 心肌梗塞也好發於寒流來襲或高溫天熱時，一旦急性心肌梗塞發作，應盡速送醫。急性心肌梗塞使患者可能在發病後一個小時內猝死。

Typical symptoms of heart attack include sustained chest pain, cold sweats and difficulty breathing, Chien says. 簡思齊說，持續性胸痛、盜汗和呼吸困難是最典型的發病癥狀。

People with a family history of heart attacks are advised to undergo regular yearly health checks. 如果家族中有心肌梗塞病史者，建議每年接受檢查。

( Liberty Times, translated by Tu Yu-an)

The passing of the winter solstice means that the new year is coming 進入冬至後也意味著，新的一年即將來臨

The winter solstice, which falls on December 21-23 in the solar calendar, is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Traditionally in Taiwan, the winter solstice is the time to eat warm glutinous rice balls, but in the North of China, others make up a bowl of wonton and dumplings. The tradition of the winter solstice festival dates back to the Song Dynasty. It was one of the three major public holidays. The "Winter Solstice, New Year's Day and the Qingming Holiday" were held on the 7th. Both the wonton, the dumplings and the glutinous rice balls were separated from the sacrificial rites. 中國傳統二十四節氣之一的冬至，陽曆12月21至23日之間，是生活在北半球的我們一年中白天時間最短的日子。在台灣的傳統，冬至就是要吃湯圓暖身，但在大陸華北地區，冬至也有食補，只不過人家補的是一碗碗的餛飩和餃子。冬至過節的傳統最早能上溯至宋代，是當時民眾與官員的三大假之一，「冬至、年初一和清明得休假7日」，而無論是餛飩、餃子或是湯圓，都與祭神脫離不了關係。

In the past, agricultural societies’ farming and rest rules throughout the year followed the sun. The passing of the winter solstice means that the new year is coming. Society in a state of rest must take this opportunity to cede all things from top to bottom and pray for blessings in the coming year. 在過去的農業社會中，二十四個節氣運行主管著全年的耕作與休息規律，進入冬至後也意味著，新的一年即將來臨。處於休息狀態的社會，從上到下都必須趁此機會巴結上天，祈求保佑來年風調雨順、農產富饒，民眾和百官也藉此時拜訪親故敘舊。

In Taiwan, you often hear elders say to their children that, "Every solstice when you eat the rice ball wonton soup, you grow a year older” hoping they’ll  grow up peacefully. However, even if modern society is busy, the Winter Solstice still has its symbolic significance for many people. Whether you are eating glutinous rice balls or wontons, or eating sweet sesame dumplings or Hakka salty dumplings, the Winter Solstice is of the utmost importance to the Chinese community. The deeper meaning is "reunion". While rushing around for more than six months out of the year, at this time rest, enjoy family and friends. 在台灣，最常聽見長輩對孩子們說，「冬節圓仔食落加一歲」（冬至吃湯圓會長一歲），期望晚輩能平安長大。然而，即便現代社會再忙，冬至對許多人而言仍有其象徵意義，無論你吃的是湯圓或是餛飩、或著是吃甜的芝麻湯圓或客家的鹹湯圓，冬至在華人社會最重要的意義是「團聚」，在外奔波了大半年，於此時和家人或跟你身邊的親友團聚，重享天倫之樂。

Listening to too much Christmas music is bad for your health 臨床心理學家：聽太多耶誕音樂對健康有害

新聞辭典

1. Grinch：美國作家蘇斯博士（Dr. Seuss）所著繪本《鬼靈精》（The Grinch）的主角，因看不慣人們大肆慶祝耶誕節而趁機大搞破壞。
2. insipid：形容詞，枯燥乏味的。例句：The creative director disapproved of those insipid proposals. （創意總監不認同那些枯燥乏味的提案。）
3. tune out：動詞片語，充耳不聞。例句：As soon as my parents argued, I just tuned out.（每當我爸媽吵起來，我就假裝沒聽到。）

It’s the news that Grinches everywhere have been waiting for： overdosing on festive music is officially bad for your mental health. 這是一則鬼靈精們久候的新聞：聽太多節慶音樂對你的心理健康真的有不良影響。

The clangy harmonies and insipid lyrics in a Christmas song make Christmas haters want to say "bah humbug"at every smiling passer-by in a bobble hat. Christmas songs also stop us from being able to focus on anything other than mince pies and mistletoe. 耶誕歌曲中作為和聲的叮噹鈴響，以及枯燥乏味的歌詞，讓痛恨耶誕節的人想對每個戴著絨球帽、一臉笑嘻嘻的行人大呼「騙人的玩意兒」。耶誕歌曲也讓我們無法專注在百果派、槲寄生以外的東西。

According to psychologist Linda Blair, listening to "Santa Claus is coming to town" on repeat could actually have a negative effect on your brain. 心理學家琳達．布萊爾指出，重複聽《耶誕老人進城去》其實對你的大腦有負面影響。

"People working in the shops at Christmas have to tune out Christmas music because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else," she told Sky News.她向英國「天空新聞台」表示：「商店人員在耶誕節期間，必須對耶誕音樂充耳不聞，因為如果他們不這麼做，就無法專注在其他事情上面。」

However, research shows that striking a good balance between festive smells and music can positively affect the shopping environment, making customers happier and eager to spend more time in a shop to boost sales. 然而，研究也顯示，只要能在耶誕節的氣味和音樂之間找到平衡點，就能對購物環境起正面作用，讓客人更開心，願意花更多時間走逛，刺激銷售表現。

Yoga for the Winter Blues 冬季 瑜伽課 給 沮喪

The waiting’s finally over. Snow descends on Taiping Mountain
終於等到了！太平山降下瑞雪

Tourists play in the snow on Taiping Mountain in Yilan County on Friday last week.
二月六日在宜蘭縣太平山上看到雪，遊客開心地玩起來。

Photo COURTESY OF THE Luodong Forest District Office
照片：羅東林管處提供

As a cold wave brought low-enough temperatures and sufficient moisture, at 7:30am on the morning of Friday last week snow finally fell on Taiping Mountain for the first time this winter. Delighted tourists danced with joy, shouting “The waiting’s finally over.” The Taiping Mountain Villa Hotel said that snow mixed with soft hail fell for about one hour. It then stopped snowing and the ground was covered with an approximately 0.5cm layer of snow.

From November last year until last week, the temperature at Taiping Mountain had fallen below zero many times, but due to insufficient moisture the most that formed was rime ice, with no snow falling. After nightfall on Thursday the temperature dropped below zero and there was sufficient moisture. By early morning, as Taiping Mountain’s plants and roadways started to ice over, an employee at the Taiping Mountain Villa Hotel predicted that there would be a chance of snow, and sure enough the auspicious snowfall came to pass.

(Liberty Times, translated by Edward Jones)

寒流來襲，這次冬天還未下雪的太平山，在溫度低濕度足的情況下，上周五早上七點半，終於降下瑞雪，遊客開心地手舞足蹈，直呼「終於等到了！」太平山莊表示，降雪時間約一個小時，中間夾雜冰霰，然後停止下雪，而地上有約量零點五公分厚的積雪。

太平山從去年十一月至上周，多次溫度在零下，但都因濕度不足，頂多結霧淞，沒有下雪。周四入夜後，溫度下降至零下，濕度也足夠，清晨時，太平山上的植物、道路，開始出現結冰情況，太平山莊人員評估有降雪機會，果真降下瑞雪。

〔自由時報記者朱則瑋〕

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. dance with joy v. phr. 手舞足蹈 

例: Viola danced with joy when she found out she had won first price.

(知道贏得頭獎，費歐拉手舞足蹈起來了。)

2. sure enough adj. phr. 果真 

例: The room was searched by the police and, sure enough, the gun was found.

(警察搜索房間，果真找到槍了。)

3. ice over v. phr. 結冰 

例: Once the road had iced over, driving conditions become extremely hazardous.

(道路一旦結冰，路況就變得十分危險。)

If Santa were salaried...如果耶誕老人支薪 年薪可賺四百萬

A child has his picture taken with a Father Christmas who turned up bearing gifts in Greater Tainan on Dec. 17.
十二月十七日在台南耶誕老人突然造訪送禮，小朋友驚喜，開心合影。

Every Christmas Eve is Santa’s busiest time. Santa Claus does not have an easy job. He not only has to prepare gifts for each of the world’s children, he also needs to deliver them to the kids in a single night. But if we were to actually calculate Santa’s salary, how much would he earn?

The latest labor survey announced on an insurance Web site discovered that, if you combined all of his festive activities, from the management and distribution to tasks such as checking off name lists of how good or naughty children have been, altogether Santa should get an annual salary of US$139,924, approximately NT$4.4 million.

The Web site explained that Santa’s tasks include managing the reindeer, reading kids’ letters, wrapping presents, keeping a stealthy check on whether children have been good, sweeping chimneys, driving the sleigh, and singing Christmas carols.

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. naughty adj. 淘氣 

例: He was always a very naughty child.

(他以前是個非常淘氣的小孩。)

2. stealthy adj. 偷偷 

例: He stole a stealthy look at the presents.

3. carol n.耶誕歌 

例: We will sing Christmas carols tonight.

(我們今晚會吟唱耶誕歌。)

(Liberty Times, translated by Paul Cooper)

每年耶誕節前夕就是耶誕老人工作的旺季。耶誕老人工作並不輕鬆，不僅須要為世上每個孩子準備禮物，還要在一個晚上之內送到孩子手上！但若現實一點估算耶誕老人薪水，他能賺多少？

一份由保險網站公布的最新的勞動力調查發現，綜合整個耶誕慶祝活動，從管理送貨系統到檢查小孩子的乖寶寶和淘氣名單等各項工程，加總起來耶誕老人一年應可賺到十三萬九千九百二十四美元（約新台幣四百四十萬元）薪水。

該網站解釋，耶誕老人的工作內容包括，管理馴鹿、閱讀孩子寫的信、包裝禮物、偷偷調查孩子乖不乖、掃煙囪、駕駛雪橇、唱耶誕歌等等。

（自由時報)