心力衰竭(heart failure)简称心衰，是指由于心脏的收缩功能和(或)舒张功能发生障碍，不能将静脉回心血量充分排出心脏，导致静脉系统血液淤积，动脉系统血液灌注不足，从而引起心脏循环障碍症候群，此种障碍症候群集中表现为肺淤血、腔静脉淤血。心力衰竭并不是一个独立的疾病，而是心脏疾病发展的终末阶段。其中绝大多数的心力衰竭都是以左心衰竭开始的，即首先表现为肺循环淤血。

Eating chocolate regularly is good for your heart, scientists have revealed.

科学家发现，经常吃巧克力对心脏有好处。

They found that moderate consumption — up to three bars monthly — cut a person’s risk of heart failure by 13 percent, compared with eating none at all.

他们发现，与根本不吃相比，适度摄取，既每月最多吃3块巧克力可以将患心力衰竭的风险降低13%。

The deadly condition affects more than 900,000 Brits, causing swollen legs and breathlessness.

这种致命的疾病导致腿部肿胀和呼吸困难，影响了90多万英国人。

There is no cure, with many sufferers eventually needing a transplant or dying young.

目前还没有治愈的方法，许多患者最终需要进行移植手术，或者英年早逝。

Researchers say natural compounds in cocoa called flavonoids boost blood vessel health and help reduce inflammation.

研究人员说，可可中被称为类黄酮的天然化合物可以促进血管健康，帮助减少炎症。

But they warn against having too much chocolate, with those indulging daily seeing their risk of heart failure increase by 17 percent.

但他们警告不要吃太多巧克力，那些每天都吃巧克力的人患心力衰竭的风险增加了17%。

Lead researcher Dr. Chayakrit Krittanawong, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said the popular treat was healthy in small amounts.

纽约西奈山伊坎医学院的首席研究员Chayakrit Krittanawong博士说，这种受欢迎的食物在少量食用的情况下是健康的。

He said: “Moderate dark chocolate consumption is good for health. However, chocolate may have high levels of saturated fats.”

他说:“适量食用黑巧克力有益于健康。然而，巧克力可能含有大量的饱和脂肪。”

“Therefore, moderate consumption is recommended.”

“因此，建议适量食用。”

The findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Munich, are based on studies involving over 575,000 individuals.

这项研究结果是基于57.5万多人的研究，发表在慕尼黑召开的欧洲心脏病学会议上。

Victoria Taylor, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said cocoa had been linked to health benefits.

英国心脏基金会的高级营养师维多利亚.泰勒说，可可有益健康。

She added: “If you have a sweet tooth, make it an occasional small treat and go for dark chocolate with the highest cocoa content.”

她补充说:“如果你爱吃甜食，那就偶尔吃一点吧，吃可可含量最高的黑巧克力。”