Health Vocabulary

Word

Definition

Example

healthy diet

mainly eating food that is nutritious and cutting down on sugar and fat.

Eating a healthy diet can help prevent illness and disease.

health problems (or health issues)

situations where the body is suffering from illness, injury or disease.

An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to many health problems in old age.

health risk

any factor that exposes a person to the increased chance of experiencing illness, injury or disease such as poor nutrition, alcohol or drug consumption, unsafe water, poor hygiene and sanitation, unsa

Binge drinking is a significant health risk and can have many long and short-term consequences.

ill health

suffering from some form of physical or mental illness or disease.

He had been suffering from ill health for several months before he died.

poor health

the general state of not being in a good condition of health.

The refugees arrived in a state of poor health having had little food or water for many weeks.

unhealthy

harmful to health or not having good health.

Smoking is a really unhealthy habit.

health scare

a state of alarm or anxiety caused by concern about the risk of developing or being diagnosed with a particular illness or condition.

Suffering chest pains while playing in the park with his kids was a real health scare and prompted him to lose weight and get fitter.

good health

the general state of being in a good condition of health.

Despite celebrating his 90th birthday, Peter had no medical problems and was in remarkably good health.

healthy lifestyle (or unhealthy lifestyle)

a way of living that contributes to good health and well-being.

Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

health care

the services provided by governments or organisations for the treatment of illness, injury, disease and to maintain well-being.

Many governments cannot afford to provide free health care for their people.

health education

education that promotes an understanding of how to maintain personal health.

Basic health education is vital if child mortality in rural African communities is to be reduced.

health-conscious

to be concerned about how your diet and lifestyle are affecting your health and take an active interest in maintaining good health.

After his sister died young of heart disease, Bill became far more health-conscious and made changes to his lifestyle and diet.

health benefit

the positive effect on a person's health gained from food, activity, medical treatment or therapy.

Eating fruit and vegetables has many health benefits.

mental health

the state of a person's emotional and psychological well-being. The health of the mind.

Stress or bullying at work can lead to serious mental health problems.

to look after your health / to take care of our health

to eat well, drink alcohol sensibly and take exercise.

I believe I'm still able to enjoy an active life in my 80's because I have always looked after my health

to regain your health

to recover from illness or injury.

Sunita was very ill with the flu but is gradually regaining her health.

regular exercise

to engage in physical activity often and consistently.

Taking regular exercise helps to keep the body healthy.

vigorous exercise

intense exercise that to causes sweating, heavy breathing and increased heart rate.

Vigorous exercise helps to keep the heart healthy.

to be unfit

when the body not being in good physical condition, generally due to a lack of regular exercise.

I gave up going to the gym six months ago and I've become very unfit.

prevent

To stop something from happening.

Keeping fit can prevent a wide range of health problems from developing.

in good shape

in good physical condition.

My parents are both in their 70's but are still in pretty good shape.

stay in shape

to take action to maintain good health and fitness.

Eating healthily and taking regular exercise helps me to stay in shape.

out of shape

not in good physical condition.

I got very lazy over the holidays and am really feeling out of shape.

get back into shape

to take action to improve your physical condition.

I've taken up swimming to help me get back into shape after breaking my leg.

work out

to exercise in order to improve physical fitness and increase strength.

Sally works out at the gym three times a week to help her stay fit and healthy.

diet

the type of food and drink a person usually eats and drinks.

In many Asian countries, the staple diet includes lots of rice and vegetables.

balanced diet

a combination of healthy types and amounts of food.

Eating a balanced diet is important for staying healthy.

dietary habit

eating similar things regularly.

Dietary habits are hard to change, especially for people addicted to junk food.

dietary requirement

the correct types and amounts of food to maintain health which may vary from person to person depending on age and lifestyle.

In many poor communities, people can't grow or buy enough food to meet their basic dietary requirements and so they get ill.

comfort food

types of food that provide a feeling of well-being. They are typically sweet and high in calories.

I always feel happier after eating a slice of chocolate; it's such a great comfort food.

portion

the amount of food served to a person

When I visited the US I was shocked at the oversized portions served in the restaurants. No wonder obesity is such a big problem over there

additive

A substance which is added to food in order to improve its taste or appearance or to preserve it.

I try to avoid food that is full of additives because I think they are bad for your health.

nutrients

a substance that provides the essential elements needed for living things to survive and to grow.

Most fast food contains very few nutrients. I like to eat cook my own meals so that I can be sure they are nutritious.

binge drinking

drinking an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time or drinking to get drunk.

There's a worrying increase in binge drinking among young people in many societies today.

you are what you eat

makes a connection between the food someone eats and the state of their health.

I feel so much better and have lots more energy since I cut out junk food and started eating more healthily. I guess it's true that "you are what you eat".

overweight

to weigh more than is considered desirable or healthy.

According to recent statistics, nearly 70% of the population of the UK is overweight.

obesity

the state of being extremely overweight.

Obesity is now considered to be the most serious health issue facing the developed world.

diabetes

A serious medical condition in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood.

My father used to suffer from diabetes, but after following medical advice to cut sugar out of his diet, he is no longer diabetic.

overeating

eating more than your body needs.

Overeating can lead to many serious health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer.

allergy

a condition where a person becomes ill or develops skin or breathing problems due to eating certain foods or being near certain substances.

Food allergies seem to be becoming more common and many people have developed an allergic reaction to nut, which can be fatal.

disease

an illness caused by infection or poor health.

Chickenpox is a very common childhood disease.

addiction

the inability to stop doing or taking something that is harmful.

Drug addiction destroys lives and contributes to soaring crime rates.

fall ill

to become sick or ill.

Chandra fell ill while on holiday but receive excellent care in the local hospital.

come down with (something)

to become ill, to catch a virus.

My best friend came down with a heavy cold and didn't feel well enough to come to my birthday party.

get over (when related to health)

to recover from being illness or injury.

I was off work for three days with a chest infection last week but I'm getting over it now.

to be under the weather

to feel unwell.

I was so looking forward to the new club's opening night but didn't really enjoy it as I was feeling under the weather.

back on your feet

to be healthy again after a period of illness or injury.

It took my gran a while to get over the effects of her fall but she's back on her feet again now.

to be on the mend

to be recovering after ill health.

I suffered from depression after my brother was killed in an accident last year but I'm on the mend now and beginning to enjoy life again.

to make a speedy recovery

to recover quickly from an ill health.

The doctors said that it was because he was so fit and healthy that he made a speedy recovery from the operation on his fractured shoulder.

road to recovery

the process of becoming healthy again.

They didn't think she'd survive the bout of pneumonia with her weak chest but she's finally on the road to recovery.

clean bill of health

a decision by a doctor that a person is healthy.

Tony changed his lifestyle after suffering from heart problems and has now been given a clean bill of health by his doctor.

fit as a fiddle

to be in very good health.

I was fed up with feeling tired, full of aches and pains and always getting colds so I changed my diet and took up running. Now I'm as fit as a fiddle.

to feel washed out

to not have much energy after an illness.

I'm much better than I was but I'm still feeling washed out.

GP

general practitioner (family doctor).

My GP said that I am in great shape for my age.

to make an appointment

to arrange a time to see the doctor.

I've made you an appointment with the doctor for 3.30 pm on Thursday.

a check-up

a physical examination by a doctor.

Now that I'm over 50, I get a free annual check-up from my doctor.

prescription

written authorisation from a medical practitioner for a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment.

The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics to help clear up her chest infection.

phone in sick

to call your workplace to explain that you won't be attending work due to illness.

He was so ill after eating the prawn curry for dinner that he had to phone in sick the following morning.

medical cover / medical insurance

insurance for the cost of medical treatment

I was reluctant to pay for medical cover but was so glad I had when I fell ill with malaria after a holiday in the tropics.

immunisation

the process of making a person or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine.

Mass immunisation programmes are highly effective in eradicating many common infectious diseases.

vaccine

a preparation of organisms administered to stimulate the body's own immune system to protect the person against infection or disease.

Modern flu vaccines are so effective that thousands of lives are saved every year in the UK and free vaccination is offered to everyone over the age of 65.

surgery

the process of cutting open the body and removing or repairing damaged parts.

Sanchez had to undergo emergency surgery after suffering a heart attack.

operation

the act of surgery performed on a patient.

My ankle fracture was so bad that I had to have an operation to repair it.

cure

to eradicate a disease or medical condition.

Millions of children in the developing world die of common illnesses for which there are simple cures.

symptom

a physical or mental change to the body that is caused by illness.

Yang Li had many of the typical symptoms of flu including aching muscles and a high fever.

to catch a cold

to get a cold.

There were lots of people coughing and sneezing on the tube this week so it's hardly surprising that I've caught a cold.

chesty cough

a cough caused by mucus in the lungs.

Whenever I get a cold it nearly always develops into a chesty cough.

runny nose

a nose that has mucus coming out of it.

I hope that my runny nose is due to the cold weather and not a sign that I'm coming down with a cold.

blocked nose

when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold.

A blocked nose is one of the worse symptoms of a cold as it can make it difficult to breathe.

sore throat

when the throat is inflamed causing pain when swallowing.

I find that a drink of honey and lemon helps to soothe a sore throat.

high temperature

when body temperature is high than the average body temperature ranges of 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C); often a symptom of illness.

When I was young, my mother only believed my story of feeling ill and not going being well enough to go to school if I had a high temperature.

to be sick / to vomit / to throw up

when the contents of the stomach is expelled through the mouth.

Jared drank far too much at the party and threw up on the way home.

diarrhoea

a condition where the body's solid waste matter becomes more liquid than normal and is discharged from the body more often.

Diarrhoea is considered a minor complaint in the developed world but in the developing world, around 1.5 million children a year dies of it mainly due to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

splitting headache

a continuous severe pain in the head.

After a day of intense meetings with the boss and senior managers, Brigit went home with a splitting headache.

to pull a muscle

to overstretch or tear a muscle causing pain.

Anatoly was favourite to win the 100 metres but fell to the ground in pain after pulling a muscle before reaching the finish line.

cuts and bruises

minor injuries. With cuts, the skin is torn but with bruises, it is not.

Lucy got knocked off her bike cycling to work today and was lucky to get away with just cuts and bruises.