Scorify.uzLifestyle and prevention
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| balanced diet | a diet with the right mix of foods | A balanced diet rich in vegetables lowers the risk of heart disease. |
| sedentary lifestyle | a way of life with very little physical activity | A sedentary lifestyle is common among office workers who sit all day. |
| regular exercise | physical activity done often | Regular exercise can improve both physical and mental health. |
| preventive measures | actions taken to stop illness before it starts | Vaccination is one of the most effective preventive measures. |
| life expectancy | the average number of years people live | Life expectancy has risen steadily thanks to better sanitation. |
| health-conscious | careful about staying healthy | Younger consumers are increasingly health-conscious and read food labels. |
| junk food | cheap food with little nutritional value | Schools in some countries have banned junk food from their canteens. |
Illness and treatment
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| chronic disease | an illness that lasts a long time | Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires lifelong management. |
| contagious | able to spread from person to person | Measles is highly contagious, so outbreaks spread quickly in schools. |
| recover from | become healthy again after illness | It took her several weeks to recover from the operation. |
| side effects | unwanted effects of a medicine | Some painkillers can cause serious side effects if taken for too long. |
| prescription | a doctor's written order for medicine | You need a prescription to buy strong antibiotics. |
| alternative medicine | treatment outside conventional medicine | Some patients try alternative medicine, although evidence for it is often limited. |
| life-threatening | likely to cause death | Without quick treatment, the infection could become life-threatening. |
Healthcare systems
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| public healthcare | medical services provided by the state | Public healthcare should be free at the point of use. |
| waiting list | a list of people waiting for treatment | Long waiting lists for surgery frustrate many patients. |
| medical staff | doctors, nurses and other health workers | Hospitals in rural areas often struggle to recruit enough medical staff. |
| health insurance | payment plan that covers medical costs | Private health insurance gives faster access but costs a lot every year. |
| primary care | first-contact health services such as family doctors | Investing in primary care keeps patients out of expensive hospitals. |
| overburdened | given more work than can be handled | The overburdened hospital had to postpone non-urgent operations. |
| a strain on resources | a heavy demand on available money or staff | An ageing population puts a strain on resources in many countries. |
Mental health and well-being
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mental well-being | the state of being mentally healthy | Time spent outdoors benefits mental well-being. |
| chronic stress | stress that continues over a long period | Chronic stress can lead to sleep problems and high blood pressure. |
| burnout | exhaustion caused by too much work | Teachers who are not supported are at risk of burnout. |
| seek professional help | ask a trained expert for support | People should feel comfortable to seek professional help for depression. |
| stigma | unfair shame attached to something | There is still a stigma around talking about mental illness. |
| coping mechanism | a method of dealing with difficulty | Exercise is a healthy coping mechanism for anxiety. |
| work-life balance | healthy division between work and private time | A good work-life balance protects both health and relationships. |
How to use these words well
- Learn word partners: say a balanced diet and chronic disease, not a balance food or long disease.
- Use chronic, contagious and preventive in Task 2 to sound precise, but only when the meaning fits.
- In Speaking, give a personal example after the phrase, such as how you recovered from a cold.
- Do not describe medical details you are unsure of; a general, accurate statement scores better than a risky one.
Study guides
Computer-Delivered IELTS: What Changes and What Stays the Same
Thinking about taking IELTS on a computer? Here is what stays the same, what feels different in Writing, Reading and Listening, and how to prepare for the screen.
IELTS Writing Task 1 Vocabulary for Graphs, Charts and Processes
Useful verbs, nouns, adverbs and sentence patterns for describing line graphs, bar charts, tables and processes in IELTS Task 1, with more than twelve example sentences.
Linking Words for IELTS and How to Use Them Correctly
A practical list of IELTS linking words grouped by function, with correct and incorrect examples, punctuation rules and a warning about overusing connectors.