Understanding these terms can help you communicate effectively about any medical issues you may face.
Categories of Medical Vocabulary
We’ll break down medical vocabulary into three sections: injuries, illnesses, and diseases.
1. Injuries
An injury refers to physical harm to the body, including bones, tissues, and skin. Common types of injuries include:
- Wound: A general term for physical harm to the body.
- Burn: Caused by contact with hot surfaces, like touching a stove.
- Break: Refers to a broken bone, often occurring from falls while skiing or biking.
- Sprain: A less severe injury where a ligament is stretched or torn, leading to swelling and pain without a broken bone.
2. Illnesses
An illness (or sickness) typically refers to a condition that affects your health but is usually temporary and can be treated. Common illnesses include:
- Cold: Characterized by sneezing and coughing.
- Flu: Usually comes with a fever and fatigue; short for influenza.
- Bug: A term often used to describe a virus, e.g., “There’s a bug going around.”
3. Diseases
A disease is a more serious condition that often lasts a long time and can be chronic. Some key terms related to diseases are:
- Chronic: A condition that persists over time (e.g., a chronic cough).
- Benign: A non-dangerous condition, such as a benign tumor.
- Terminal: A condition that is expected to lead to death, such as certain types of cancer.
Treatment and Healing
- Heal: Injuries heal over time with proper care.
- Remedy: For illnesses, a remedy is prescribed to aid recovery. This term can be used as both a noun and a verb.
- Treat: Diseases require ongoing treatment, and some may eventually have a cure.
Types of Doctors
There are various types of doctors, not just the general term “doctor.” Here are some alternatives:
- Physician: A broad term for someone who takes care of sick people.
- Pediatrician: A doctor specializing in the health of children.
- MD (Medical Doctor): A formal title for a doctor.
This is just a start to your medical vocabulary learning! Join us again for more lessons on treatments for different medical situations.