HEALTH&FITNESS

1. Hectic schedule/lifestyle cause stress and tension which lead to health problems such as heart attack,
depression or insomnia
2. Suffer from overwork which affects us both physically and mentally
3. Vulnerable to disease
4. Prone to suicide
5. Stress-related health problems such as heart attack, depression or insomnia
6. Feel stressed/cope with/get rid of
7. In order to keep fit/prevent ill health I..........
8. Lead a healthy way of life
9. Key factors in keeping healthy are balanced/proper diet and regular exercise
10. It‘s important/essential to fit exercise in sb‘s daily routine
11. Exercise/do sports
12. Go jogging/swimming/work out in the gym
13. Exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy body
1. The benefits/ effectivenes of diet are undeniable
14. Food rich in proteines/carbohydrates/vitamins is essential
15. Diet and exercise go hand in hand
2. Increase life expectancy
16. Get lots of fresh air, eat right
17. Positive effects of regular exercise
18. Physical training classes should be included in the school curriculum
19. Beneficial/advantageous
20. Fitness Centre
21. Encourage
22. Contribute to
23. Have regular health checks
24. Conventional medicine
25. Health condition
26. Prescribe for/prescription
27. Chemist‘s, remedies (ointment, pills, medicine, aspirin, painkillers, cough mixture, antiseptic, antibiotics,
throat sweets, paracetamol, sleeping-pills, plaster, herbal tea, take medicine(s))
28. Procrastinate an appointment with a doctor/dentist
29. Get ill from time to time
30. Diagnose with/ get over/recover from/go down with
31. Health disorders/ diseases (insomnia, indigestion, appendicitis, pulled muscle, the flu, a sore throat, a cold, a
fever, a heart attack, pneumonia, obesity, depression, myopia, anxiety, stress-related health problems, cancer,
pain, bruise, headache, sneeze, runny nose, bronchitis, chicken-pox, measles, mumps, stroke, diabetes, food
poisoning)
32. Treat/treatment
33. Be operated on
34. Surgery
35. Wound/injury
36. Antioxidant
3. Alternative therapies (acupuncture, homeopathy, meditation, yoga)

Definitions

 aches and pains: minor pains that continue over a period of time
 to be a bit off colour: to feel a little ill
  to be at death’s door: (informal) to be very ill indeed
 to be on the mend: to be recovering after an illness
 to be over the worst: to have got through the most serious or uncomfortable stage of an illlness
 to be under the weather: (informal) to not feel well
 a blocked nose: when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold
 to catch a cold: to get a cold
 a check-up: a physical examination by a doctor
 a chesty cough: a cough caused by congestion around the lungs
 cuts and bruises: minor injuries
 to feel poorly: to feel ill
 as fit as a fiddle: to be very healthy
 to go down with a cold: to become ill
 to go private: to choose to be treated by commercial healthcare rather than by services offered by the state
 GP: General Practitioner (family doctor)
 to have a filling: to have a tooth repaired
 to have a tooth out: to have a tooth removed
 a heavy cold: a bad cold
 to make an appointment: to arrange a time to see the doctor
 to make a speedy recovery: to recover quickly from an illness
 to phone in sick: to call work to explain you won’t be attending work due to illness
 prescription charges: money the patient pays for medicine authorised by a doctor
 to pull a muscle: to strain a muscle
 a runny nose: a nose that has liquid coming out of it
 a sore throat: inflammation that causes pain when swallowing

Useful Vocabulary

Healthy activities / habits – things that are good for your health

 taking regular exercise

 playing sport(s)
 (going) swimming
 (going) cycling
 going to the gym
 doing yoga / Pilates / tai chi
 eating fresh fruit and vegetables
 eating organic foods
 eating regular meals
 drinking water
 having a balanced diet

Unhealthy habits – things that are bad for your health

 smoking
 binge drinking (excessive amounts of alcohol)
 taking drugs
 eating too much salt / fat / sugar
 being overweight

Verb + Noun Collocations

 to look after your health

 to take care of our health
 to maintain your health
 to be in good / poor health
 to regain your health

Verb + Adjective Collocations

 to feel healthy
 to look healthy
 to be healthy
 to keep / stay healthy

Useful Linking Expressions

Adding more detail

 In (actual) fact, …
 Actually, …
 More to the point, …
 Indeed, …
 To be more precise / exact, …
Speaking tasks

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

 What do you do to stay healthy?

 Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
 What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?
 Do you have a good public health system in your country?
 Is there anything you’d like to improve about it?
 What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
 In your experience are people too quick to take time off school when they’re ill?
 Do women pay more attention to their health than men?

Describe something you do to keep healthy.

You should say:

 what this activity is

 when you do it
 and how often you do it

and explain why you think it’s a good way to look after your health.

Describe a time when you were ill. You should say:

• when this was

• what your symptoms were

• how long the illness lasted

and say how it affected your life at the time.

1. What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?
2. Do you think people worry more about their health as they get older?
3. Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are damaging
to their health?
4. How can children be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits?
5. Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?
6. Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?