Summary of English Vocabulary: Health, Body, Safety
English Vocabulary: Health, Body, Safety | Master Key Terms
Introduction
This study pack covers useful vocabulary and expressions related to everyday health issues and common medical treatments. It is designed for a Not attending student who needs clear, bite-sized explanations, practical examples, and quick-reference lists to build confidence when talking about minor illnesses, treatments, and self-care.
Common health problems and short expressions
Break down common complaints into simple phrases you can use in conversation or at a clinic.
Definition: A short, clear phrase is a simple sentence used to describe how you feel or what is wrong.
- "It hurts." — use this to report pain.
- "It's bleeding." — use this when a wound is actively losing blood.
- "It's swollen." — use to describe an area that has increased in size due to injury or infection.
- "It's itchy." — use this when your skin or a spot makes you want to scratch.
- "It's sore." — a milder form of pain, often after use or injury.
- "I've got a temperature." — use this to say you feel feverish.
- "I've sprained my elbow." — example of reporting a joint injury.
Practical example: At the clinic you can say, "It hurts when I bend my elbow and it's a bit red." This combines pain, movement, and appearance.
Treatments and medical items
This section groups treatments and items you may encounter and when they are used.
Definition: A treatment is an action or medicine used to relieve symptoms or cure a health problem.
| Item / Term | What it is | When it's used |
|---|---|---|
| ointment | a medicated cream | for minor cuts, rashes, insect bites |
| plaster / cast | adhesive dressing / hard cast | plaster for small cuts, cast for broken bones |
| sling | support for an injured arm | after sprains or fractures to immobilize the limb |
| tablet / capsule | oral medicine | tablets for pain, capsules for some medicines |
| injection | medicine given with a needle | for vaccinations or when fast effect is needed |
| bandage | fabric wrap | to protect wounds or support sprains |
| cream | topical preparation | for skin conditions like eczema or mild infections |
| drop | liquid medicine in small doses | eye drops or ear drops |
| prescription | doctor’s order for medicine | when a pharmacist must provide specific drugs |
Practical tips:
- If a doctor gives you a prescription, ask how many times a day to take the medicine and for how many days.
- Use a sling to rest the arm and avoid moving the injured joint until a clinician advises otherwise.
Problems vs Treatments — a quick comparison
Definition: Problems are symptoms or injuries; treatments are the actions or items used to help them.
| Problem / Symptom | Typical treatment(s) |
|---|---|
| minor cut — bleeding | apply pressure, clean, plaster/bandage |
| broken bone | immobilize, cast, possible surgery |
| sprain | rest, ice, compression, sling or bandage |
| infection | doctor may prescribe antibiotics (often a prescription) |
| fever / temperature | rest, fluids, antipyretic tablets |
Real-world application: If you fall and the area becomes red and painful then swollen, clean the wound to reduce infection risk and see a clinician if swelling or pain increases — they may prescribe antibiotics or recommend further treatment.
Useful verbs and advice phrases
- give advice — to recommend actions ("The nurse gave advice about wound care.")
- lift, bend over, slip — often used to describe how an injury happened ("I slipped and hurt my wrist when I tried to lift the box.")
- avoid — useful when recommending prevention ("Avoid touching the sore area.")
Definition: Advice phrases are short recommendations you can use or
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Health and Body Basics
Klíčová slova: Health and Body Vocabulary, Health and Safety / Body Vocabulary, Parts of the Body Vocabulary
Klíčové pojmy: Use clear short phrases to describe symptoms like "It hurts" or "It's swollen", A prescription is required for some medicines—ask dosage and duration, Plasters/bandages for minor cuts; casts for broken bones, Slings immobilize an injured arm to aid healing, Ointments and creams treat pain and help prevent infection, Cold compresses reduce swelling in the first 48 hours, Balanced diet and protein help tissue repair and recovery, Seek a clinician if bleeding won't stop after 10–15 minutes, See a professional for signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, pus, Avoid heavy lifting after sprains to prevent further injury, Tablets and capsules are oral medicines; injections work faster when needed, Bandages support sprains and protect wounds