c1Vocabulary Pack

Health & Medicine

Describe symptoms, visit a doctor and talk about staying well.

67 words

English vocabulary

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67 words

Definitions in: English

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1
acuteadjectivetechnicalformal
Describes an illness or symptom that is severe and comes on suddenly; the medical opposite of 'chronic'.
She was admitted with acute appendicitis and rushed straight into surgery.
2
onsetnounformaltechnical
The moment an illness or condition begins to appear; common in medical descriptions of symptoms.
The sudden onset of the headache worried the doctors more than its severity.
3
flare upphrasal verbneutral
Used when a chronic condition or symptom suddenly becomes worse after a quiet period.
My eczema tends to flare up whenever I'm under a lot of stress.
4
boutnounneutral
a period of suffering from an illness
A short period of suffering from an illness; typically 'a bout of' something.
She's just getting over a nasty bout of bronchitis.
5
relapsenounformaltechnical
A return of an illness or addiction after a period of apparent recovery.
Just when we thought she was recovering, she suffered a sudden relapse.
6
remissionnounformaltechnical
A period during which the symptoms of a serious disease, especially cancer, lessen or disappear.
After two gruelling years of treatment, she's finally in remission.
7
prognosisnounformaltechnical
A doctor's forecast of how an illness is likely to develop; distinct from diagnosis.
The prognosis is good, provided he follows the treatment carefully.
8
malignantadjectivetechnicalformal
Describes a tumour or growth that is cancerous and likely to spread.
The biopsy confirmed that the lump was malignant.
9
benignadjectivetechnicalformal
Describes a growth that is not cancerous and will not spread; the opposite of malignant.
To everyone's relief, the tumour turned out to be benign.
10
chemotherapynountechnicalneutral
The treatment of cancer with powerful drugs; often shortened to 'chemo' informally.
She lost her hair during a long course of chemotherapy.
11
inflammationnountechnicalneutral
Redness, heat and swelling in part of the body as a reaction to injury or infection.
The medication is designed to reduce inflammation in the joints.
12
inflamedadjectivetechnicalneutral
Describes a body part that is red, hot and swollen due to injury or infection.
Her throat was so inflamed she could barely swallow.
13
excruciatingadjectiveneutral
Describes pain that is extremely intense and almost unbearable.
The pain in my lower back was absolutely excruciating.
14
naggingadjectiveneutralcolloquial
Describes a mild but persistent pain or discomfort that won't go away.
I've had a nagging pain in my shoulder for weeks now.
15
queasyadjectiveinformalneutral
Feeling slightly sick and likely to vomit; milder than full nausea.
The smell of the hospital corridor always makes me feel a bit queasy.
16
run-downadjectiveinformalcolloquial
Feeling tired, weak and generally unwell, often from overwork or stress.
You look really run-down; maybe you're coming down with something.
17
groggyadjectiveinformalcolloquial
Feeling dazed, weak or unsteady, often after waking, anaesthetic or medication.
He was still groggy from the anaesthetic when his family arrived.
18
numbadjectiveneutral
Unable to feel anything in a part of the body, due to cold, injury or anaesthetic.
My whole arm went numb after I slept on it awkwardly.
19
fracturenountechnicalneutral
A crack or break in a bone; more precise than the everyday 'broken bone'.
The X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in his wrist.
20
concussionnountechnicalneutral
A temporary brain injury caused by a blow to the head, often from a fall or collision.
He took a knock to the head and was treated for concussion.
21
traumanountechnicalformal
Serious physical injury, or severe emotional shock with lasting effects.
The patient was rushed to the trauma unit after the crash.
22
seizurenountechnicalneutral
A sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain causing convulsions.
He had an epileptic seizure and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
23
strokenounneutraltechnical
A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, a serious medical emergency.
Her grandfather had a stroke and lost movement in his left side.
24
cardiac arrestnountechnicalformal
The sudden stopping of the heart; medically distinct from a heart attack.
The paramedics performed CPR after he went into cardiac arrest.
25
hypertensionnountechnicalformal
The medical term for persistently high blood pressure.
He was prescribed medication to manage his hypertension.
26
immune systemnounneutraltechnical
The body's natural defence network against infection and disease.
A balanced diet helps keep your immune system strong.
27
outbreaknounneutraltechnical
The sudden start and spread of a disease in a particular place.
There's been an outbreak of measles at the local school.
28
epidemicnounneutraltechnical
A widespread occurrence of a disease in a community at a particular time.
The country is battling a flu epidemic this winter.
29
pandemicnounneutraltechnical
An epidemic that has spread across multiple countries or worldwide.
The pandemic transformed the way hospitals manage infection.
30
quarantinenounneutraltechnical
A period of isolation imposed to stop a contagious disease from spreading.
Returning travellers were placed in quarantine for two weeks.
31
sterileadjectivetechnicalneutral
Completely free from bacteria and germs, as required in medical settings.
The surgeon worked in a perfectly sterile environment.
32
hygienenounneutraltechnical
The practice of keeping clean to maintain health and prevent disease.
Good hand hygiene is one of the simplest ways to prevent infection.
33
paramedicnounneutral
A trained emergency medical worker who treats patients before or during transport to hospital.
The paramedics stabilised him at the scene before the ambulance left.
34
consultantnounformalneutral
In British English, a senior hospital doctor who is an expert in a particular field.
She was referred to a consultant who specialises in heart conditions.
35
outpatientnountechnicalneutral
A patient who receives treatment at a hospital without staying overnight.
The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, so you'll be home by evening.
36
inpatientnountechnicalneutral
A patient who stays in hospital for one or more nights during treatment.
As an inpatient, she was monitored around the clock.
37
intensive carenountechnicalneutral
Specialised hospital treatment for critically ill patients; often abbreviated to ICU.
He spent three days in intensive care after the operation.
38
dischargeverbformaltechnical
To officially allow a patient to leave hospital after treatment.
She was discharged from hospital just two days after surgery.
39
referralnounformaltechnical
The act of sending a patient to a specialist or another service for further treatment.
Your GP can give you a referral to a dermatologist.
40
transplantnountechnicalneutral
A surgical operation to move an organ or tissue from one body to another.
He's been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for two years.
41
donornounneutraltechnical
A person who gives blood, an organ or tissue for use in another patient's treatment.
They're still searching for a suitable bone marrow donor.
42
transfusionnountechnicalneutral
The medical process of putting blood from one person into another's body.
She needed an urgent blood transfusion after losing so much blood.
43
anaestheticnountechnicalneutral
A drug that prevents the feeling of pain during surgery or procedures; US spelling 'anesthetic'.
The procedure is done under general anaesthetic, so you won't feel a thing.
44
sedativenountechnicalneutral
A drug that calms a patient or makes them sleepy.
The nurse gave him a mild sedative to help him relax before the scan.
45
placebonountechnicalneutral
A substance with no medical effect, given as a dummy treatment or used in drug trials.
Half the participants were unknowingly given a placebo.
46
over-the-counteradjectiveneutral
Describes medicine that can be bought without a prescription.
You can get a decent over-the-counter remedy for hay fever.
47
overdosenounneutral
A dangerous amount of a drug taken at once, accidentally or deliberately.
He was rushed to hospital after a suspected overdose.
48
biopsynountechnicalneutral
The removal of a small sample of tissue for examination, often to test for cancer.
The biopsy results should come back within a week.
49
ailmentnounformalliterary
A minor illness or health problem; slightly formal or literary.
The clinic treats everyday ailments like coughs, colds and earaches.
50
recuperateverbformal
To recover one's health and strength after illness or surgery; more formal than 'recover'.
She's gone to the coast to recuperate after her operation.
51
bedriddenadjectiveneutralformal
Unable to get out of bed because of illness, injury or frailty.
After the fall, her elderly mother was left bedridden for months.
52
debilitatingadjectiveformal
Describes a condition that seriously weakens someone or limits what they can do.
She suffers from debilitating migraines that keep her off work for days.
53
rehabilitationnounformaltechnical
The process of restoring health or ability after illness, injury or addiction; often shortened to 'rehab'.
His rehabilitation after the stroke involved months of physiotherapy.
54
on the mendidiominformalcolloquial
Recovering and getting better after an illness or injury.
Don't worry, she's well on the mend now.
55
a clean bill of healthidiomneutralidiomatic
An official statement that someone is in good health, often after an examination.
The doctor gave him a clean bill of health after the check-up.
56
take a turn for the worseidiomneutralidiomatic
Said when a patient's condition suddenly deteriorates.
He seemed to be recovering, but overnight he took a turn for the worse.
57
pull throughphrasal verbinformalneutral
To survive a serious illness, injury or operation against the odds.
It was touch and go for a while, but the doctors are confident he'll pull through.
58
fit as a fiddleidiominformalcolloquial
In excellent physical health and condition.
At eighty, my grandfather is still fit as a fiddle.
59
back on your feetidiominformalcolloquial
Recovered and healthy again after an illness or difficult period.
These antibiotics should have you back on your feet in no time.
60
under the knifeidiominformalidiomatic
Undergoing surgery; an informal way of referring to an operation.
He's going under the knife next week to have his knee repaired.
61
nurse back to healthexpressionneutral
To care for someone over time until they recover from illness or injury.
She patiently nursed him back to health after the accident.
62
insomnianounneutraltechnical
The condition of being regularly unable to sleep.
Stress at work has given her chronic insomnia.
63
burnoutnounneutral
A state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork.
Many healthcare workers are suffering from burnout after years of pressure.
64
terminaladjectiveformaltechnical
Describes an illness that cannot be cured and will lead to death.
He was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months to live.
65
throbbingadjective / verbneutral
Describes pain that comes in regular, pulsing waves, like a heartbeat.
I woke up with a throbbing pain behind my left eye.
66
anestheticnounneutralAmerican English
American English spelling of the drug that blocks pain during surgery.
The surgeon administered a local anesthetic before stitching the wound.
The surgeon gave a local pain-blocking drug before stitching the wound.
67
attendingnounneutralAmerican English
American English word for a senior specialist doctor who supervises patients' care in a hospital.
The residents presented each case to the attending during morning rounds.
The junior doctors presented each case to the senior supervising doctor during morning rounds.

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Health vocabulary becomes essential the moment you feel unwell abroad, and this pack prepares you for it. Learn to describe symptoms like headache, fever and cough, talk about conditions from sick to healthy, and handle a visit to the doctor or pharmacy. Growing from beginner to advanced, it gives you the words to explain what is wrong and understand the advice you get.