Illness / disease / ailment / sickness / condition

HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

Culture Commentary

Checkup: many Americans go to the doctor once a year for a checkup. At that time, the doctor listens to any complaints about their health, answers questions, and performs a routine examination. In addition to visiting the doctor, many Americans go to the dentist for a routine checkup every six months. Children must have a checkup before they can begin school, and they are required to have proof that they have been immunized against mea­sles, tetanus, diphtheria, and other diseases. They must continue to have checkups during the course of their school years. Health care in the United States is very expensive. Most Americans have health insurance through their place of employment, or they buy it on their own.

Medicaid: a system in the US by which the government helps to pay the medical costs of people on incomes.

Medicare: a system of medical care in the US provided by the government, es­pecially for old people over 65.

Fahrenheit thermometer: is used in the US to take a temperature. A normal tem­perature on a Fahrenheit thermometer is 98.6. To convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade use the formula:

C = (F – 32) x 5: 9.

To convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit use the formula:

F = C x (9: 5) + 32.

Vocabulary

Health problems

Illness / disease / ailment / sickness / condition

illness (BrE) – a health problem that you are suffering from, which makes you feel ill

e.g. 80% of patients now recover completely from this illness and are able to lead perfectly normal lives.

disease – a particular kind of sickness or disorder; it has a name and symptoms

e.g. Measles, mumps and influenza are common diseases.

 

• childhood / contagious / communicable / curable / incurable disease

ailment – an illness that is not very serious

e.g. The medicine was supposed to cure all kinds of ailments, ranging from colds to back pains.

sickness (AmE) – a state of being sick (contrasted with health)

e.g. The doctor diagnosed the sickness as tuberculosis.

condition – a problem which affects someone's health permanently

Names of health problems

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), appendicitis, allergy, ane­mia, cancer, chicken-pox, cholera, cold, constipation, diabetes, diphtheria, diarrhea, food poisoning, gout, a heart attack, hepatitis, high blood pres­sure, HIV (the human immune deficiency virus), influenza (flu), insomnia, indigestion, measles, nausea, pneumonia, polio, rheumatism, scarlet fever, small pox, stroke, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, tumor, typhoid fever, ulcer, upset stomach

People

• general practitioner (GP) (BrE) – a doctor who is trained in general medicine and whose job is to treat the people in a particular area

• physician (AmE) / doctor (BrE)

• nurse

• pharmacist (AmE) / druggist (AmE) / chemist (BrE)

• patient

Names of specialists

allergist, cardiologist, chiropodist, dentist, dermatologist, family doctor, hematologist, neurologist, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, oral surgeon, orthodontist, orthopedist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, radiologist, surgeon

WHAT ARE YOUR SYMPTOMS?

Ache / pain

ache – a continuous, not sharp or sudden pain, usually used in com­pounds: headache, earache, backache, toothache, stomachache

e.g. After three days the ache in his shoulder had almost disap­peared.

• to have a backache / an earache / a stomachache / a toothache (AmE) / backache / earache / stomachache / toothache (BrE)

pain – suffering of mind or body, localized kind of bodily suffering

e.g. I suddenly got a stabbing pain across heart and collapsed to the floor.

• pains – pain that we feel repeatedly inside part of our body

• to be in pain

• to cry with pain

• to feel some / no / not much / a great deal of pain

• pain-killer

• pain-relief

• painful

• a pain in the knee

To ache / to pain / to hurt

to ache – to have a steady or continuous pain

e.g. I went to an aerobics class on Tuesday and I've been aching ever since.

to pain – to have or give pain

e.g. My foot is still paining me.

to hurt – to cause bodily injury or pain to; to damage

e.g. Put the stick down, Terry, you might hurt someone with it.

 

• to be / get sick (AmE) / to be / fall ill (BrE)

• to be laid up with an ulcer / a virus / a bug

• to be down with (pneumonia)

• to break one's wrist / leg

• to feel out of sorts

• to get worse

• to itch (about skin)

• to lose one's appetite / voice

• to sprain one's ankle

• to have a (bad, awful) cold / a cough / a stuffy (running) nose / a heart trouble / a sore throat / a fever / a stomachache / chest pains / an earache / a pain in one's side / a rash on one's chest / spots / a bruise on one's leg / a black eye / a lump on one's arm / indigestion / diarrhea / painful joints / blisters / sunburn

• to feel sick / dizzy / breathless / shivery / particularly bad at night

• to be depressed / constipated / tired all the time

• to have a cavity in one's tooth / a bad tooth

• the tooth is sensitive to cold and heat

WHAT DO DOCTORS DO?

Places

• hospital

• in / to / from the hospital (AmE) / in / to / from / hospital (BrE)

• to be admitted to (the) hospital

• psychiatric hospital (AmE) / mentalhospital (BrE)

• clinic (AmE) / surgery (BrE) – abuilding, often part of a hospital where people come for special treatment or advice e.g. family planning clinic

• emergency department / room

• hospice

• health center (AmE) / health centre (BrE) – a building where doctors have their offices and various medical services are provided for people who come for treatment or advice

• medical center (AmE) – a very large building that contains a hospital, doctors' offices, and other medical services

• unit – a part of a hospital where one particular type of medical prob­lem is treated

• coronary / burns / intensive care unit

• ward

• drugstore (AmE) / chemist's shop (BrE)

• all night drugstore

Word combinations

• baby-boomers

• birth (death) rate

• to die of lung cancer / a heart attack

• medical insurance policy

• medical history

• to make an appointment with the doctor

• to nurse

 

Text 1

Health and the Body

Pre-reading. Find out how to pronounce the following words and word combina­tions:

Comprehension

Answer the questions.

1. What is "to keep fit"?
2. What does "to become a growing industry" mean?
3. Why has keeping fit become a "growing industry"?
4. What do people do to keep fit and stay healthy?
5. Do all the efforts people make to keep fit help them stay healthy?
6. Is the author's attitude to the problems raised in the text serious or ironic?

Text 2

Comprehension

1. Answer the questions.

1. Do people in Great Britain have to pay for medical treatment?
2. What is the NHS?
3. What does being on the GPs list mean to a person?
4. Are GPs trained in any particular subject?
5. How can a person make an appointment with "a specialist doctor jn the UK / the US?
6. What are Medicaid and Medicare?
7. Why do people buy private health insurance in Great Britain / the US?
8. Can a patient call a doctor out to visit him in Great Britain / the US?
9. What happens to emergency patients without medical insurance in the US?

2. Circle T if the statement is true, and circle F if the statement is false.

1. There are special national health services both in Great Britain and the US. T / F
2. Unlike Britain, most people in the US have medical insurance. T / F
3. GPs in Great Britain make an appointment with a specialist doctor if a patient needs to see one. T / F
4. Americans do not call GPs out to visit them. T / F
5. People in Great Britain pay for the NHS only by taxes. T / F
6. Being on the GP's list means you can visit him any time you need to. T / F
7. Under the NHS, people have to pay the whole cost of the drugs the doctor prescribes. T / F
8. You don't have to pay for an ambulance in Great Britain. T / F

Text 3

The National Health Service

The text is taken from a British Council booklet for overseas students called "How to Live in Britain". It is important to know how to register yourself under the NHS and to know what treatment is free and what is not free.

Medical treatment, except for statutory charges towards the cost of med­icines, dental services and glasses, under the National Health Service is free to persons who are ordinarily resident in Britain.

As an overseas student residing in this country you may receive medical treat­ment under the National Health Service during your stay. (If you are here on a short-term basis this is generally limited to any necessary treatment for condi­tions occurring after your arrival in Britain but you may be permitted emergency treatment for conditions you were suffering from before arriving but only if treat­ment cannot await your return home.) As soon as you have found somewhere to live you should register with a doctor practicing under the National Health Service so that he can attend you if you get sick. If you need advice about registering ask the manager of the hostel, or your landlady, or the local National Health Service Family Practitioner Committee, whose address can be obtained from the local post office. If you live far away from your college it is better to register with a doctor near where you live. If your college has its own Student Health Service you could register at the college instead of with a local doctor.

If the doctor you contact has room on his list and is willing to accept you he will give you a card to complete which he will then forward to the National Health Service Family Practitioner Committee. They will send you a medical card bearing your registration number and the doctor's name and address. Keep this card in a safe place since you will be asked to produce it and give your registration number if you have treatment. There are statutory charges payable towards the cost of prescriptions, dental services and glasses. You will, for example, if you are 21 years old or over have to pay a proportionate part of the cost of dental treatment up to a maximum charge of £10 and, at present, the pharmacist will generally charge 20p for each item on the doctor's pre­scription for medicines and other necessary items. While vision testing is free, the charges for spectacles broadly cover their cost.

The National Health Service will provide you with advice and treatment for illnesses that occur or recur in aggravated form after your arrival in this country. If, as a student here on a short-term basis, you seek treatment for a condition (including pregnancy) which existed before your arrival, you will be regarded as a private patient and expected to pay all expenses. A bed in a hospital can cost over £100 a week and you may have to pay specialist fees. It is important for you to find out from the doctor or hospital providing the treatment whether they regard you as a private patient or are treating you under the National Health Service. There is no way in which fees paid as private patients can be refunded and if your situation is such that you may be treated under the National Health Service (as explained above) and you do not specifically want to be treated privately, you should make this clear at the start. It will be in your interest to have a complete medical check-up and X-ray before you leave home to ensure that you are in good health.

In Northern Ireland students at recognized places of study receive general medical and dental services under the National Health Service, but they usually have to pay hospital charges. In Northern Ireland also the families of married students are not eligible for health service benefits.

Comprehension

Answer the questions.

1. Do you pay the complete cost of medicines, dental services and glasses under the NHS?
2. Will an overseas student normally receive NHS treatment for an ill­ness that began before he came to Britain?
3. Where can you get the address of the local NHS Family Practitioner Committee?
4. Are doctors obliged to accept anyone who wants to be placed on their lists?
5. When you first go to the doctor, what must you do if you are accepted?
6. What will the doctor do?
7. What will the NHS Family Practitioner Committee do?
8. If the total cost of NHS dental treatment you receive is £12, how much must you pay?
9. If a doctor prescribes one bottle of tablets and some sleeping pills, how much will that normally cost?
10. Who do you pay for prescriptions?
11. Is vision testing free?
12. Are glasses free?
13. In what circumstances will an overseas student receive NHS advice and treatment for an illness that began before he came to Britain?
14. What will normally happen if an overseas student wants treatment in Britain for an illness he first began to suffer from in his own country?
15. Why is it particularly important to know whether you are being treated as a private patient or an NHS patient?
16. What should you do before coming to Britain?
17. In what two ways are students treated differently in Northern Ireland?

Text 4

Russian Medical Care

Americans have always judged other countries on the basis of American life. The press in the United States of America is no exception, and recently they have been analysing the dire situation that Russian hospitals find them­selves in at this present time. However, the press in the United States does tend to overexaggerate these problems, and they tend to shed a very dreary light upon the present state of Russian medicine.

To say that Russian medicine does not have any problems would be to falsify information. In actuality, Russian medicine does have many problems. For example, Russian hospitals are in the very difficult position of having absolutely no money. This much-needed capital is needed to pay doctors' sal­aries, to buy medicines, needles, etc. Without this money, Russian hospitals have to scramble to find ways of merely surviving in this quickly changing world.

How are many Russian hospitals able to survive? Many doctors are not paid for several months at a time. They continue to work merely because they cannot abandon the profession that they have chosen. Many of them argue that they chose to become doctors in order to help people, and they cannot leave it now just because of the mere fact that they are not getting paid.

However, medicine seems to be an even bigger problem. After all, how can a patient hope to be cured without the healing effects of medications that hospitals are supposed to supply? Medicines are very expensive, and Russian hospitals just cannot afford to supply them. Here again, a temporary answer has been reached. The patient must supply his or her own medicine. Howev­er, the stay in the hospital continues to be free. Thus patients are able to stay in hospital rooms for as long as they need to, as long as they are able to supply the medication that they need.

As for the facilities of Russian hospitals, they are in bad need of repair. Buildings are beginning to fall apart, and there is no money to repair them. This casts an eerie glow upon the Russian hospitals when half of the lights in the hospitals do not work. However, this is a much less serious problem than the previous ones, but nonetheless one that needs to be addressed.

The strength of Russian medicine seems to lie in the people who remain devoted to their given professions. The quality of care that doctors can give considering the circumstances that they are faced with is truly astounding. They are able to work and care for patients as well if not better than the doc­tors who have all the amenities that Western countries usually possess in their hospitals. Despite this lack of medicine, Russian doctors have obviously not forgotten their Hippocratic Oath, and continue to work to help people in the best way that they can.

In conclusion, it would be unfair to say that Russian medicine is in a horrible state. The fact is that it does need monetary help, but the level of competence of Russian medicine is on the same level as any other sophisti­cated country. If Russia were able to finance all of its hospitals and supply them with adequate medicines as well as pay their doctors salaries on time, Russian medicine would certainly be one of the best examples of modern health-care in the world.

Comprehension

1. Find factual mistakes.

Russian hospitals are in a dire situation these days as they are short of money. But many doctors continue to work because they can't find a differ­ent job. One of the most serious problems is absence of good medicine. The patients have to supply their own medication because hospitals are unwilling to provide them with expensive medicine.

A more serious problem is that of repairing the hospitals. But for the money Russian medicine would be one of the best examples of modern health care in the world.

2. Answer the questions.

1. According to the text, what are the problems of Russian medicine?
2. Why are Russian hospitals able to survive?
3. What does the strength of Russian medicine lie in?
4. Why would it be unfair to say that Russian medicine is in a horrible situation?

Text 5

Comprehension

Answer the questions.

1. What are the types of insurance Americans can have?
2. What can happen if you have no insurance?
3. How is health insurance actually arranged?
4. How long does an American woman usually stay in the hospital when she has a baby?
5. How are doctors paid?
6. What is Mr. Watson's opinion of the state of health care in his country?
7. Is the dental care different from regular health care?
8. How are emergency situations dealt with in the US?,

 

Vocabulary Exercises

1. Which doctor do you choose?

1. if you are sad and depressed
2. if you are pregnant
3. if you are tired and feel sick
4. if you ache all over
5. if you break your leg
6. if you can't see very well
7. if you have a sick baby
8. if you have a heart condition
9. if you have a foot problem
10. if you have a skin problem
11. if you have food poisoning
12. if you have a burn
13. if you have a pain in the back
14. if you have painful joints
15. if you have a cavity in your tooth
16. if you need an operation
17. if you need an X-ray
18. if you need a blood test
19. if you sneeze a lot every spring and fall
20. if your eyes itch

2. Look through the list of health problems in the Vocabulary. Which problems are serious and which are usually not serious? Explain the reason for your answer.

3. Choose the right word and fill in the blanks.

a) disease / illness / condition

1. Small pox is an infectious (catching) _______ marked by fever and small red spots on the body. It often leaves permanent marks.
2. The doctor diagnosed the _______ as tuberculosis.
3. The business of doctors is to prevent and cure _______.
4. There hasn't been much ________ in the village this winter.
5. Measles, mumps and influenza are common ______.
6. An infectious _______ can be spread by means of bacteria car­ried in the atmosphere in winter.
7. After the treatment I felt quite cured of all my _______.
8. Children's _______ are treated by a pediatrician, specializing in pediatrics.
9. Smoking is a major course of heart _____.
10. The most common symptoms of the ______ are a high tempera­ture and pain in the chest.
11. She died yesterday after a long _____.
12. Travelers to Africa are advised to get vaccinated against infectious _____ such as typhoid and malaria.
13. People with your _____ should not smoke.
14. You are allowed time off work only in cases of serious _______.
15. Several children are away from school because of ________.
16. Should doctors always tell patients that they have terminal _________ such as cancer?
17. She suffers from a rare ______ of the central nervous system.
18. Childhood ____ such as measles and chickenpox are highly con­tagious.
19. As yet there's no known cure for this _______.
20. After a course of treatment the patient's _____ ___ began to improve.

 

b) ache / pain / to ache / to hurt / to pain

1. We've given him an anaesthetic so that he won't feel any _______.
2. These pills should help to ease the ______.

3. My hand suddenly started to _________, with a dull ___________ which soon spread into my wrist.

1. Don't worry, the injection won't _______ at all.
2. Can't we stop for a while? We've been walking for hours and my feet are ______.
3. I ____ all over after climbing the rock.

 

c) to cure / to treat / to heal

1. After scarlet fever complications developed, and they had to be ______ for a month before the patient was completely ______.
2. The open air life on the farm _______ him of his headaches.
3. The doctor said that if I followed his instructions, I should soon be __________ of the disease.
4. Pam's foot is ______ quickly, but it's still a little painful and she can't walk on it.
5. Doctors began _______ AIDS patients with drug AZT in the mid 80s.
6. My Dad is in the hospital where he is being ______ for a heart condition.
7. Many cancer patients can be _____ if the disease is detected early enough.
8. The seawater is now so polluted that it would infect rather than

9. There are many diseases which doctors still cannot ____.

1. This drug is used to ______ heart disease.

4. Choose the words from the list that can go with the following:

sickness pain measures medicine disease words condition throat ailment operation health

a) curable b) slight c) mild d) serious e) bad f) communicable g) painful h) dangerous i) dull j) growing k) constant l) annoying m) sudden n) delicate o) urgent p) sore q) bitter

5. Give as many word combinations as you can with the verbs and the nouns from the columns.

e.g. to treat – a person / a serious sickness / a minor sickness / symptoms / a pain / an infection.

 

A to cure to treat to ease to relieve to avoid to catch to get to have to prepare an infection a prescription

B AIDS a cold operation allergies a person a serious sickness a minor sickness symptoms a pain a blood test

 

6. Translate the following sentences from English into Russian. Pay attention to the words in bold type.

a)

1. You can avoid getting fat if you don't eat too much and you exercise often.
2. If you catch a cold on Monday, you will still have the cold on Tuesday.
3. The sickness spread throughout the town. Many people became sick.
4. You may get the virus if you are with people who already have it.
5. Children are exposed to more cold viruses in a classroom than they are at home.
6. If one child at school has the sickness, it can infect many other children. Then, they too will have to go to the doctor.
7. Take some aspirin. It will help ease the pain.
8. A sore throat and a running nose are symptoms of a cold.
9. When you get over a cold, you feel fine.
10. There is no cure for the disease yet, but scientists are looking for one.
11. However, a doctor can give you something to help you feel a little better.

b)

1. I've got a bit of an ache in my back.
2. Take no notice of him complaining – he's always full of little aches and pains.
3. Chocolate gives me a toothache.
4. She often gets stomach aches.
5. Is that tight shoe hurting your foot?
6. Dave put on his sunglasses to stop the sun from hurting his eyes.
7. This won't hurt. Just sit still and I'll remove the dressing.
8. Your knee is inflamed, Susan. Is it painful when I touch it?
9. It was agony having my tooth removed – the dentist definitely didn't give me enough anaesthetic.
10. Because of the blisters on her hands, Ann found simple manualtasks very painful.

 

c)

1. Professor Grum is one of the world's leading specialists in lung cancer.
2. A famous brain surgeon came up from Boston and operated on him for three hours.
3. If you are aged over so and are in good health, it's safe to take the medicine prescribed.
4. It may take him a while to recover from the operation.
5. He's been told that unless he stops drinking, soon he will die of a liver disease.
6. After three operations on my leg, I could walk perfectly again.
7. Several years ago she was diagnosed as having diabetes.
8. An ambulance rushed her to the hospital.
9. He said he felt feverish and complained of pains in his chest.
10. The best medicine for you right now would be a good holiday.

 

7. Write the opposites of the words in italics. There can be more than one correct answer.

 

1. a curable disease: ___________
2. a painful operation: ___________
3. a terrible pain in the left side: ___________
4. a slight headache: ___________
5. a breathless body: ___________
6. a slight cold: ___________
7. a terrible headache: ___________
8. a serious illness: ___________
9. an awful cold: ___________
10. a mild pain: ___________

 

8. Match each idiom in column A and a similar expression in column B.

A 1. to throw up 2. to have a throat culture 3. to be run down 4. to have the runs 5. to take care of oneself 6. to make an appointment

B a) to grow the bacteria from some­one's throat b) to have diarrhea c) to eat a good diet, get enough rest and exercise d) to schedule a time e) to vomit f) to be in poor health

 

9. Complete the following table.

noun _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ treatment _______________ cure _______________ _______________ _______________

adjective infectious burned prepared shivery _______________ swollen _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

verb _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ to expose to faint to spread

10. Number the following events in the order in which they usually happen.

a) You are cured of sickness. ___

b) You ease the pain caused by a sickness. ___

c) You get a sickness. _ 1 _

d) You get over a sickness. ___

e) You have a sickness. ___

f) You treat a sickness. ___

11. Match the words in column A with the explanations in column B.

A 1. cavity 2. operating room 3. hospice 4. sick-leave 5. surgery 6. physician 7. ward 8. shot 9. patient 10. druggist

B a) a special hospital where people who are dying are looked after b) a permission to be absent from work c) someone who is sick and is looked after by doctors d) an American word meaning a doctor e) the place where a surgeon works f) a drug put into someone's body with a needle for medical reason g) a person who prepares medicines h) where you visit a doctor i) a large room in a hospital where patients with similar medical conditions have their beds j) an empty space in a tooth that needs filling

 

12. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word from the box.

 

state health

guilt outlet

benefit optimistic

promote anxious

relationship dominate

 

1. A study of family ______ conducted in California comes to some interesting conclusions.

1. For a family to remain healthy the _____ between a husband and wife plays a major role.
2. What _____ the health of the husband doesn't necessarily pro­mote the health of the wife.
3. Giving an _____ to feelings is healthy.
4. There may be _____ for one party but not for the other.
5. If the wife gives her husband a feeling of _____, he is likely to become depressed.
6. If the wife lets her husband ______ on the argument, her mental state will suffer.
7. When men dominate in the domestic arguments, their wives become _____ and depressed.
8. A person's mental _____ is closely linked to his physical state.
9. A healthy family is _____, church-going and led by a male.

13. In this text there are some unnecessary words which do not fit the sense of the text. Find these words in the numbered sentences and cross them out.

Dialogs

Read the dialogs. Practice them.

1.

A. I have a sore throat.

B. How bad is it?

A. Pretty bad. It's a burning feeling.

B. How long have you felt this way?

A. For a few days. I've been sick since Monday morning.

2.

A. I've got a stomachache.

B. Is it a sharp pain or a dull ache?

A. It's more like a dull ache.

B. When did you first notice this pain?

A. It didn't bother me until Sunday afternoon.

3.

A. There are so many vitamins. Which one should I take?

B. Take these Daily Multiple Vitamins. They got everything you need.

A. What about these Super Vitamins?

B. I don't think you need those. They are just a waste of money.

4.

A. Hello?

B. Carmen? Is that you? Are you OK?

A. Uh-uh, I caught a terrible cold.

B. You too? Well, I have news for you. We're in the same boat. Ahchoo!

A. Bless you.

B. Thanks.

A. Why don't you come over and keep me company? I haven't talked to anyone all day long.

B. I'd like to, but I can't stop sneezing. Ahchoo! And I have a sore throat. I just want to go to bed.

A. I know what you mean. Do you have a fever?

B. I don't know for sure but I think so. I was going to take my tem­perature, but I dropped the thermometer and it broke.

A.: It sounds like you should just... ahchoo! Excuse me. You should just take two aspirins and go to bed. Chances are you'll feel better in the morning.

В.: I hope so. And I hope you'll get over your cold soon. Are you going to school tomorrow?

A.: I don't think so. I'm in really bad shape. I may have to be absent for a few more days.

В.: Listen to us! We feel sorry for ourselves today, don't we?

5.

A. Dr. Norman's office.

B. Hi, this is Bob Franklin. I'm a patient of Dr. Norman.

A. Oh, yes, Mr. Franklin.

B. I'm calling to make an appointment with the doctor. It's not an emergency. I just need a recent physical in order to get enrolled in a new insurance plan at school.

A. I see. Well, the doctor has several openings on June third.

B. Hmnn. Anything sooner than that? I have to turn in the applica­tion on the first.

A. Yes. He has May twenty-ninth at two o'clock or May thirtieth at four-thirty.

В. Oh, good. I'll take the twenty-ninth at two o'clock.

A. All right. I have you down. Since it's for a physical, you will need to come in a week before the appointment to get a blood work-up.

В. Oh.

A. You can do that without an appointment. Just come into the of­fice before May twenty-second, and the nurse will take care of you. That way, the doctor will have the results of the tests when he sees you.

В. Okay.

6.

A. I hate to go to the doctor.

В. Yeah, but you're running a high fever. It's 103° F.

A. I know. But if I go she's going to take blood and ask me to give her a specimen. Then she'll tell me to take two aspirins and call her in the morning. And it will probably cost me 50 bucks.

В. Well, I'm going to make an appointment anyway. You need a throat culture.

A. You're probably right. My throat really hurts. I've had the runs for two days, and I threw up twice this morning. Go ahead.

В. You know, Don, you really have let yourself get run down. You should take better care of yourself.

7.

A. What seems to be the problem?

B. I feel lousy. I've got a fever, and I break out in a cold sweat three or four times a day. I can't keep food down either.

A. I see. Have you passed out?

B. No. Sometimes I feel like I am going to faint, but I don't.

A. Take a deep breath and hold it. I see from your chart that your a blood pressure is 170 over 90. That's a bit high.

B. I take good care of myself. I watch my diet, and I exercise regularly.

A. How long has this illness been going on?

B. Two or three days.

A. Any trouble moving your bowels?

B. No. In fact, I have the runs.

A. Well, diarrhea and fever; as well as a sore throat lead me to conclude that you have a bad case of the flu. It will take another three or four days to run its course. Fill this prescription; it will control the diarrhea and help you to feel better. You should be in the pink in three or four days.

8.

A. Here's a prescription for your allergy. This antihistamine will help your sneezing and itching eyes.

B. How often should I take it?

A. Take one tablet every four hours. The directions will be on the label.

B. I'm still taking the other medicine you gave me. Is it safe keep taking it with this new medicine?

A. Yes, it's safe.

B. Thank you, doctor. I'll go to the drugstore as soon as possible.

9.

A. What do you recommend for an upset stomach?

B. There are a number of antacids you could use.

A. Which one is the best?

B. I can't really say which is the best but Malena has worked well for me.

A. Malena? Where do you keep it?

B. On the bottom shelf in front of the cash register.

Conversation Practice

1. Practice the dialogs using the given substitutes.

1.

A. I am calling to make an appointment with the doctor. Could the doctor see me before 10:00 tomorrow?(1)

B. I'm afraid not. The doctor won't have any openings until Friday. (2)

A. Could I possibly make it early on Friday? (3)

B. Yes, he is free at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. (4)

 

1

fit me in tomorrow before noon

see me early on Monday

be able to see me at 4:45 today

2

won't have any openings until noon, unless there's a cancellation

doesn't have any openings until Wednesday

won't be available until tomorrow

3

at 12:30 tomorrow

early on Wednesday

before lunch

tomorrow

4

just a second, let me check

sorry, but he is busy then too

yes, the doctor will have an opening at 10:30

 

2.

A. Can you recommend something for a stuffy nose? (1)

B. AFRO nasal spray (2) is pretty good.

1

a persistent cough

 itchy skin

upset stomach

earache

2

Mickaid sugar drops

Moleskin ointment

Movlux mixture

Lancar eardrops

 

3.

A. What seems to be the problem?

B. I feel lousy. (1) I've got a fever and I can't stop sneezing. (2)

A. How long have you felt this way? (3)

B. About 2 days.

 

1

be in bad shape

feel sick

feel awful

feel out of sorts

2

a sore throat and my chest hurts

red itchy spots on my chest

the chills and a real bad cough

a temperature and a sharp pain in my left side

3

have you had it

have you got that rash

have you been like this

have you been in pain

 

4.

A. Here's a prescription for your allergy. (1) This antihistamine (2) will help your sneezing and itching eyes. (3)

B. How often should I take it?

A. Take one tablet every four hours. (4) The directions will be on the label.

 

1

your tonsillitis

your backache

your cold

2

mixture

cream

antibiotic

3

your sore throat

your pulled muscles and bruises

your running nose and bring down the fever

4

take a tablespoonful four times a day

rub it in twice a day

take one tablet three times a day

2. Complete the following dialogs.

1.

A. I hate to go to the dentist.

B. ____________________

A. I know. But if I go he'll give me a shot, start cleaning the cavities and filling the tooth and he'll probably say I need to have my tooth extracted. It'll hurt.

B. ____________________

2.

A. What's the matter with you, Mr. Walker?

B. ____________________

A. Have you vomited?

B. ____________________

A. You seem to be generally run-down. You'd better stay in bed for some days. Keep to a diet of vegetables and fruit. Get this pre­scription filled and take a tablet three times a day.

B. ____________________

3.

A. ____________________

B. I'd like to make an appointment with the doctor.

A. ____________________

B. My name is John Robinson.

A. ____________________

B. Well, I work during the day. Does the doctor have some openings in the evening?

A. ____________________

B. Two weeks? I can't wait that long.

A. ____________________

B. Thank you. That sounds fine.

4.

A. ____________________

B. I fell off my bike. I can't move my leg very well.

A. ____________________

B. Yes, it really hurts.

A. ____________________

B. No. The pain is very sharp.

A. ____________________

3. Read the dialogs below and say which patient has which problem.

 

headaches bronchitis

appendicitis a pulled muscle

back trouble tonsillitis

hay fever

 

1.

D.: Where does it hurt?

P.: Just here, doctor.

D.: Mm. And is that all the time?

P.: No. Only when I walk, or when I'm going downstairs. Sometimes when I carry things.

D.: When you carry things. Big things?

P.: Yes.

D.: I see. Now I want you to stand up...

 

2.

D.: How often do you get them?

P.: Oh, three or four times a week.

D.: Three or four times a week. I see. Are they very bad?

P.: Oh, yes. They stop me driving. Sometimes I can hardly see, you know.

D.: Yes. Do you often get cold?

 

3.

P.: It's a really bad cough. It's really bad.

D.: Does it hurt when you talk?

P.: If I talk a lot, yes.

D.: I see. Well, I'll just have a look at your chest. Do you drink?

 

4.

P.: It's a really bad pain, doctor. Right here.

D.: Which side?

P.: Left side.

D.: How long has this been going on? When did it start?

P.: This morning, doctor. I thought perhaps it was indigestion, but it's too bad for that.

D.: I see. Now just lie down here. That's right. Now where exactly does it hurt? Is it here?

P.: Ooh! Yes!

 

5.

D.: Good morning, Mr. Palmer. What's the problem?

P.: Well, I've got a sore throat, actually.

D.: I see. How long have you had it?

P.: Oh, about two days. It's really very painful. It's difficult to swallow.

 

6.

P.: It's every spring about the same time, doctor. Stuffed-up nose, my eyes itch, and I feel sort of sneezing the whole time.

D.: Does it happen when you're inside or outside?

P.: When I'm in the street.

 

7.

P.: I get this pain when I bend my knee, doctor. Just here.

D.: I see. Take your trousers off.

 

4. Role-play the following situations.

1. You have a bad cold. Your friend and you are discussing your sick­ness and what you should do about it.
2. You are an exchange student in the US. One day you get sick and have to go to the doctor. Ask one of the family where you are staying how it can be arranged.
3. You are calling the doctor's office to make an appointment with him or her.
4. You are at the doctor's office. The doctor listens to your complaints, examines you, and recommends the medicines that should be taken.
5. You have an appointment with a dentist. He examines your teeth and finds two bad teeth: one is too far-gone and needs to be taken out, the other can be filled.
6. You are an exchange student in Great Britain. Ask your advisor / friend how you can make use of the British National Health Service.
7. You're an American exchange student at a Russian University. You've got a cold. You have had a bad cough for two weeks. The Russian doctor says you may have pneumonia and insists on your going to hospital. You refuse saying that the conditions in Russian hospitals are bad.

Communicative Activities

1. Name the symptoms of a cold, flu, an allergy. How are they the same? How are they different?

2. How much do you know about colds? Circle T if statement is true, circle F if the statement is false.

1. To avoid colds, stay inside as much as possible during cold weather. T / F
2. When you sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with your hand. T / F
3. Chicken soup helps you feel better when you have a cold. T / F
4. It's better to sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue away. T / F
5. Cold weather causes colds. T / F

 

3. Do you know how to deal with common ailments and injuries? Read the following suggestions and say whether you find them helpful. Why or why not?

1. "You have a sharp pain in your abdomen, don't you? Put a heating pad on the painful area."
2. "Are you worried about your insomnia? Well, have a cup of hot milk before going to bed. And don't watch TV too long in the evening."
3. "Oh, poor thing! Burnt your finger? Let me put some olive oil on the burn. It'll ease the pain."
4. "Your cold will go away if you take some aspirin."
5. "You'll stop sneezing and coughing if you take a warm bath."
6. "Your sore throat will feel better if you have a lot of hot tea."

4. Complete the following sentences. When you have finished, compare them with other students' answers.

1. In my country, one of the ways people avoid catching colds is to _________________
2. In my country, people think the best way to get over a cold is to _________________
3. The last time I caught a cold was _________________
4. The AIDS virus is not spread by _________________
5. Children should not be exposed to _________________
6. To ease the pain caused by a backache, I _________________
7. A dog can infect you if _________________
8. You can get food poisoning from eating undercooked chicken. One of the symptoms of food poisoning is _________________
9. I hope that one day there will be a cure for _________________

5. Think what home remedies are used in Russia for different health problems. What do people do for... a fever / a cough / diarrhea / burns / a toothache / a back pain / a cold / a sore throat

 

6. How often do people in Russia have a dental checkup? How about you? Have you ever had a toothache? Have you ever had a tooth filled / extracted / x-rayed? Did you ever wear braces? Do you remember your latest visit to the dentist? Share your experience with your fellow students.

7. Imagine you have to inform American exchange students about Russian National Health Service. Come out with a short presentation to cover the following issues.

1. What does an insurance policy in Russia cover (doctor services, laboratory work, room and board in the hospital, etc.)?

1. Where do people get / buy their insurance policies?
2. How much should one pay for the insurance policy?
3. How can one pick up a doctor? Is it easy to make an appointment with a doctor?
4. Do doctors make house calls?
5. Is ambulance service free?

 

8. Read the labels.

a) Talk to the person who has a headache. Suggest that he take this medicine.

MAGIC ASPIRIN

ADULT DOSE:	1 or 2 tablets with water every 4 hours, as necessary, up to 12 tablets a day.
CHILD DOSE:	half the adult dosage. For children under 2 years of age, consult your physician.
WARNING:	Keep this and all medicines out of children's reach. In case of accidental overdose, contact a physician at once.
EXP DATE 8 / 00

 

A. I have a headache. What should I take for it?

B. ________________________

A. How much should I take?

B. ________________________

A. How often can I take them?

B. ________________________

A. Sounds OK. What should I be careful of?

B. ________________________

A. Is the aspirin still good?

B. ________________________

A. Thanks for the advice.

b) Your friend has a burned finger. Suggest using this medicine. Tell how to use it. Tell him about any warnings.

 

DREAM CREAM

For temporary relief of minor skin irritations, itching and rashes due to minor burns, insect bites, poison ivy, soaps.

DIRECTIONS:	For adults and children 2 years of age and older – apply to affected area not more than 3 –4 times daily.
WARNING:	For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If condition worsens or if symptoms persist for more than 7 days, discontinue use of this product and call physician. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children.

 

c) Answer the following questions. Underline the correct answer.

e.g. Which medicine might help a headache?

1. Magic Aspirin
2. Dream Cream
3. Nasal Spray

1. What is the largest amount of Magic Aspirin an adult should take in a day?

1. 2 tablets
2. 4 tablets
3. 12 tablets

2. What is the largest amount of Magic Aspirin a child should take in a day?

1. 2 tablets
2. 4 tablets
3. 12 tablets

3. Should you talk to your doctor before you give Magic Aspirin to a baby?

1. yes
2. no

4. What is the last date that Magic Aspirin is effective?

1. December 12, 1995
2. August, 2003
3. not given on label

5. How many tablets of Magic Aspirin can an adult take in eight hours?

1. 4 tablets
2. 6 tablets
3. 8 tablets

6. Will Dream Cream help if you have a sore throat?

1. yes
2. no

7. Should you use Dream Cream on a baby who has diaper rash?

1. yes
2. no

8. Should you put Dream Cream on your lips?

1. yes
2. no

9. How many times a day can you use Dream Cream?

1. 4
2. 7
3. 12

10. Is it dangerous to swallow Dream Cream?

1. yes
2. no

9. Read the stories from American newspapers dealing with AIDS issues.

The number of US new AIDS cases unexpectedly more than doubled last year under a broader definition of the disease and boosted by a sharp increase in the number of infections among heterosexuals.

The federal Centers for Disease Control had projected 1993 AIDS cas­es would jump 75 percent in the first year of the new definition. It actually increased by 111 percent, from 49,016 in 1992 to 103,500 in 1993, the agen­cy reported Thursday.

Last year, the CDC expanded its definition to include those infected with HIV who also have a severely suppressed immune system, tuberculo­sis, recurrent pneumonia or invasive cervical cancer.

Most of the AIDS cases under the new definition were reported in the first three months of the year. The surge had dropped off by the end of 1993, and the CDC expects the number of 1994 cases to drop below last year's figure.

The groups most affected by the expanded definition were women, blacks, heterosexual intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs.

The increase was greater among women (151 percent) than among men (105 percent), and greater among blacks and Hispanics than whites.

The largest increases reported were among teens and young adults, most­ly from heterosexual transmission.

The slight benefits of taking AZT, the commonly used AIDS medicine, are often canceled by the drug's side effects, a study concludes.

The report casts even more doubt on the routine use of this drug, which is often given to people who are HIV-positive, but not yet sick.

Studies last year showed that contrary to widespread belief, this use of AZT does not help people live longer, even though it delays the start of AIDS symptoms.

The study concludes that Americans are getting infected with HIV at younger ages.

Dr. Philip Rosenberg and others from the National Cancer Institute calculated that the average age of infection was 30 in the early 1980s. But this age dropped to 25 during the period from 1987 to 1991.

They also estimated that 50,000 to 61,000 new AIDS infections are oc­curring annually.

 

a) Discuss the following questions.

1. Do you know AIDS statistics in your country? Is AIDS a serious problem in Russia?

2. Do you believe that only high-risk groups are susceptible to the dis­ease? Or is it a growing threat to everyone?

3. Are AIDS patient discriminated against in Russia? If so, in what ways? How would you react if someone you knew were AIDS-infected? Would you be afraid to continue to have contact with him / her?

 

b) Role-play the following situations in small groups. You are discussing how best to solve the situation with the spread of AIDS in Russia.

1. You are a leading researcher from the National Aids Center. You know the AIDS statistics and insist that the government allocate more financial resources to find cure for AIDS.

2. You are a journalist. You believe that the spread of AIDS can be prevented by a wide-range educational campaign in mass media and high schools. Come up with some ideas.

3. You are the public school principal. You consider AIDS a moral is­sue, not a medical one. You think the government should take strict measures to keep high-risk groups under control. It can help protect teenagers from being infected with AIDS.

4. You are a high school student. You think that the alarming AIDS data are aimed at brainwashing the public. You don't think you are threatened with AIDS as you do not belong to any high-risk group.

10. Read the article "Should I Add Fish to My Diet?" and say what the abbreviation EFAs means.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

Culture Commentary

Checkup: many Americans go to the doctor once a year for a checkup. At that time, the doctor listens to any complaints about their health, answers questions, and performs a routine examination. In addition to visiting the doctor, many Americans go to the dentist for a routine checkup every six months. Children must have a checkup before they can begin school, and they are required to have proof that they have been immunized against mea­sles, tetanus, diphtheria, and other diseases. They must continue to have checkups during the course of their school years. Health care in the United States is very expensive. Most Americans have health insurance through their place of employment, or they buy it on their own.

Medicaid: a system in the US by which the government helps to pay the medical costs of people on incomes.

Medicare: a system of medical care in the US provided by the government, es­pecially for old people over 65.

Fahrenheit thermometer: is used in the US to take a temperature. A normal tem­perature on a Fahrenheit thermometer is 98.6. To convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade use the formula:

C = (F – 32) x 5: 9.

To convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit use the formula:

F = C x (9: 5) + 32.

Vocabulary

Health problems

illness / disease / ailment / sickness / condition

illness (BrE) – a health problem that you are suffering from, which makes you feel ill

e.g. 80% of patients now recover completely from this illness and are able to lead perfectly normal lives.

disease – a particular kind of sickness or disorder; it has a name and symptoms

e.g. Measles, mumps and influenza are common diseases.

 

• childhood / contagious / communicable / curable / incurable disease

ailment – an illness that is not very serious

e.g. The medicine was supposed to cure all kinds of ailments, ranging from colds to back pains.

sickness (AmE) – a state of being sick (contrasted with health)

e.g. The doctor diagnosed the sickness as tuberculosis.

condition – a problem which affects someone's health permanently

Names of health problems

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), appendicitis, allergy, ane­mia, cancer, chicken-pox, cholera, cold, constipation, diabetes, diphtheria, diarrhea, food poisoning, gout, a heart attack, hepatitis, high blood pres­sure, HIV (the human immune deficiency virus), influenza (flu), insomnia, indigestion, measles, nausea, pneumonia, polio, rheumatism, scarlet fever, small pox, stroke, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, tumor, typhoid fever, ulcer, upset stomach

People

• general practitioner (GP) (BrE) – a doctor who is trained in general medicine and whose job is to treat the people in a particular area

• physician (AmE) / doctor (BrE)

• nurse

• pharmacist (AmE) / druggist (AmE) / chemist (BrE)

• patient

Names of specialists

allergist, cardiologist, chiropodist, dentist, dermatologist, family doctor, hematologist, neurologist, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, oral surgeon, orthodontist, orthopedist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, radiologist, surgeon

WHAT ARE YOUR SYMPTOMS?

Ache / pain

ache – a continuous, not sharp or sudden pain, usually used in com­pounds: headache, earache, backache, toothache, stomachache

e.g. After three days the ache in his shoulder had almost disap­peared.

• to have a backache / an earache / a stomachache / a toothache (AmE) / backache / earache / stomachache / toothache (BrE)

pain – suffering of mind or body, localized kind of bodily suffering

e.g. I suddenly got a stabbing pain across heart and collapsed to the floor.

• pains – pain that we feel repeatedly inside part of our body

• to be in pain

• to cry with pain

• to feel some / no / not much / a great deal of pain

• pain-killer

• pain-relief

• painful

• a pain in the knee

To ache / to pain / to hurt

to ache – to have a steady or continuous pain

e.g. I went to an aerobics class on Tuesday and I've been aching ever since.

to pain – to have or give pain

e.g. My foot is still paining me.

to hurt – to cause bodily injury or pain to; to damage

e.g. Put the stick down, Terry, you might hurt someone with it.

 

• to be / get sick (AmE) / to be / fall ill (BrE)

• to be laid up with an ulcer / a virus / a bug

• to be down with (pneumonia)

• to break one's wrist / leg

• to feel out of sorts

• to get worse

• to itch (about skin)

• to lose one's appetite / voice

• to sprain one's ankle

• to have a (bad, awful) cold / a cough / a stuffy (running) nose / a heart trouble / a sore throat / a fever / a stomachache / chest pains / an earache / a pain in one's side / a rash on one's chest / spots / a bruise on one's leg / a black eye / a lump on one's arm / indigestion / diarrhea / painful joints / blisters / sunburn

• to feel sick / dizzy / breathless / shivery / particularly bad at night

• to