The document provides information about common health issues, symptoms, and treatments. It includes vocabulary related to visiting the doctor's office, such as medical terms, symptoms, questions doctors ask, and things doctors may say during an examination. Sample dialogues between doctors and patients demonstrate how conversations at the doctor's office typically occur.

1. Unit 6
Health & Medicine
by Dulce Rosales

2. Check the meaning of the following words with your
partner. Then put them in the three groups below:
·asthma · a runny nose · antibiotics ·an allergy ·a rash
·hay fever ·painkillers ·flu ·pills ·diahrroea ·a sore
throat ·a migraine ·sneeze ·a virus
·a temperature ·penicillin ·throw up ·food poisoning
·paracetamol ·a blocked-up nose ·an infection
• 1. HEALTH PROBLEMS asthma, …
• 2. SYMPTOMS a runny nose, …
• 3. TREATMENT antibiotics, …

3. Look at some typical doctor’s statements and
questions and complete them with the words given
1. What seems to be the problem?
problem
2. How long have you been ___like this?
3. Are you ___ to anything? 4. What have you ____recently?
5. Come ____ if you are not feeling better in a few days.
6. Have you been ___ anything for that?
7. Have you got any other ____? 8. Right, let me have a look at you.
9. I am just going to take your_____.
10. Here is a _______ for some painkilers.
• problem prescription back feeling taking
temperature symptoms allergic eaten look

4. Here are some typical patient’s expressions.
Match them (1-10 to a-j)
• 1 I am not feeling • A feeling very well recently
• 2 I haven’t been • B getting really bad headaches
• 3 I’ve got • C very well
• 4 My chest • D a terrible stomach ache
• 5 I keep • E hurts
• 6 I can’t stop • F to penicillin
• 7 Do I need • G sneezing
• 8 I’m allergic • H should I take them?
• 9 How often • I make another appointment?
• 10 Do I need to • J some antibiotics

5. At the Doctor's Office
Common Questions Your Doctor
Might Ask You
·What seems to be the problem?
· How can I help you ?
· What can I do for you?
· How long have you been experiencing
these symptoms?
· Are you in pain?
· Can you describe the pain?
Where exactly does it hurt?

6. • Does the pain get worse when you do
something?
• Are you taking any medication for the pain?
• What prescription drugs are you taking?
• Do you have any allergies? Are you allergic to
anything?
• Are you pregnant? (if you are a woman)
• Is that uncomfortable?
• Does that hurt?

7. Common Directions or Instructions
during an Examination
• · Lay down on the examination
table/bed.
• · Squeeze my hands.
• · Relax your leg/arm.
• · Tell me when it hurts.
• · Stand and face the mirror.
• · Breath in (inhale), breath out (exhale).
• · Take off your /shirt/sweater etc. (!)

8. Preparing for Your Appointment
Do you know how to effectively describe pain? In English, as in
other languages, there are many different forms of pain.
• Dull pain
• Sharp pain
• Throbbing pain (punzante)
• Slight pain
• Tingling (hormigueo) or numbness
(sensation) in my fingers (como dormidos)
• Burning pain
• Itchy ( when it’s itchy you need to scratch)
scratch
• Cramps (retortijones)
Try to be as specific as possible, so that your doctor can assess you
accurately.

9. Doctor/Patient Conversation
• Patient: Good afternoon.
• Doctor: Good afternoon. Have a seat. So, what seems to
be the problem?
Patient: Thank you. I'm feeling ill, I've got quite a bad
cough, but I don't seem to have a fever.
• Doctor: I see. How long have you had these symptoms?
Patient: Oh, I've had the cough for two weeks, but feeling ill
just these past few days.
• Doctor: Are you having any other problems?
Patient: Well, I've got a headache. I've also had a little bit of
diarrhea.
• Doctor: Do you produce any phlegm when coughing?
Patient: Sometimes, but it's usually pretty dry.

10. Doctor: Do you smoke?
Patient: Yes, a few cigarettes a day. Certainly
no more than a half a pack a day.
Doctor: How about allergies? Do you have any
allergies?
Patient: Not that I'm aware of.
Doctor: Does your head feel stuffy?
Patient: Yes, for the past few days.
Doctor: OK. Now let's have a look. Could you
please open your mouth and say 'ah'?

11. Key Vocabulary
• symptoms
to feel ill
• cough
fever to have a cough
headache diarrhea
phlegm to cough
allergy stuffy (nose) tapada
to feel stuffy

12. Phrasal Verbs at the Doctor's Office
• Please lay down on the examination table.
• I'd like you to look up and then look down
as I shine this light in your eyes.
• You need to cut down on the amount of
sugar you eat.
• You can put on your shirt now.
• Sit down here, while I write you a
prescription.
• You need to take better care of yourself.

13. Utensils and other Vocabulary
• ( adhesive) Bandage
• Plaster
• Injection
• Syrup
• Ointment
• Examination table (also stretcher)
• Blood pressure cuff
• Stethoscope
• X-ray
• Blood test
• High blood-sugar level
• Urinalysis /ˌjʊərɪˈnalɪsɪs/
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• CAT