Health & Body vocabulary
100 words to learn about health & body.
doctorA person with the training and license to treat people who are ill or hurt.nurseSomeone whose job is looking after people who are ill or injured.hospitalA building, often with many floors and departments, where doctors and nurses treat people who are seriously sick or hurt.medicineA drug or other substance taken to treat illness and help the body heal.patientSomeone receiving medical treatment or care from a doctor, nurse, dentist, or other health professional.headacheA pain felt in the head.feverA body temperature that rises above normal, usually as a sign of illness.healthyIn good physical condition; free from illness.exercisePhysical activity done to keep the body, and sometimes the mind, strong and healthy.muscleThe body tissue that tightens and relaxes to make animals and people move.boneThe hard material, built mainly from calcium phosphate and collagen, that forms the skeletons of most animals with backbones.heartThe organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body, long regarded as the source of feelings.stomachThe organ inside the body where food is held and broken down after being swallowed.injuryPhysical harm done to the body of a person or animal.symptomA sign that shows something exists or is happening, especially something bad such as an illness.treatmentThe medical help given to someone who is sick or hurt.recoverTo return to good health or a normal state; to get back something that was lost.illnessThe condition of being unwell; a disease or a period of poor health.allergyAn immune-system overreaction to a normally harmless substance, specifically the type I form driven by immunoglobulin E antibodies.vitaminPlaced before a word or its first letter to suggest that the thing named is good for health or wellbeing.dentistA doctor whose specialty is caring for and treating teeth.prescriptionAn official written instruction from a doctor authorizing a patient to receive a medicine or treatment, such as glasses of a certain strength.bandageA length of soft fabric wrapped around an injured part of the body to cover or support it.woundDamage to the body, usually on the outside, such as a cut, stab, or tear.breatheTo take air into the lungs and push it back out, supplying the body with oxygen and removing waste gases.pulseThe steady beating you can feel in your wrist or neck as the heart pushes blood through the arteries.surgeryA medical operation in which the body is cut open to fix, remove, or replace a part.therapyCare given to treat a health problem after it has been diagnosed; essentially the same as treatment.wellnessThe state of being healthy in body and mind, sometimes covering safety as well.nutritionThe food and substances that a body needs to stay healthy and grow.immuneUnable to catch a disease, either through natural resistance or because of vaccination.infectionThe spread of harmful germs multiplying out of control inside a person, animal, or plant.diagnosisThe act, or an instance, of working out what illness or condition a person has and what is causing it.clinicA place where people receive medical care, especially patients who do not stay overnight.acheTo feel a steady, dull pain, or to be the cause of such pain.dizzyFeeling as if everything is spinning and you might lose your balance.coughTo force air noisily out of your lungs and through your mouth, often to clear something irritating your throat or airway.sneezeTo suddenly force air out through the nose and mouth because something has irritated the nose.swollenLarger than normal because of injury, illness, or a buildup of fluid.healTo cure an illness or injury, or to make a wound get better.painfulMaking you feel pain, whether in the body or in the mind.fatigueDeep tiredness brought on by hard physical or mental effort.checkupA regular visit to a doctor or dentist to make sure everything is healthy.remedyA medicine or treatment that eases or cures an illness.contagiousSpreading easily from one person to another.wristThe joint connecting the hand to the arm, where the forearm bones meet the small bones of the hand.ankleThe joint that links the foot to the leg, together with the surrounding lower leg and upper foot.shoulderThe part of the body where the arm joins the trunk, between the neck and the upper arm.elbowThe bendable joint in the middle of the arm, connecting its upper and lower parts.surgeonA doctor trained to carry out operations on people or animals.physicianA doctor qualified to practice medicine on people.pharmacistA person trained in pharmacy, the science of preparing and dispensing medicines.therapistA person, usually a trained professional, who treats people through some form of therapy.paramedicA trained and certified medical worker who treats patients in emergencies before they reach a hospital.midwifeA trained professional, traditionally a woman, who helps mothers during childbirth without being a doctor.specialistA person with deep knowledge or skill in one particular field of study or work.pediatricianA doctor whose specialty is treating babies, children, and young people.psychiatristA doctor who treats mental illnesses and disorders of the mind.radiologistA doctor trained to read X-rays and other medical scans.ambulanceA vehicle equipped to carry sick or badly injured people to a hospital in an emergency.stretcherA light frame used to carry someone who is hurt, ill, or dead.wheelchairA chair fitted with large wheels that lets a sick or disabled person move around or be moved.crutchA support, usually fitted under the armpit, that helps an injured person walk by taking weight off a leg.syringeA medical instrument with a needle, a tube for holding liquid, and a plunger, used for injecting or drawing out fluids.needleTo push a needle through something, as when sewing or giving acupuncture.stitchOne movement of a threaded needle through fabric in sewing, or the loop of thread it leaves behind.plasterA soft, sticky preparation spread on the skin to help it heal or improve its appearance.ointmentA thick, oily cream, usually containing medicine, that you rub on the skin to treat or soothe it.antibioticA substance that kills bacteria or stops similar microorganisms from growing.painkillerA medicine taken to reduce or stop pain.dosageThe giving of medicine in a specific, measured quantity.tabletA small solid piece of medicine or another substance that is easy to swallow; a pill.capsuleA tiny case that holds a single dose of medicine.pillA small rounded piece of medicine made to be swallowed easily.vaccineThe act of vaccinating; inoculation to protect against disease.antisepticAble to stop harmful germs from causing infection.sanitizeTo clean or disinfect something so that it is free of germs.hygieneHabits and conditions that keep people clean and protect their health.sanitaryClean and free from germs; relating to good hygiene.sterileCompletely free of germs and other living microorganisms.quarantineA period of keeping people, animals, or plants separated from others to stop a disease from spreading.epidemicAn outbreak of disease that spreads rapidly and affects large numbers of people at the same time.pandemicA disease that spreads across many countries and infects a very large share of the population.outbreakThe sudden start or rapid spread of something unpleasant, such as a disease.virusAn illness caused by an infectious viral agent.bacteriaA particular kind, species, or strain of these tiny single-celled organisms.germA tiny living thing, such as a bacterium or virus, that can cause illness.diseaseA condition that makes a person, animal, or plant unwell or stops it working properly, unlike an injury, which usually happens in an instant.chronicLasting for a long time or coming back again and again, used of problems or illnesses.acuteVery strong, keen, or sharp in effect or perception.terminalThe building at an airport where travelers move between ground transport and their flights.benignGentle and mild; causing no harm.malignantCausing harm or intending evil; dangerous and destructive.tumorA lump of tissue that grows abnormally in the body; doctors distinguishing it may consider an abscess, metaplasia, or neoplasia.cancerAn illness in which cells in part of the body begin to grow and multiply out of control.diabetesDiabetes insipidus; any condition marked by the passing of unusually large or uncontrolled amounts of urine, now especially the form caused by the body failing to produce or respond to the hormone vasopressin.asthmaA chronic breathing disorder in which the airways can suddenly tighten, often triggered by allergens, cold air, exercise, or stress.migraineA very painful headache, typically on one side of the head, that can come with sickness and sensitivity to light.nauseaAn unpleasant feeling in the stomach that makes you feel you might vomit.vomitTo bring up the contents of the stomach through the mouth; to throw up.