Vocabulary activator

Exercise 3. Match the words given at the beginning with the definitions below

a schedule, to cancel, a sharp pain, to be sore, to have fever, a cough, to be inflamed, a sick list, sunburn, ointment, to rub in.

1. to have a very high temperature

2. to move your hand backwards and forwards over a surface while pressing firmly

3. to be red and swollen

4. a plan of what someone is going to do and when they are going to do it

5. some air pushed out of your throat with a short sound, often repeatedly

6. to say that an event that was planned will not happen

7. a medical paper which allows you to be away from work

8. a severe aching

9. red and painful skin that you can get from spending too much time in the sun

10. to be painful

11. a soft cream that you can rub in into your skin, especially as a medical treatment

Deferred entry

Exercise 4. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

Scarlet fever is an ____ disease, caused by bacteria, which usually INFECT

enter the body through the nose or mouth. The disease commonly __ AFFECTING

children between the ages of two and ten. The typical ____ symptoms INITIALIZE

are headache, red papilla ____ on the tongue and fever. The fever lasts EMERGED

only a few days, but many _____ to a week or longer. The rash usually EXTENDED

fades in ___ a week, and at that time the skin begins to peel. APPROXIMATE

Scarlet fever may be _____ by other diseases, for example, COMPLICATION

by pneumonia. Since the _____ of penicillin, most instances of INTRODUCED

scarlet fever can be_____ without the occurrence of permanent CURELESS

after-effects.

Points for discussion

If you could be a doctor which type would you be and why? Is it expensive to visit a doctor in your country? In other countries? What are the most common symptoms (signs) of flue? What are the most common illnesses in your country? What are their symptoms? Who do you see if you have a toothache/ need an operation/ have a sore throat? Do you trust or mistrust doctors, nurses and dentists? Why? Have you ever been in hospital for more than a day? In what way is the daily routine in hospital different from home for most people? Which parts of the hospital routine did (or would) you find difficult? Can you think of any advice that you should give to patients when they are going into hospital? What are the symptoms of a common cold/ appendicitis? Which advances in modern medicine do you admire most?

Helpful phrases All things considered I must say … I don’t quite see what people find in … I think… I suppose… I suspect that… I’m fairly certain that… I’m pretty sure that … It’s my opinion that… I’m convinced that… I personally believe… I personally think… Not everyone will agree with me, but… I’d like to comment on that. In a case (situation) like this … On the whole …

Exercise 5. Doctor Lennox is a telephone doctor. She answers patients’ questions about their medical problems. Read their questions and match them with her answers. Act out similar dialogues.

1. – Hello, doctor Lennox. Well, three days ago I fell over and cut my arm. There was a little blood, but it soon stopped bleeding and I forgot about it. Now the wound is painful and red. It hurts when I touch it. I also think I may have a temperature. I feel a little hot and quite weak. Do you think I should see my doctor?

2. - Doctor Lennox, I am a 63-year-old woman. A few months ago, I was walking upstairs when I suddenly became very faint and almost fell over. Now, whenever I do just a little exercises I get out of breath very quickly. Even when I’m sleeping I have breathing problems. I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep. I’m really worried, because I have never had insomnia in my life before. I don’t have a pain in my chest, so I don’t think I have heart problems. I’m very worried. What do you think?

3. – For the last two days, Doctor Lennox, I have been feeling absolutely terrible. My whole body aches. I have a backache and all my muscles ache. I have a terrible headache too. But the worst thing is the vomiting. Food just won’t stay in my stomach for more that a few minutes. And the diarrhea – I’m in the bathroom every half an hour. I telephoned my doctor and asked for a prescription for some medicine, but she said there wasn’t much she could do for me. She said I should stay in bed and drink a lot. Is that right?

4. – I hope you can understand me all right, doctor, but I can’t talk very well because of my sore throat. I’ve had it a few months now. And a cough, too, even though I don’t smoke. And I seem to be tired all the time, but I’m never so ill that I can’t go to work. I’ve been to the doctor and had some tests, but they can’t find anything wrong with me. What do you think I should do now?

Answers

1. – You should see a doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will arrange for you to have a complete series of tests. I’m afraid you really could be very seriously ill, you know.

2. – You’ve probably got a minor infection. Sometimes they take a long time to go away. The important thing is to get plenty of rest. Take some time off work and you’ll probably be back to normal in a few weeks’ time.

3. – It sounds as if you have got an infection. You’ll have to see your doctor, who will probably write you a prescription for an automatic and some medicine to put on your skin as well.

4. – You have what is commonly called stomach flue. It’s most important that you drink a lot. You should feel better soon, but if it continues much longer you should see your doctor.

Exercise 6. In pairs speak on your last visit to a doctor. Make complaints on your health using the following phrases:

I’ve got a cold / a sore throat / a temperature / a stomach ache / chest pains, etc.

I feel sick / dizzy / breathless / shivery / faint / particularly bad at night.

I’m depressed / tired all the time.

I’ve lost my appetite / voice; I can’t sleep, my nose itches and it hurts me.

Think of what you will answer if the doctor asks you:

1. What are you complaining of?

2. What’s the trouble? What troubles you?

3. When did you take the temperature? What was it?

4. When did you start to feel bad?

5. Does it hurt when you swallow?

6. What diseases were you ill with when you were a child?

7. When did you consult the doctor last?

8. Are you subject to headaches?

9. Where do you have pains? / Where exactly is the pain?

10. When do you have pains? / When do you get it?

11. How long have you been like that? / … does the pain last? / … have had it?

12. Do you have health insurance?

13. Are you taking any medicine?

14. Have you had any operations?

15. Are you allergic to anything?

Topical Vocabulary

I have a splitting headache. – У меня сильная головная боль.

I have a raging toothache. – У меня сильная зубная боль.

I am subject to constant headaches. – У меня постоянные головные боли.

I need a crown (brown) fitted on. – Мне нужно поставить коронку (мост).

I have a fever. – Меня знобит.

What diet should I follow? – Какую диету нужно соблюдать?

I had a fainting spell. – У меня был обморок.

My throat is sore. – У меня болит горло

I’m vomiting. – У меня тошнота.

My stomach is upset (I have indigestion). – У меня расстройство желудка.

I’m constipated. – У меня запор.

I have a stiff neck. – Я не могу повернуть шею.

I feel a heaviness in my stomach after a meal. – Я чувствую тяжесть в желудке после еды.

I have a pain in my chest. – У меня болит сердце.

My pulse is irregular. – У меня неровный пульс.

I have a pain in the back of my head. – У меня болит затылок.

I have a pain in the small of my back. – У меня болит поясница.

I’m bleeding. – У меня кровотечение.

I feel lightheaded. – У меня кружится голова.

I have dislocated my arm. – Я вывихнул руку.

My nose is clogged up. – У меня забит нос.

I have shooting pains in my ear. – У меня стреляет в ухо.

I have a buzzing in my ears. – У меня все время шум в ушах.

My hearing has become worse. – Я стал хуже слышать.

I think I’ve hurt my eyes. – Боюсь, я испортил себе зрение.

I feel worse. – Я чувствую себя хуже.

What is your diagnosis? – Какой у Вас диагноз?

You have a murmur of the heart. – У Вас шумы в сердце.

How long have you been this way? – Как давно Вы уже в таком состоянии?

Have you been laid up with anything serious lately? – Вы болели чем-нибудь серьезным в последнее время?

Did you have any after-effects? – Были ли у Вас осложнения?

shattered nerves – расстроенные нервы

to lose consciousness – потерять сознание.

It will pass. – Это пройдет.

You are big (great) with a child. You are pregnant. – Вы беременны.

The disease must be nipped in the bud. – Болезнь надо пресекать в самом начале.