IELTS Health Vocabulary
60 essential health and wellbeing words for IELTS. Health is a core topic in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3. Master these words to discuss healthcare, nutrition, mental health, and lifestyle with precision.
Health Vocabulary in the IELTS Exam
- Writing Task 2: Common questions ask about public health, obesity, government responsibility for healthcare, diet and exercise, and mental health awareness.
- Speaking Part 1 & 3: You may discuss your own health habits, healthcare systems, or the impact of modern lifestyles on health.
- Reading: Scientific passages about health research, nutrition studies, and medical breakthroughs are common.
- Listening: Health-related topics appear in all sections, from doctor consultations to public health lectures.
| # | Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnosis | noun | The identification of an illness or condition through examination | Early diagnosis of cancer significantly improves survival rates. |
| 2 | Wellbeing | noun | The state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy | Schools should promote student wellbeing alongside academic achievement. |
| 3 | Nutrition | noun | The process of providing or obtaining food necessary for health | Good nutrition in childhood is essential for physical and cognitive development. |
| 4 | Obesity | noun | The condition of being grossly overweight | Childhood obesity has reached alarming levels in many developed countries. |
| 5 | Lifestyle | noun | The way in which a person lives | A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. |
| 6 | Pharmaceutical | adj. / noun | Relating to the preparation and dispensing of medicines | The pharmaceutical industry invests billions in drug research. |
| 7 | Sedentary | adj. | Involving much sitting and little physical activity | Office workers often lead sedentary lives, which can harm their health. |
| 8 | Therapy | noun | Treatment intended to relieve or heal a condition | Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective for treating anxiety and depression. |
| 9 | Chronic | adj. | Persisting for a long time; long-term | Chronic diseases such as diabetes require ongoing management. |
| 10 | Acute | adj. | Severe and sudden in onset | Acute respiratory infections are a leading cause of death in young children. |
| 11 | Symptom | noun | A physical or mental sign of a disease or condition | Persistent headaches can be a symptom of stress or a more serious condition. |
| 12 | Treatment | noun | Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury | Access to affordable treatment is a basic human right. |
| 13 | Prevention | noun | Action taken to stop something from happening | Prevention is more cost-effective than curing diseases after they develop. |
| 14 | Rehabilitation | noun | The process of restoring someone to health after illness or injury | Physiotherapy plays a key role in rehabilitation after surgery. |
| 15 | Fitness | noun | The condition of being physically healthy and strong | Regular exercise is essential for maintaining physical fitness. |
| # | Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Mental health | noun | A person’s psychological and emotional wellbeing | Awareness of mental health issues has increased significantly in recent years. |
| 17 | Epidemic | noun | A widespread occurrence of a disease in a community | The obesity epidemic is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. |
| 18 | Pandemic | noun | A disease outbreak that spreads across countries or continents | The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in global health systems. |
| 19 | Immune system | noun | The body’s defence mechanism against infection and disease | A balanced diet helps strengthen the immune system. |
| 20 | Vaccination | noun | Treatment with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease | Vaccination programmes have eradicated smallpox and reduced polio. |
| 21 | Antibiotics | noun | Medicines used to treat bacterial infections | Overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. |
| 22 | Malnutrition | noun | Lack of proper nutrition caused by insufficient or unbalanced diet | Malnutrition remains a leading cause of death among children in developing countries. |
| 23 | Contagious | adj. | Able to be spread from one person to another by contact | Measles is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in unvaccinated populations. |
| 24 | Prevalence | noun | The proportion of a population found to have a condition | The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising in developed nations. |
| 25 | Prognosis | noun | The likely course or outcome of a medical condition | The prognosis for patients with early-stage breast cancer is generally positive. |
| 26 | Remedy | noun / verb | A treatment or medicine that cures a disease or relieves a condition | Herbal remedies are popular in many cultures as alternatives to modern medicine. |
| 27 | Sanitation | noun | Conditions relating to public health, especially clean water and sewage | Improved sanitation has dramatically reduced the spread of waterborne diseases. |
| 28 | Hygiene | noun | Practices that maintain health and prevent disease | Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection. |
| 29 | Ailment | noun | A minor illness or physical complaint | Common ailments such as colds and headaches rarely require medical attention. |
| 30 | Addictive | adj. | Causing a strong and harmful need to regularly have or do something | Tobacco and alcohol are highly addictive substances. |
| # | Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Calorie | noun | A unit of energy in food | Consuming more calories than you burn leads to weight gain. |
| 32 | Cardiovascular | adj. | Relating to the heart and blood vessels | Regular aerobic exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. |
| 33 | Deficiency | noun | A lack or shortage of a nutrient or substance | Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide. |
| 34 | Deteriorate | verb | To become progressively worse | Without proper care, a patient’s condition can deteriorate rapidly. |
| 35 | Dosage | noun | The amount of medicine taken at one time | Patients must follow the prescribed dosage to avoid side effects. |
| 36 | Fatigue | noun | Extreme tiredness resulting from physical or mental exertion | Chronic fatigue can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. |
| 37 | Genetic | adj. | Relating to genes or heredity | Some diseases have a genetic component and run in families. |
| 38 | Holistic | adj. | Treating the whole person, not just the symptoms | A holistic approach to healthcare considers diet, exercise, and mental health. |
| 39 | Infectious | adj. | Liable to be transmitted through the environment | Infectious diseases can spread rapidly in overcrowded living conditions. |
| 40 | Life expectancy | noun | The average number of years a person is expected to live | Life expectancy has increased significantly thanks to advances in medicine. |
| 41 | Metabolism | noun | The chemical processes in the body that convert food into energy | Exercise boosts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories. |
| 42 | Outpatient | noun / adj. | A patient who receives treatment without being admitted to hospital | Many procedures are now performed on an outpatient basis. |
| 43 | Pathogen | noun | A bacterium, virus, or organism that can cause disease | Vaccines train the immune system to recognise and fight specific pathogens. |
| 44 | Prescribe | verb | To authorise the use of medicine for a patient | Doctors should only prescribe antibiotics when they are truly necessary. |
| 45 | Relapse | noun / verb | A return to a worse condition after a period of improvement | Patients recovering from addiction are at risk of relapse. |
| # | Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Screening | noun | Testing for disease in people who have no symptoms | Regular cancer screening can detect the disease at an early, treatable stage. |
| 47 | Side effect | noun | An unintended secondary effect of a drug or treatment | Some medications cause drowsiness as a side effect. |
| 48 | Stress | noun | Mental or emotional tension caused by demanding circumstances | Workplace stress is a growing concern in modern society. |
| 49 | Supplement | noun / verb | A product taken to add nutrients to the diet | Vitamin D supplements are recommended for people with limited sun exposure. |
| 50 | Surgical | adj. | Relating to or involving surgery | Surgical procedures have become less invasive thanks to new technology. |
| 51 | Transplant | noun / verb | An operation to move an organ from one person to another | Organ transplants save thousands of lives each year. |
| 52 | Obesity rate | noun | The proportion of a population that is obese | Obesity rates have tripled worldwide since 1975. |
| 53 | Physiotherapy | noun | Treatment of disease or injury through physical methods such as exercise | Physiotherapy is essential for recovery after a sports injury. |
| 54 | Immunisation | noun | The process of making a person immune to a disease by vaccination | Childhood immunisation programmes have saved millions of lives globally. |
| 55 | Inpatient | noun / adj. | A patient who stays in hospital during treatment | Inpatient care is more expensive than community-based treatment. |
| 56 | Palliative | adj. | Relieving symptoms without curing the underlying cause | Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for terminally ill patients. |
| 57 | Dietitian | noun | A professional who advises on matters of food and nutrition | A dietitian can create a personalised eating plan for patients with diabetes. |
| 58 | Sedative | noun / adj. | A drug that calms or induces sleep | Patients may be given a mild sedative before a medical procedure. |
| 59 | Psychosomatic | adj. | Relating to physical symptoms caused by mental or emotional factors | Stress can cause psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches and stomach pain. |
| 60 | Recuperate | verb | To recover from illness or exertion | Patients need time to recuperate after major surgery. |