If you've ever visited a hospital or interacted with healthcare professionals, you've likely come across some specific terms and phrases. Understanding these terms can be essential in a medical context. In this article, you will learn key hospital and to equip medical vocabulary you with the language you need.
Health Vocabulary Words
- ache
- allergy
- antihistamine
- appetite
- aspirin
- bandage
- blood
- bone
- broken
- bronchitis
- bruise
- cast
- clinic
- cold
- contagious
- cough
- crutch
- cut
- decongestant
- diarrhea
- dizzy
- fever
- first aid
- flu
- headache
- hives
- indigestion
- infection
- influenza
- injection
Common Health Problems
Recognizing common ailments and their symptoms can be crucial for your well-being. Below, you'll find a list of frequent illnesses, along with brief descriptions to assist you in identifying and communicating them.
- Fever: an abnormally high body temperature; often a sign of infection.
- Cough: a sudden expulsion of air from the lungs; usually caused by illness.
- Allergy: a response from the immune system (red eyes, runny nose, skin irritation etc.), usually to a certain food, medicine, material, or smell.
- Infection: invasion and multiplication of microorganisms; such as bacteria, viruses, etc.
- Asthma: a respiratory condition that causes difficulty in breathing.
- Diabetes: a chronic condition that affects the body's ability to use sugar.
- Migraine: a type of headache.
- Anxiety: a mental health disorder that causes excessive fear and worry.
- Depression: a mental health condition that leads to persistent sadness and loss of interest.
- Arthritis: the problem of one or more body parts’ joints that causes pain and stiffness.
- Fracture: a break in a bone; requires medical attention.
- Flu: an infectious disease caused by a virus; symptoms include fever and cough.
- Indigestion: discomfort in the stomach; often after eating.
- Hypertension: also known as high blood pressure; can lead to serious health problems.
ESL List of Health Problems
The following is a list of common health problems (ailments and illnesses) with the definition of each word or expression:
an allergy: a medical condition that causes you to react badly or feel sick when you eat or touch a particular substance.
asthma: a respiratory condition where spasms in the lungs cause difficulty in breathing. An asthmatic uses an inhaler to calm the spasms.
a backache: a prolonged pain in the back.
a broken leg: when a bone in the leg is broken. A broken leg is put in a cast to help immobilize the leg so that it heals quicker. Other parts of the body with bones can also be broken, for example a broken arm, a broken wrist etc.
cancer: a serious disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells that kill normal body cells in a part of the body.
a cold: a common viral infection which causes mucus to run from the nose, gives a sore throat and often includes sneezing.
a cough: the act of expelling air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.
diarrhoea: (America English: diarrhea) an illness in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.
an earache: pain inside the ear.
a fever: an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering and a headache.
the flu: flu is the common name given for influenza. It is a contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages that causes fever and sever aching.
a headache: a continuous pain in the head.
heartburn: a form of indigestion felt as a burning sensation in the chest. It is caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus.
(the) measles: an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin. It typically occurs in childhood.
a rash: a lot of small red spots on the skin that are usually itchy.
a sore throat: a condition of pain in the throat, typically caused by inflammation of it.
a sprain: an injury to a joint in your body, especially your wrist or ankle, caused by suddenly twisting it.
a stomachache (US) - stomach ache (Brit): The pain in a person's belly. Notice how the word can be spelled together or as two words, depending on the country.
sunburn: when the skin becomes red with inflammation as a result of overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
a toothache: the pain in a tooth or teeth.
Treatments
Medical treatments vary widely and may involve medications, therapies, or surgeries. This section will introduce you to terms related to various treatments that you might encounter.
- Surgery: a medical procedure used to repair or remove parts of the body.
- Therapy: treatment to relieve or heal a disorder.
- Medication: a substance used to treat an illness or condition; often prescribed by a doctor.
- Vaccination: administration of a vaccine; helps the body develop immunity to a disease.
- Chemotherapy: a cancer treatment; uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy: a cancer treatment; uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
- Dialysis: a treatment for kidney failure; removes waste products from the blood.
- Insulin therapy: a treatment for diabetes; controls blood sugar levels.
- Antibiotics: medications that fight infections; usually for bacterial infections.
- Immunotherapy: a treatment that boosts the immune system; often for cancer patients.
- Transplant: replacing a failing organ with a healthy one from a donor.
- Physical rehabilitation: a program to restore strength and mobility after injury or surgery.
- Inhaler: a device delivering medication often used for asthma.
- Acupuncture: a traditional Chinese therapy; uses needles to stimulate specific points.
FAQ: Hospital and Medical Vocabulary
1. What are some common terms used in hospitals?
- Admission: The process of being formally accepted into the hospital.
- Discharge: The process of being released from the hospital.
- Diagnosis: Identification of a disease or condition based on symptoms and tests.
- Treatment: Medical care given to a patient for a disease or injury.
- Prescription: A written order from a doctor for a specific medication.
- Emergency: A sudden and urgent medical situation requiring immediate attention.
2. What does "triage" mean?
- Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. It helps ensure that those with the most urgent needs receive immediate care.
3. What is the difference between "inpatient" and "outpatient"?
- Inpatient: A patient who stays in the hospital overnight or for an extended period.
- Outpatient: A patient who receives medical treatment without being admitted to the hospital overnight.
4. What is a "symptom"?
- A symptom is a physical or mental feature that indicates the presence of a disease or condition, such as pain, fever, or fatigue.
5. What is an "allergy"?
- An allergy is an immune system reaction to a substance (allergen) that is typically harmless to most people. Common allergens include pollen, certain foods, and pet dander.
6. What does "anesthesia" refer to?
- Anesthesia is the use of medication to block sensation or consciousness during surgical procedures. It can be local (affecting a specific area) or general (affecting the whole body).
7. What is a "surgery"?
- Surgery is a medical procedure that involves making incisions to treat or diagnose conditions. It can range from minor procedures to major operations.
8. What does "rehabilitation" mean in a medical context?
- Rehabilitation refers to the process of helping a patient regain normal function and independence after an injury, surgery, or illness.
9. What is a "referral"?
- A referral is when a primary care doctor or another healthcare provider directs a patient to a specialist for further evaluation or treatment.
10. What does "prognosis" mean? - Prognosis is the forecast or prediction of the likely outcome or course of a disease or condition, based on medical knowledge and experience.
