Health problems

The problem of health always worried people. It has been in the centre of attention of the scientists since ancient times. Perhaps, of all unpleasant things people hate diseases most of all.

In theory we know well what we should do to be healthy, but in practice there is hardly a man who has no problems with his health. Sometimes people, who are very busy, aren’t thoughtful enough about their health.

Of course, much has been done to put an end to a great number of diseases and epidemics. The scientists have already found cures for many diseases, afflicting people. But still we are suffering from many of them.

If we caught cold, have a splitting headache, have a clogged nose, cough, are running high temperature, we must go to the policlinic. First we come to the registry. The registry clerk on a duty asks our name, address, age and occupation. He writes out some slips because several specialists will examine us. Some of them will listen to our heart and lungs, some will check up our kidneys, liver, stomach, eyesight, and hearing. The others will make our blood analysis, take our blood pressure and x-ray us.

Our district doctor sees his patients in consulting room 4. A nurse gives us a thermometer to take our temperature. We must keep it under an armpit. Last time my temperature was 37,9. The doctor asked what my trouble was. He offered to sit down in a chair and to strip to the waist. He felt my pulse. It was faint and accelerated. Then I lay on the examination couch and the doctor palpated my abdomen. He asked me from what disease I suffered in my childhood. I suffered from scarlet fever. Now I felt dizzy and was damp with sweat. The doctor filled in my card and diagnosed the case as the flu.

Then he wrote out a prescription for some medicines: pills, powder, drops, and mixture. He also advised me to take a scalding footbath, to put a hot water bottle to my feet, to have hot tea with raspberry jam. That would keep my fever down. The result of my X-ray examination and blood analysis was normal. I had the prescription made at the chemist’s. I followed the prescribed treatment to avoid complications. Every day I took a tablespoonful of mixture 3 times a day and some pills. In two days I was better and in a week I recovered from my illness. I began to take care of myself. Now I go in for sports because sports make me strong, healthy and cheerful. Every day I do my morning exercises and have a cold rubdown to prevent myself from catching cold. There is a good proverb: ‘An apple a day keeps doctor away.’ That’s why I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables.

In case of sudden and severe illness or an accident calls are made to the first aid station. There the doctors are on duty all day long. There are many ambulances there. The ambulances are equipped with everything necessary to give the first aid. The patient is transported to hospital. There he is taken to the reception ward first. After questioning and examination the doctor fills in the patient’s case history. Then a patient is given special clothes and is put to some ward for treatment. The doctors make their daily round there. They examine patients and prescribe different medicines and treatments.

When a patient is completely cured, he is discharged from the hospital. There are different departments in the hospital. They are: a surgical department, therapy, and the department of infectious diseases.

In the Polyclinics	In the Hospital
We get here when…	We can get here if…
First…/Then…	Firstly…/Then…
After all/Finally…	In the end…

Task 3. Read the text. For each of the empty space (1–12) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

Common Viral Infections

Millions of people get sick (1) _________ viral infections every year. These viruses can (2) _________ a wide range of symptoms and result in everything from the common cold to AIDS. Here we will discuss some of the most common viral infections.

1. Common Cold. The most common viral infection in the world, the common cold, can be caused by many different viruses. Symptoms are typically mild and last between a week and 10 days. Most adults (3) _________ two to four colds a year, while children may get up to a dozen.

Use common prevention measures to reduce your chances of getting a cold, such as washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer when you don’t have access to soap and water, and (4) _________ others who are sick.

2. Influenza (The Flu). Influenza is the virus that causes the seasonal flu. There are hundreds of strains of influenza that can cause flu symptoms, and the virus mutates from year to year. Although the flu isn’t serious for everyone, hundreds of thousands of people (5) _________ every year. Worldwide, it is estimated that between 250,000 and half a million people die from the flu each year. The best way (6) _________ the flu is by getting a flu vaccine.

3. Bronchitis. Bronchitis may be caused by a bacteria, virus, or even chemicals, but the viral version is the most common. It can cause a cough that lasts for weeks and is a common (7) _________ of both the common cold and the flu. If you are concerned that you might have bronchitis, contact your health care provider. Treatment will depend on your symptoms and the type of bronchitis that you have.

4. Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu). Gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, is a very common (8) _________ infection. This unpleasant illness causes symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and is highly contagious.

5. Some Ear Infections. It used to be that all ear infections were treated with antibiotics because it was believed that most were caused by bacteria. More recent research has shown that a majority of middle ear infections are actually viral and will resolve on their own (9) _________ treatment. Ear infections are far more common in children than they are in adults. Treatment usually depends on how much pain the infection is causing and other symptoms a person is experiencing.

6. Croup. Croup can be caused by many different viruses. It occurs almost exclusively in children under the age of 8, but can be very scary for both the child that gets it and their parents. Croup (10) _________ by a cough that sounds like a seal barking. Some children may also experience stridor, which is a whistling sound made when the child is inhaling.

7. RSV. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a viral infection that can be life (11) _________ for premature babies up to the age of 2 but causes typical cold symptoms in older children and adults. RSV creates a lot of mucus and it may be very difficult for very young children to breathe when this (12) _________. Many babies who were premature and get RSV during the first two years of life need to be hospitalized.

1 A with B from C of D at

2 A result B show C cause D give

3 A receive B get C bring D cause

4 A avoiding B talking to C blaming D asking

5 A be hospitalized B hospitalizing C hospitalized D hospitalize

6 A to cause B to get C to prevent D to result

7 A conversation B complication C continuation D combination

8 A virus B vomiting C vital D viral

9 A without B with C out D outside

10 A is taking B is characterised C is caused D is taken

11 A threat B threatened C threatening D being threated

12 A occurred B occurrence C occurs D occurring

Task 4. Your friend has sent you a letter asking about your life and how you are doing. Unfortunately, you’ve just been badly ill and now are recovering from your illness. On a separate sheet of paper write your friend a letter about your illness including the information about your symptoms, visit to a doctor and treatment.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-29