Read the article and do the tasks below.

While reading, find the words and expressions that mean the following:

1) исследование (2 слова); 2) ожирение / тучный, страдающий ожирением; 3) вызывать, инициировать, запускать (напр., механизм); 4) пыльца; 5) узкий; 6) воспаленный; 7) распухать; 8) раздраженный; 9) человек с нормальным весом; 10) иметь избыточный вес; 11) вызывать состояние; 12) контролировать (заболевание); 13) улучшать; 14) повышенный риск.

Overweight 'higher asthma risk'

US researchers reviewed 7 studies involving over 330, 000 adult and child patients. They said obesity was well-known as a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease, and that asthma could now be added to that list. UK experts agreed there was a link, but said the reasons were still unclear.

Asthma affects the small tubes - airways - that carry air in and out of the lungs. When something triggers asthma (it may be pollen or a pet, for example), the muscle around the walls of the airways tightens so that the airway becomes narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell, and mucus, or phlegm, can be produced. These reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated, which leads to the symptoms of asthma - such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest.

The analysis showed that for every normal weight person with asthma, there were 1.5 people with asthma who were overweight or obese. The risk of having asthma for those who were obese was twice higher. Researchers could not understand what caused the increased risk of asthma.

Obesity causes problems in lung function, such as a reduction in lung volume and an increase in the amount of oxygen used during breathing, but it is not enough to induce the condition. And the researchers said the symptoms associated with this, such as breathlessness, could have been wrongly interpreted as asthma.

A spokeswoman for Asthma UK said: " There is long-standing evidence that obesity and asthma are linked. This new research attempts to clarify this relationship, however the exact reasons remain unclear. Other studies have shown that losing weight and getting fitter can help in both managing asthma and improving lung function, which supports our advice to people with asthma that a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise can help them feel more in control of their condition."

1. The article mentions some organs which can be affected by asthma and their characteristics. Complete the statements explaining what these organs do and what these characteristics mean.

1) Airways are …………

2) The lining of the airways …………

3) Lungs …………

4) Lung volume …………

1. Answer the questions about asthma and its symptoms.

1) What symptoms of asthma does the article mention?

2) Only adults can suffer from asthma, can’t they?

3) What are the asthma triggers? Could you add more triggers to those mentioned in the article?

4) Can you explain what happens during an asthma attack?

1. The article describes a study that shows the link between asthma and obesity. Fill in the table with the details of the study. If any information is not available from the article, put “—“.