🩺 Medicine & Health · Vocabulary for Specific Fields · 150 words

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diagnosis n	identifying an illness from its signs and tests Early diagnosis greatly improves the chance of recovery.
symptom n	a sign of illness that a patient notices Fever and cough are common symptoms of the flu.
sign n	evidence of disease that a doctor can observe The doctor noted clear signs of dehydration in the elderly patient.
vital signs n	key body measurements such as pulse and temperature Nurses check the vital signs of each patient every four hours.
treatment n	medical care given to cure or manage an illness The patient responded well to the new treatment.
therapy n	treatment intended to heal or relieve a condition She is receiving physical therapy after knee surgery.
prognosis n	the likely course and outcome of a disease The prognosis is good if the tumor is removed early.
patient n	a person receiving medical care The patient was discharged after three days of observation in the ward.
physician n	a medical doctor, especially one who does not operate Consult your physician before starting any new medication or supplement.
surgeon n	a doctor who performs operations The surgeon explained the risks of the procedure.
nurse n	a trained person who cares for sick people The nurse changed the dressing on his wound.
general practitioner n	a doctor who treats general health problems in the community Your general practitioner can refer you to a specialist.
specialist n	a doctor with expert training in one area of medicine He was referred to a heart specialist after an abnormal ECG result.
pharmacist n	a person trained to prepare and give out medicines The pharmacist explained how to take the tablets.
outpatient n	a patient treated without staying overnight in hospital The clinic sees about two hundred outpatients a day.
inpatient n	a patient who stays in hospital for treatment Inpatients receive meals prepared according to advice from the hospital dietitian.
admission n	being accepted into a hospital for treatment Hospital admissions for asthma usually rise during the cold winter months.
discharge v	to allow a patient to leave hospital The doctor said the patient will be discharged tomorrow morning.
ward n	a room or section of a hospital for patients She was moved to the surgical ward after the operation.
emergency room n	the hospital department for urgent medical cases He was taken to the emergency room after the accident.
intensive care unit n	a hospital unit for very seriously ill patients The patient spent five days in the intensive care unit.
operating room n	a room where surgery is performed The operating room must be cleaned between procedures.
surgery n	treatment that involves cutting into the body He needs surgery to repair the torn ligament.
anesthesia n	drugs that stop a patient feeling pain during surgery The knee operation was performed under general anesthesia and took two hours.
incision n	a cut made by a surgeon The surgeon made a small incision in the abdomen.
suture n	a stitch used to close a wound The sutures will be removed in ten days.
prescription n	a doctor’s written order for medicine This antibiotic is only available with a prescription.
dosage n	the amount and frequency of a medicine to take Patients should never exceed the recommended dosage printed on the label.
side effect n	an unwanted effect of a medicine Drowsiness is a common side effect of this drug.
adverse reaction n	a harmful response to a drug or treatment Any adverse reaction must be reported to the pharmacy.
contraindication n	a condition that makes a treatment unsafe Pregnancy is a contraindication for this medication, so the doctor prescribed another.
antibiotic n	a drug that kills or stops bacteria Antibiotics do not work against viral infections such as the common cold.
antibiotic resistance n	when bacteria are no longer killed by antibiotics Overuse of drugs in farming is increasing antibiotic resistance around the world.
vaccine n	a substance that helps the body build immunity to a disease The new vaccine protects young children against measles and rubella.
vaccination n	giving a vaccine to protect against disease The vaccination program reached ninety percent of infants.
immunity n	the body’s ability to resist infection Breastfeeding helps build immunity in newborn babies during their first months.
immune system n	the body system that defends against disease Long periods of stress can seriously weaken the immune system.
infection n	illness caused by bacteria or viruses entering the body The surgical wound showed early signs of infection on the third day.
inflammation n	swelling, redness and pain as a reaction to injury or infection Applying ice can reduce inflammation around the injured joint.
virus n	a tiny organism that causes infectious disease The virus spreads mainly through droplets produced when people cough or sneeze.
bacteria n	tiny living organisms, some of which cause disease Washing hands with soap removes most harmful bacteria from the skin.
pathogen n	an organism that causes disease The laboratory identified the pathogen within hours of receiving the samples.
epidemic n	a rapid spread of disease in one area Health officials declared a dengue epidemic in the province.
pandemic n	a disease spreading across many countries The pandemic put enormous pressure on hospitals and health workers everywhere.
outbreak n	a sudden start of disease cases An outbreak of food poisoning affected forty workers.
quarantine n	separating people to prevent the spread of disease Travelers from the affected area had to enter quarantine.
transmission n	the passing of a disease from one person to another Wearing masks reduces the transmission of respiratory infections in crowded places.
contagious adj	able to spread from person to person Chickenpox is highly contagious among young children in schools and nurseries.
infectious disease n	a disease caused by organisms that can spread She specializes in infectious disease at the city hospital.
chronic adj	lasting a long time or recurring often Diabetes is a chronic condition that needs daily care.
acute adj	severe and sudden in onset He was admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain.
diabetes n	a disease in which blood sugar levels are too high Regular exercise helps patients control type 2 diabetes.
hypertension n	abnormally high blood pressure Untreated hypertension greatly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.
blood pressure n	the force of blood against the walls of the arteries The nurse measured his blood pressure before the exam.
heart rate n	the number of heartbeats per minute Her heart rate rose sharply during the test.
cardiovascular disease n	disease of the heart or blood vessels Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease.
heart attack n	sudden damage to the heart when blood flow is blocked He survived a heart attack thanks to quick treatment.
stroke n	sudden brain damage caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel Fast treatment can reduce the damage caused by a stroke.
cancer n	a disease in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably The clinic offers free screening for breast cancer.
tumor n	an abnormal mass of tissue Scans showed a small tumor in the liver.
benign adj	not cancerous and not dangerous The biopsy confirmed that the lump was benign.
malignant adj	cancerous and likely to spread The doctors found a malignant tumor in her lung.
metastasis n	the spread of cancer to other parts of the body Early surgery aims to remove the tumor and prevent metastasis to other organs.
chemotherapy n	treating cancer with strong drugs She lost her hair during chemotherapy but has now fully recovered.
radiotherapy n	treating disease, especially cancer, with radiation Radiotherapy is given five days a week for six weeks.
biopsy n	removing a small tissue sample for testing The doctor ordered a biopsy of the skin lesion.
blood test n	a test of a blood sample for health information A blood test showed high levels of cholesterol.
urine test n	a test of a urine sample to detect health problems A urine test can detect kidney problems early.
X-ray n	an image of the inside of the body using radiation The X-ray showed a fracture in his wrist.
ultrasound n	imaging that uses sound waves to see inside the body An ultrasound confirmed that the baby was healthy.
computed tomography n	detailed X-ray imaging that creates cross-sections of the body Computed tomography revealed bleeding in the brain after the fall.
magnetic resonance imaging n	imaging that uses magnets and radio waves Magnetic resonance imaging showed damage to the spinal cord.
medical history n	a record of a person’s past illnesses and treatments The doctor reviewed her medical history before surgery.
medical record n	an official document of a patient’s health care Electronic medical records can be shared between hospitals.
physical examination n	a doctor’s check of the body for signs of disease A physical examination found swelling in the left leg.
check-up n	a routine medical examination Staff are offered a free health check-up every year.
screening n	testing people for a disease before symptoms appear Cancer screening is recommended for adults over fifty.
referral n	sending a patient to another doctor or service You need a referral to see the orthopedic specialist.
consultation n	a meeting with a doctor for advice or examination The first consultation with the specialist usually lasts about thirty minutes.
health insurance n	insurance that pays for medical treatment All employees and their children are covered by health insurance.
primary care n	the first level of health care, usually at a clinic Good primary care reduces pressure on big hospitals.
public health n	the health of a population and efforts to protect it Access to clean water is essential for public health in rural communities.
epidemiology n	the study of how diseases spread in populations She has a master’s degree in epidemiology from a university in Hanoi.
clinical trial n	a study testing a treatment on volunteers The drug is now in the final phase of a clinical trial.
placebo n	a harmless substance with no medical effect used in trials Half the volunteers in the study received a placebo instead of the drug.
evidence-based medicine n	medical practice based on the best available research National treatment guidelines are written according to the principles of evidence-based medicine.
anatomy n	the study of the structure of the body First-year medical students spend many hours studying human anatomy.
physiology n	the study of how the body functions Physiology explains how the heart pumps blood around the body.
pathology n	the study of disease and its causes The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of early stage cancer.
pharmacology n	the study of drugs and their effects All nursing students take a course in basic pharmacology in their second year.
pediatrics n	the branch of medicine dealing with children After graduating, he decided to specialize in pediatrics at a children’s hospital.
obstetrics n	the branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy and birth The obstetrics team safely delivered healthy twins early this morning.
cardiology n	the branch of medicine dealing with the heart She was referred to cardiology for further tests.
neurology n	the branch of medicine dealing with the nervous system The neurology clinic treats patients with epilepsy and migraine.
oncology n	the branch of medicine dealing with cancer The hospital opened a new oncology center with modern radiation equipment.
orthopedics n	the branch of medicine dealing with bones and joints He works in orthopedics, mainly on knee replacements.
dermatology n	the branch of medicine dealing with the skin The dermatology clinic treats common skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
psychiatry n	the branch of medicine dealing with mental illness Psychiatry services are in high demand after the crisis.
mental health n	a person’s emotional and psychological well-being The company provides mental health support for staff.
depression n	a mental illness causing long-lasting sadness Depression often goes undiagnosed in older adults who live alone.
anxiety disorder n	a mental condition with excessive worry or fear Therapy is effective for many types of anxiety disorder.
cardiac arrest n	a sudden stop of the heart’s pumping The team performed CPR on a man in cardiac arrest.
cardiopulmonary resuscitation n	emergency chest compressions and breathing to restart the heart All ward staff are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation every two years.
first aid n	basic emergency treatment given before a doctor arrives Every office should have a first aid kit.
fracture n	a break in a bone The X-ray confirmed a fracture of the left arm.
wound n	an injury where the skin is cut or broken Clean the wound carefully before applying a bandage.
bleeding n	the loss of blood from the body Firm pressure on the wound eventually stopped the bleeding.
hemorrhage n	severe or heavy bleeding The CT scan showed a small brain hemorrhage after the accident.
blood transfusion n	putting donated blood into a patient’s body She needed a blood transfusion after giving birth.
intravenous adj	given directly into a vein The patient received intravenous fluids overnight to treat severe dehydration.
injection n	putting a drug into the body with a needle The nurse gave him an injection for the pain.
tablet n	a small solid piece of medicine to swallow Take one tablet twice a day after meals.
over-the-counter adj	available without a prescription Many over-the-counter painkillers contain paracetamol, so check the label carefully.
painkiller n	a drug that reduces pain He was given a painkiller after the operation.
allergy n	a harmful reaction of the body to a normal substance Tell the doctor if you have any drug allergy.
asthma n	a condition causing difficulty breathing High levels of air pollution can trigger asthma attacks in children.
pneumonia n	an infection that inflames the lungs Elderly patients are at greater risk of pneumonia.
tuberculosis n	a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs Tuberculosis can be cured with a long course of drugs.
dengue fever n	a disease spread by mosquitoes causing high fever Cases of dengue fever rise during the rainy season.
malnutrition n	poor health caused by not eating enough healthy food Malnutrition among children has fallen in rural areas.
obesity n	the condition of being very overweight Obesity significantly increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
nutrition n	the process of getting the food needed for health Good nutrition is especially important for women during pregnancy.
dehydration n	a harmful lack of water in the body Severe diarrhea in infants can quickly lead to dangerous dehydration.
fever n	a body temperature higher than normal The child has had a high fever since last night.
chronic pain n	pain that lasts for months or longer The new clinic helps patients manage chronic pain without strong drugs.
rehabilitation n	helping a person recover after illness or injury Rehabilitation after a stroke can take many months.
physiotherapy n	treatment using exercise and massage to restore movement Physiotherapy helped him walk again after the accident.
palliative care n	care that relieves symptoms for seriously ill patients Palliative care focuses on comfort and quality of life.
chronic kidney disease n	long-term loss of kidney function Chronic kidney disease often develops for years without any obvious symptoms.
dialysis n	a treatment that cleans the blood when kidneys fail He goes for dialysis three times a week.
organ transplant n	replacing a damaged organ with a healthy one from a donor She has been on the waiting list for an organ transplant since March.
donor n	a person who gives blood or an organ The hospital urgently needs blood donors with type O blood.
genetic adj	relating to genes and inherited traits The disease is caused by a genetic mutation.
hormone n	a chemical that controls body functions Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar.
insulin n	a hormone that lowers blood sugar Some diabetic patients need daily insulin injections to control their blood sugar.
cholesterol n	a fatty substance in the blood High cholesterol can gradually block the arteries that supply the heart.
metabolism n	the chemical processes that keep the body alive Thyroid problems can slow down metabolism and cause weight gain.
respiratory adj	relating to breathing and the lungs Smoke from the forest fires caused respiratory problems for many residents.
nervous system n	the brain, spinal cord and nerves Some viruses can cause lasting damage to the nervous system.
digestive system n	the organs that process food Eating enough fiber helps keep the digestive system healthy.
hygiene n	practices that keep people and places clean and healthy Hand hygiene is the best way to prevent infection.
sterile adj	completely free from bacteria All surgical instruments must be kept sterile until they are used.
disinfect v	to clean something to kill bacteria Staff disinfect the beds after each patient leaves.
preventive medicine n	medicine focused on preventing disease Vaccines are a key part of preventive medicine.
life expectancy n	the average number of years a person is expected to live Life expectancy has increased thanks to better health care.
mortality rate n	the number of deaths in a population over a period The infant mortality rate has fallen sharply over the past twenty years.
informed consent n	a patient’s agreement after understanding the risks Surgeons must obtain informed consent before any operation.
health care n	the services that treat and prevent illness The government plans to improve health care in rural areas.
antibody n	a protein the body makes to fight infection Blood tests showed high levels of antibodies after the second vaccine dose.
pulse n	the regular beat of blood felt in the arteries The nurse checked the patient’s pulse and blood pressure every hour.