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⚕️ Health Vocabulary for IELTS & TOEFL
Essential health-related vocabulary for discussing wellness, disease, medical treatment, and lifestyle—important for IELTS discussions and health-themed essays.
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preventive adj — designed to stop something harmful from happening before it occurs
“Preventive healthcare emphasizes regular checkups and vaccinations.” ↗ preventative
“Preventive healthcare emphasizes regular checkups and vaccinations.” ↗ preventative
diagnosis noun — the identification of an illness or condition based on symptoms and tests
“Early diagnosis of cancer significantly improves treatment outcomes.” ↗ identification
“Early diagnosis of cancer significantly improves treatment outcomes.” ↗ identification
rehabilitation noun — therapy or treatment to restore function after injury or illness
“Physical rehabilitation helps stroke patients regain mobility.” ↗ recovery therapy
“Physical rehabilitation helps stroke patients regain mobility.” ↗ recovery therapy
epidemic noun — a disease spreading rapidly among many people in a population
“The obesity epidemic affects children and adults in developed nations.” ↗ outbreak
“The obesity epidemic affects children and adults in developed nations.” ↗ outbreak
sedentary adj — characterized by much sitting and little physical activity
“Sedentary lifestyles increase risks of heart disease and diabetes.” ↗ inactive
“Sedentary lifestyles increase risks of heart disease and diabetes.” ↗ inactive
immunization noun — the process of making someone immune to disease through vaccination
“Childhood immunization programs have eradicated diseases like polio.” ↗ vaccination
“Childhood immunization programs have eradicated diseases like polio.” ↗ vaccination
chronic adj — lasting a long time; of a disease persistent and long-lasting
“Chronic conditions like diabetes require ongoing medical management.” ↗ long-term
“Chronic conditions like diabetes require ongoing medical management.” ↗ long-term
malnutrition noun — lack of proper nutrition or vitamins causing poor health
“Malnutrition affects millions of children in developing countries.” ↗ under-nutrition
“Malnutrition affects millions of children in developing countries.” ↗ under-nutrition
metabolic adj — relating to the chemical processes that keep organisms alive
“Metabolic disorders affect how the body processes food for energy.” ↗ biochemical
“Metabolic disorders affect how the body processes food for energy.” ↗ biochemical
symptom noun — a sign or indication of disease or illness in a person
“Fever and cough are common symptoms of respiratory infections.” ↗ sign
“Fever and cough are common symptoms of respiratory infections.” ↗ sign
pandemic noun — a disease outbreak affecting very large geographical areas and populations
“The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems worldwide.” ↗ widespread outbreak
“The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems worldwide.” ↗ widespread outbreak
mortality rate phrase — the number of deaths in a population within a specific time period
“Infant mortality rates have declined significantly in most developed countries.” ↗ death rate
“Infant mortality rates have declined significantly in most developed countries.” ↗ death rate
therapeutic adj — relating to healing or treatment of disease or psychological problems
“Therapeutic exercises help manage chronic pain conditions.” ↗ healing
“Therapeutic exercises help manage chronic pain conditions.” ↗ healing
prognosis noun — a prediction of the likely course or outcome of a disease
“The prognosis for early-stage cancer treatment is generally favorable.” ↗ outlook
“The prognosis for early-stage cancer treatment is generally favorable.” ↗ outlook
pharmacology noun — the science of drugs and their effects on living organisms
“Advances in pharmacology have created new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.” ↗ drug science
“Advances in pharmacology have created new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.” ↗ drug science
holistic health phrase — an approach treating the whole person including physical, mental, and social aspects
“Holistic health practices combine conventional medicine with wellness therapies.” ↗ whole-person care
“Holistic health practices combine conventional medicine with wellness therapies.” ↗ whole-person care
epidemiologist noun — a scientist who studies the spread and control of diseases
“Epidemiologists track disease patterns to prevent future outbreaks.” ↗ disease researcher
“Epidemiologists track disease patterns to prevent future outbreaks.” ↗ disease researcher
comorbidity noun — the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases in one person
“Diabetes and hypertension often occur together as a comorbidity.” ↗ co-occurring condition
“Diabetes and hypertension often occur together as a comorbidity.” ↗ co-occurring condition
clinical trial phrase — a research study testing medical treatments on volunteer participants
“New medicines must complete clinical trials before approval.” ↗ medical study
“New medicines must complete clinical trials before approval.” ↗ medical study
vulnerable population phrase — groups at higher risk of health problems due to social or biological factors
“The elderly and immunocompromised are vulnerable populations during pandemics.” ↗ at-risk group
“The elderly and immunocompromised are vulnerable populations during pandemics.” ↗ at-risk group
pathogen noun — an organism or agent that causes disease in its host
“The pathogen responsible for the outbreak was identified through laboratory analysis.” ↗ disease-causing agent
“The pathogen responsible for the outbreak was identified through laboratory analysis.” ↗ disease-causing agent
epidemiology noun — the study of disease patterns and factors affecting health in populations
“Epidemiological research revealed correlations between diet and cardiovascular disease.” ↗ disease study
“Epidemiological research revealed correlations between diet and cardiovascular disease.” ↗ disease study
immunotherapy noun — medical treatment that stimulates the immune system to fight disease
“Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the body's defenses.” ↗ immune-based treatment
“Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the body's defenses.” ↗ immune-based treatment
placebo noun — a substance or treatment that has no active medical effect but may provide relief through psychological means
“The placebo effect demonstrated that belief influences perceived pain reduction.” ↗ dummy treatment
“The placebo effect demonstrated that belief influences perceived pain reduction.” ↗ dummy treatment
etiology noun — the underlying cause or origin of a disease or medical condition
“Understanding the etiology of autism remains an active area of research.” ↗ cause, origin
“Understanding the etiology of autism remains an active area of research.” ↗ cause, origin
symptomatology noun — the pattern of symptoms characteristic of a disease or condition
“The symptomatology of depression varies significantly among individuals.” ↗ symptom pattern
“The symptomatology of depression varies significantly among individuals.” ↗ symptom pattern
prophylaxis noun — medical treatment given to prevent disease rather than treat existing illness
“Prophylactic vaccination protects populations against infectious diseases.” ↗ disease prevention
“Prophylactic vaccination protects populations against infectious diseases.” ↗ disease prevention
metabolism noun — the chemical processes in living organisms that maintain life and enable growth
“Metabolic disorders affect how the body processes nutrients and produces energy.” ↗ biological processes
“Metabolic disorders affect how the body processes nutrients and produces energy.” ↗ biological processes
benign adjective — not harmful; describing a disease or tumor that is not cancerous
“The biopsy revealed a benign cyst that required no further treatment.” ↗ non-malignant
“The biopsy revealed a benign cyst that required no further treatment.” ↗ non-malignant
acute adjective — sudden in onset and severe; describing short-duration medical conditions
“Acute respiratory infections typically resolve within two weeks with supportive care.” ↗ sudden, severe
“Acute respiratory infections typically resolve within two weeks with supportive care.” ↗ sudden, severe
morbidity noun — the state of being diseased or the rate of disease occurrence in a population
“Morbidity rates from preventable diseases have decreased with improved sanitation.” ↗ disease incidence
“Morbidity rates from preventable diseases have decreased with improved sanitation.” ↗ disease incidence
antigen noun — a substance that triggers an immune response by stimulating antibody production
“The antigen structure determines whether the immune system will recognize a pathogen.” ↗ immune stimulant
“The antigen structure determines whether the immune system will recognize a pathogen.” ↗ immune stimulant
osteoporosis noun — a medical condition characterized by weakened bones and increased fracture risk
“Osteoporosis disproportionately affects postmenopausal women due to hormonal changes.” ↗ bone weakness
“Osteoporosis disproportionately affects postmenopausal women due to hormonal changes.” ↗ bone weakness
empirical adjective — based on observation, experience, or experimental data rather than theory alone
“Empirical evidence demonstrates that regular exercise reduces cardiovascular disease risk.” ↗ evidence-based, experimental
“Empirical evidence demonstrates that regular exercise reduces cardiovascular disease risk.” ↗ evidence-based, experimental