HEALTH – ZDROWIE

TO FALL ILL

I have had some health trouble recently. My mum thought I had a cold but I had a really high temperature and I came up in a rash so we decided to call for a doctor. It turned out that I had got infected with scarlet fever. It is a very contagious disease but luckily not lethal.

I have to visit my cousin in the hospital. She has always had poor health and has been prone to infections. However, it has turned out recently that she has diabetes. At first doctors gave wrong diagnosis and she did not respond to the treatment. Then they prescribed her some medicine which had side effects.

Illnesses

Dear Mark,
I am really sorry but I have to cancel our meeting. I got infected with jaundice. You have probably heard of hepatitis B so you know it is a chronic disease which can ruin one’s health. I have to stay in hospital for two weeks. I hoped it to be only intoxication but the internist gave a diagnosis at once.

Mary,
I cannot come to see you tomorrow. I am feeling really bad. I am afraid I have a bout of flu. I am running a fever and I have a terrible backache, sore throat and runny nose. I hope it is not tonsillitis as my sister has suffered from it lately.

Symptoms

I broke my leg last winter holiday. I fell down while I was skiing. At first I thought I had only sprained my ankle but it really hurt and the swelling was enormous. I had my leg in plaster for six weeks and I used crutches to be able to walk. My friend who also had a skiing accident was luckier. He hit a tree but ended up only with minor injuries and some bumps, bruises and a black eye.

My younger sister has anaemia. Some time ago mum noticed that she lost weight and she often suffers from dizziness, shortness of breath and insomnia. After she had fainted we decided it was time to consult a specialist.

I went for a wedding reception last Saturday. I enjoyed myself very much but the next day I felt terrible. I had heartburn and nausea in the morning but it was nothing if compared with diarrhoea and vomiting which started in the afternoon. I thought it was food poisoning but then I felt itching and tingling. When I saw a rash on my skin I realised it was an allergic reaction to some food I had eaten at the reception.

My best friend is off colour today. She claims she has a cold but I do not believe her. She has neither a sore throat and a runny nose nor fever. I guess it is a nervous breakdown as she split up with her boyfriend today. One moment she is in a stupor and then I can see some anxiety and restlessness in her behaviour.

to fall ill – zachorować

illness, disease – choroba
health trouble – problem zdrowotny
poor health, ill health – słabe zdrowie
neglect oneself – zaniedbać zdrowie
to suffer from (a disease) – zachorować na (chorobę), cierpieć na
to get infected with – zarazić się
to catch a cold – przeziębić się czymś
to be treated for sth – leczyć się na coś
to call for a doctor – wezwać lekarza
to be prone to – być podatnym na
to ruin one’s health – zrujnować sobie zdrowie
curable – uleczalny
incurable – nieuleczalny
infectious, contagious, catching – zaraźliwy
chronic – przewlekły
congenital – wrodzony
terminal, fatal, lethal – śmiertelny
past/beyond cure, past recovery – nieuleczalny
to die of – umrzeć na
to be off colour – niezbyt dobrze się czuć
to be under the weather – czuć się nie najlepiej
to have side effects – powodować efekty uboczne
to respond to a treatment – reagować na leczenie

illnesses – choroby

flu, influenza – grypa
tonsillitis – angina
mumps – świnka
measles – odra
scarlet fever – szkarlatyna
chickenpox – ospa wietrzna
tuberculosis – gruźlica
jaundice – żółtaczka
hepatitis A/B/C – zapalenie wątroby typu A/B/C
Kreutzfeld-Jacob disease – choroba Creutzfeldta-Jacoba
allergy – alergia
asthma – astma
diabetes – cukrzyca
epilepsy – padaczka
heart attack – zawał serca
anaemia – anemia
intoxication – zatrucie
anorexia – anoreksja
bulimia – bulimia
AIDS – AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
HIV-positive – nosiciel wirusa HIV
tumour – nowotwór (guz)
cancer – rak
cerebral palsy – porażenie mózgowe
appendicitis – zapalenie wyrostka robaczkowego
rheumatism – reumatyzm
rabies – wścieklizna
infection – infekcja
minor injury – drobna, niegroźna kontuzja
indigestion – niestrawność
food poisoning – zatrucie pokarmowe
broken leg/arm– złamana noga/ ręka
(bone) fracture – złamanie (kości)
sprained ankle – skręcona kostka
coronary disease, a heart condition – choroba wieńcowa
heart failure – wada serca
high/low blood pressure – wysokie/niskie ciśnienie krwi

symptoms – objawy

pain – ból
fever, high temperature – gorączka
to run a fever – mieć gorączkę
to carry a virus – być nosicielem wirusa
cough – kaszel
to sneeze – kichać
to sweat – pocić się
to fight off – pokonać, zwalczyć chorobę
to be out of breath – dostać zadyszki
to choke, stifle – dławić, dusić się
to bleed – krwawić
to pass out – stracić przytomność
to go into a coma – zapaść w śpiączkę
nasal congestion – zapchany nos/krwotok z nosa
swelling – opuchlizna
runny nose – katar
sore throat – ból gardła
headache – ból głowy
backache – ból pleców
earache – ból ucha
stomachache – ból brzucha
backache – ból kręgosłupa
allergy for… – alergia na…
to be allergic to… – być uczulonym na…
shivers – dreszcze
dizziness – zawroty głowy
insomnia – bezsenność
nausea – nudności
vomiting – wymioty
diarrhoea – biegunka
constipation – obstrukcja
heartburn – zgaga
shortness of breath – duszność
fainting – omdlenie
sweating – potliwość
bleeding – krwawienie
swelling – obrzęk, opuchnięcie
tingling – mrowienie
itching – swędzenie
rash – wysypka
stupor – odrętwienie
anxiety – lęk
restlessness – niepokój
weight loss – spadek wagi
injury – obrażenie, zranienie
wound – rana
slash, a cut – rana cięta, skaleczenie
bump – guz
bruise – siniak
black eye – podbite oko
sprain – zwichnięcie
fracture – złamanie
trauma – uraz, wstrząs
aftereffects – powikłania
scar – blizna
to twist one’s ankle – skręcić nogę w kostce
bout of fever – atak gorączki
to have a bout of flu – chorować na grypę
outbreak – wybuch epidemii
nervous breakdown – załamanie nerwowe
to come up in a rash – dostać wysypki
to have pins and needles in sth – czuć mrowienie w czymś
blister – bąbel, pęcherz na skórze
to hurt – boleć
to suffer from sth – cierpieć na coś
to feel bad – czuć się źle
to choke – dławić się
to suffocate – dusić się
to faint – mdleć
to lose consciousness – tracić przytomność
to get injured – zranić się
to be sick, to vomit – wymiotować
I have (a) stomachache. – Boli mnie brzuch.
I have a sore throat. – Boli mnie gardło.
I have a cold. – Jestem przeziębiony.
I am short of breath. – Nie mogę złapać oddechu.
I have a cough. – Kaszlę.
I feel sick. – Jest mi niedobrze.
My leg hurts. – Boli mnie noga.

DOCTORS & PARAMEDICS

I would like to be a doctor in the future. I have not decided yet which specialisation to choose but I still have time. I have been thinking about becoming a surgeon, a neurologist or a cardiologist as they seem the most challenging and rewarding options to me. My dad is an internist but he is planning to retrain and start a new career as a laryngologist or homeopath. My mum advises me to be a dentist or an orthodontist as they earn a lot of money. However, I do not find this idea interesting.

doctors & paramedics – lekarze i personel medyczny

anaesthetist – anastezjolog
cardiologist, a heart specialist– kardiolog
dentist – dentysta
dermatologist – dermatolog
gynaecologist – ginekolog
physioterapist – fizjoterapeuta
homeopath – homeopata
internist – internista
laryngologist – laryngolog
neurologist – neurolog
nurse – pielęgniarka
ambulance man – sanitariusz
first-aid worker – ratownik
midwife – położna
optician – okulista
orthodontist – ortodonta
orthopaedic surgeon – ortopeda
pediatrician – pediatra
psychiatrist – psychiatra
radiologist – radiolog
rheumatologist – reumatolog
surgeon – chirurg
GP (general practitioner) – lekarz pierwszego kontaktu

At the doctor’s
I had an appointment with a doctor yesterday. I came at 3 p.m., registered in a reception and waited 25 minutes in the waiting room until he could see me. I told him I felt pain in the chest, I was often out of breath and I lost consciousness the other day. First, he took my temperature and blood pressure. Then he examined me thoroughly with his stethoscope and said it was nothing serious, only an infection. He wrote a prescription and told me to keep warm and take medicine three times a day.

at the doctor’s – u lekarza

patient – pacjent
to have an appointment – być umówionym u lekarza
to register in a reception – zgłosić się w recepcji
waiting room – poczekalnia
examination – badanie lekarskie
to examine – badać
prescription – recepta
to make, give a diagnosis – postawić diagnozę
stethoscope – stetoskop
to take someone’s blood pressure – mierzyć komuś ciśnienie
to take someone’s temperature – mierzyć komuś temperaturę
to take someone’s pulse – mierzyć komuś puls
to prescribe treatment – zalecić terapię
to refer sb to a specialist – skierować kogoś do specjalisty
to write a medical certificate – napisać zwolnienie lekarskie
to take medicines – zażywać lekarstwa
to vaccinate – szczepić się
checkup – badanie ogólne
to dress a wound – opatrzyć ranę
to give a shot/an injection – dać zastrzyk

At the dentist’s
I had a terrible toothache yesterday. It hurt when I drank something hot and my gums were very sore. It turned out that one of my molars was decayed. I asked a dentist for an anaesthetic so I did not feel anything when she drilled and fixed the filling. She also advised me to have tartar removed as it can be the cause of caries.

at the dentist’s – u dentysty

dental surgery – gabinet dentystyczny
brace – aparat ortodontyczny
filling – plomba
denture – proteza
caries – próchnica
decay/cavity – próchnica, ubytek
decayed tooth – popsuty ząb
tartar – kamień
gum – dziąsło
upper/lower jaw – górna/dolna szczęka
wisdom tooth – ząb mądrości
milk tooth – ząb mleczny
incisor – przedni/siekacz
molar – trzonowy
canine tooth – kieł
broken tooth – złamany ząb
root – korzeń
to drill – borować
anaesthetic – znieczulenie

In hospital
My brother was operated on a few days ago. He had an appendicitis which was so painful that we had to call for an ambulance. He could not walk so the ambulance men had to carry him on a stretcher. It turned out that his state was critical and he was taken to the operating theatre at once. The operation was successful but he is still staying in a hospital ward waiting for recovery.

When I was five years old I cut my right hand with a knife. It was a stupid accident as I took a sharp knife from a kitchen drawer and tried to open my piggybank with it. The wound was deep so I was taken to a clinic. They gave me local anaesthesia and stitched the wound. I lost a lot of blood so I had to have a blood transfusion. I regained strength very quickly but I still have a scar.

in hospital – w szpitalu

surgery – gabinet lekarski/chirurgia
ward – oddział
injection – zastrzyk
ambulance – karetka
stretcher – nosze
clinic – klinika
operation – operacja
operating theatre – sala operacyjna
X-ray – prześwietlenia
recovery – powrót do zdrowia
to anaesthetize – znieczulić
local anaesthesia, general anaesthesia – znieczulenie miejscowe i ogólne
to be operated on – być operowanym
to stitch – założyć szwy
to set up the fracture – złożyć złamanie
transplantation – transplantacja
transplant donor – dawca narządów
blood transfusion – transfuzja krwi
life-saving operation – operacja ratująca życie
critical state – stan krytyczny
to deteriorate – pogarszać się
improvement – polepszenie
to regain strength – odzyskiwać siły
to recover from, to heal of – wyleczyć, powracać do zdrowia
hospice – hospicjum
mortuary – kostnica

Remedies & dressings

Mike,
Go to the chemist’s and buy cough syrup, throat lozenges and nasal drops for Susie as she has a terrible cold. Ask for a flu medication too (just in case). I also need some painkillers and cotton swabs. If you have enough money, buy some skin ointment because I noticed a rash on my hands.

remedies & dressings– leki i środki opatrunkowe

antibiotic – antybiotyk
drops – krople
medicine – lekarstwo
pills – pastylki
tablets – tabletki
cough syrup – syrop na kaszel
tranquillisers – środki uspokajające
analgesic – środek przeciwbólowy
painkiller – środek uśmierzający ból
lozenge – pastylka do ssania
flu medication – środek na grypę
first-aid kit – apteczka pierwszej pomocy
sedative, a tranquilliser – środek uspokajający
contraceptives – środki antykoncepcyjne
ointment – maść
suppository – czopek
bandage, dressing – bandaż
gauze – gaza
plaster – gips
cast – opatrunek gipsowy
to wear a cast/ a sling – nosić gips, temblak
crutches – kule
walking stick – laska
sling – temblak
cotton swab – wacik
inhaler – inhalator
pharmacy, chemist’s – apteka
drugstore (US) – apteka

DISABILITY

Every society should help and support disabled people as every year thousands of people become physically handicapped in accidents and thousands of children are born with congenital defects or mental disorders. All the handicapped need our understanding and acceptance. They should not feel redundant or rejected by society. It is also important to adjust public buildings for the disabled and make ramps for wheelchairs wherever it is necessary and possible. Disability allowances should be high enough to let those who cannot work live comfortably. Children at school should be taught what being disabled means so that they would never laugh at deaf, blind or paraplegic person.

disability – niepełnosprawność

handicapped, disabled people – ludzie niepełnosprawni
mentally handicapped – niepełnosprawny umysłowo
physically handicapped – niepełnosprawny fizycznie
congenital defect – wada wrodzona
disability allowance – renta inwalidzka
to adjust a building for the disabled – przystosować budynek dla osób niepełnosprawnych
blindness – ślepota
blind – niewidomy
deafness – głuchota
deaf – głuchy
death and dumb – głuchoniemy
hearing aid – aparat słuchowy
sign language – język migowy
paralysis – paraliż
paraplegic – osoba, która ma sparaliżowane nogi
quadriplegic – osoba całkowicie sparaliżowana
to feel redundant – czuć się zbytecznym
to be rejected by society – być odrzuconym przez społeczeństwo
wheelchair – wózek inwalidzki
ramp – podjazd dla wózków
birth defect – wada wrodzona
mental retardation – opóźnienie w rozwoju umysłowym
to inherit a defect – odziedziczyć wadę
hereditary – dziedziczny
innate – wrodzony
acquired – nabyty
autism – autyzm
lameness – kalectwo, utykanie
long-sighted – dalekowzroczny
short-sighted – krótkowzroczny

ADDICTIONS

Drugs
Drugs are dangerous for many reasons. It is very easy to get addicted to them. They are the cause of serious physical and psychological damages and even death. Drug addicts suffer from frightening hallucinations, mood swings and depression. Drug use has become a serious problem among teenagers. They take drugs when they cannot cope with the stress and problems of their lives and they think it is the best way out. They easily find ways to buy amphetamine, cannabis or heroine. They believe they can give up taking drugs any moment. They do not realize that drug therapy is long and withdrawal symptoms painful.

drugs – narkotyki

drug addict – narkoman
drug addiction – uzależnienie od narkotyków
to be addicted to – być uzależnionym od
to take drugs – brać narkotyki
amphetamine – amfetamina
hashish/hash – haszysz
heroin – heroina
cocaine – kokaina
cannabis – konopie indyjskie
marijuana – marihuana
psychoactive drugs – środki psychotropowe
detoxification – detoksykacja
drug therapy – terapia odwykowa
withdrawal symptoms – zespół odstawienia
syringe – strzykawka
physical damages – szkody fizyczne
psychical damages – szkody psychiczne
euphoric conditions – stany euforyczne
hallucinations – halucynacje
depression – depresja
mood swings – zmiany nastroju
irritability – drażliwość
loss of appetite – utrata apetytu
to cope with – poradzić sobie, zmagać się z czymś

Smoking
Addicted smokers do not think about the dangers connected with smoking and truly believe that it helps relieve the stress of everyday life. They reach for cigarettes for various reasons: for company, out of boredom or because of being under stress. Smoking has a disastrous effect on people’s health. It is the main cause of lung cancer and emphysema. It also increases the risk of heart disease. Giving up smoking requires strong will and determination but it is worth trying. In my opinion smoking should be absolutely forbidden in public places and there should be more antinicotine campaigns.

smoking – palenie papierosów

addicted smoker – palacz nałogowy
chain smoker – osoba paląca jednego papierosa za drugim
to smoke under stress – palić pod wpływem stresu
to smoke for company – palić dla towarzystwa
to smoke out of boredom – palić z nudów
nicotine – nikotyna
tobacco – tytoń
lung cancer – rak płuc
emphysema – rozedma płuc
heart disease – choroba serca
nicotine poisoning – zatrucie nikotyną
to cut down on smoking – ograniczyć palenie
to give up smoking, to quit smoking – rzucić palenie
passive smoking – bierne palenie
non-smoker – niepalący
to forbid smoking in public places – zabronić palenia w miejscach publicznych
antinicotine campaign – kampania antynikotynowa
strong will – silna wola

Alcoholism
Alcohol abuse means a tragedy not only for the addicted person but also for his family. It is a shameful and embarrassing weakness which ruins family life and leads to quarrels, acts of violence and divorces. It has a disastrous effect on health as it damages the liver, the brain and the heart. Although there are self-help groups and anti-alcohol centres in all the bigger cities, it is very difficult for an alcoholic to abstain from drinking and become an absolute teetotaller.

alcoholism – alkoholizm

alcoholic – alkoholik, alkoholiczka
to be addicted to – być uzależnionym
addict – osoba uzależniona
alcohol abuse – nadużywanie alkoholu
weakness – słabość
treatment – leczenie
disastrous – zgubny, katastrofalny
to damage one’s liver – uszkodzić wątrobę
shameful – haniebny
embarrasing – krępujący, wprawiający w zakłopotanie
to give up drinking – rzucić picie
self-help group – grupa samopomocy
anti-alcohol centre – centrum antyalkoholowe
teetotaller – abstynent
sober – trzeźwy
to take to drinking – rozpić się
to develop a drinking problem – popaść w nałóg pijaństwa
to abstain from drinking – powstrzymywać się od picia
to kick the habit – skończyć z nałogiem

Shopaholism
It is not difficult to become a shopaholic nowadays. Shopping centres offer such a wide variety of goods that you cannot resist and you want you have every single thing you see. You tend to buy far more products there than you really need. Sales and special offers tempt you to buy goods that are often useless. You feel an internal compulsion to buy more and more and you do not realise when you become addicted to shopping and you come to the financial ruin.

Shopaholism – nałóg kupowania

shopaholic – człowiek uzależniony od zakupów
shopping centre – centrum handlowe
wide variety – duża różnorodność
wide assortment of goods – szeroki wybór towarów
internal compulsion – przymus wewnętrzny
to tempt – kusić
to go bankrupt – zbankrutować
to come to the financial ruin – doprowadzić do finansowej ruiny
I can’t resist – Nie mogę się oprzeć.

HEALTH SERVICE SYSTEM

I hate being ill. I wish our health-care system was at least as good as the British National Health Service. I am a health-care beneficiary so I am entitled to health care coverage but there is always some out-of pocket health care. The cost of hospital treatment is covered by the insurance but there are always some extra costs which I have to pay by myself.

health service system – system ochrony zdrowia

health insurance – ubezpieczenie zdrowotne
National Health Service (NHS) – kasa chorych (system obowiązujący w Wielkiej Brytanii)
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) – system ubezpieczeń zdrowotnych obowiązujący w Stanach Zjednoczonych
Medicaid – państwowy system zapewniający bezpłatne leczenie osobom ubogim w Stanach Zjednoczonych
cost of hospital treatment – koszt leczenia szpitalnego
to cover by the insurance – opłacić z ubezpieczenia
social welfare – opieka społeczna
health spending – wydatki na opiekę medyczną
health/medical costs – koszty opieki medycznej
social/sickness/health insurance – ubezpieczenie zdrowotne
health-care coverage – pokrycie kosztów leczenia
health-care/social security benefits – świadczenia zdrowotne/socjalne
health-care beneficiary – ubezpieczony
sick leave – urlop chorobowy
fixed medical costs – stałe opłaty za opiekę medyczną
out-of-pocket health care – dodatkowe opłaty za opiekę medyczną
to be entitled to… – być uprawnionym do…
be covered – być objętym opieką medyczną
to lose cover – stracić prawo do świadczeń
to be denied care – nie otrzymać opieki medycznej
to be uninsured – być nieubezpieczonym
to be reimbursed – uzyskać zwrot kosztów

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Healthy lifestyle should be our first priority. If you are not in good health you cannot fully enjoy your life and realize your plans. First of all, you should think about a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Adopt good eating habits and always choose healthy food such as fruit, vegetables, lean meat and dairy products. Do not forget about exercise which can help you improve your physical condition. Take control over stress and always relax and get enough sleep. Try to be optimistic, laugh as much as possible and think positively.

healthy lifestyle – zdrowy styl życia

exercise – ruch
to do sport – uprawiać sport
to keep fit and healthy – utrzymywać się w dobrej kondycji i zdrowiu
to improve physical condition – poprawiać kondycję fizyczną
a balanced/varied diet – zrównoważona, urozmaicona dieta
vitamins and minerals – witaminy i minerały
dairy products – nabiał
low-calorie food – jedzenie niskokaloryczne
lean meat – chude mięso
sugar free diet – dieta bezcukrowa
to adopt good eating habits – przyjąć dobre nawyki żywieniowe
to lose weight – tracić wagę
to fight the stress – opanować, pokonać stres
to relieve stress – złagodzić stres
to think positively – myśleć pozytywnie
to be optimistic – być optymistą
to be in a good mood – być w dobrym nastroju
to laugh – śmiać się
to enjoy life – cieszyć się życiem
well-being – dobre samopoczucie
to rest – odpoczywać
to relax – zrelaksować się
to avoid – unikać
tiredness – zmęczenie
to live at a great pace – żyć w szybkim tempie
resistance, stamina – odporność, witalność
energy – energia
the immune system – układ odpornościowy
enjoy good health – cieszyć się dobrym zdrowiem
look the picture of health – być okazem zdrowia
to be as fit as a fiddle – być zdrowym jak ryba