Here are the most common vocabulary relating to the topic ‘Health’. These words are collected from different sources and can be used in both productive sections of IELTS. They can also help you better understand the Reading section of the test.
- diagnose (verb) – to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or a problem, by examining it.
– The specialist diagnosed cancer.
– His condition was diagnosed as some type of blood disorder. - disorder (noun) – an illness of the mind or body.
– The family have a history of mental disorder. - palliative (adj) – (of a drug or medical treatment) reducing pain without curing the cause of the pain.
– Older people facing a terminal illness may want to choose palliative care only.
– The success of chemotherapy as a form of palliative treatment depends on the type of tumour. - holistic medicine (noun phrase) – treatment that deals with the whole person, not just the injury or disease.
– Significantly, it is also echoed in other contemporary aspects of culture, such as the contrast between invasive surgery or holistic medicine.
– I am not saying that holistic medicine, alternative medicine or contemporary medicine has all the answers. - treatment (noun) – the use of drugs, exercises, etc. to cure a person of an illness or injury.
– Perhaps it’s time to try a new course of treatment.
– This disease doesn’t generally respond to (= improve as a result of) treatment.
– There are various treatments for this complaint. - sanitation (noun) – the systems for taking dirty water and other waste products away from buildings in order to protect people’s health.
– Many illnesses in these temporary refugee camps are the result of inadequate sanitation.
– Sanitation workers are picking up the garbage. - overweight (adj) – fat.
– He used to be very overweight.
– I’m only a few pounds overweight, but I just can’t seem to lose them. - obesity (noun) – the fact of being extremely fat, in a way that is dangerous for health.
– The National Institute of Health is discussing ways of tackling the problem of childhood obesity.
– A diet that is high in fat and sugar can lead to obesity. - chronic (adj) – continuing for a long time.
– She suffers from chronic pain in her knees.
– I have a chronic bowel disease. - frostbite (noun) – injury to someone caused by severe cold, usually to their toes, fingers, ears, or nose, that causes permanent loss of tissue.
– They are threatened with frostbite, pneumonia and hypothermia.
– One child had been pushed out into the cold so often that he suffered severe frostbite in his feet. - alleviate (verb) – to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe.
– The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering.
– A comparison of assistive technology and personal care in alleviating disability and unmet need. - ailment (noun) – an illness.
– Almost 40% of interviewees (93/240) indicated that they were consulting about a minor ailment.
– Patients often complain about cognitive deficits and somatic ailments. - administer (verb) – to cause someone to receive something.
– Tests will be administered to schoolchildren at seven and twelve years.
– The medication was administered by someone in another room. - dietitian (noun) – someone who is trained to give people advice about what it is healthy for them to eat and drink
– The dietician at the hospital will be able to help you.
– The dietician will give advice so that each individual is given adequate nourishment.
