ACT Science - Diseases

Here you will learn some English words related to diseases, such as "narcolepsy", "dementia", "latent", etc. that will help you ace your ACTs.

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benign [adjective]

(of an ilness) not fatal or harmful

Ex: Despite experiencing symptoms , the tests revealed that his condition was benign and temporary .

malignant [adjective]

(of a tumor or disease) uncontrollable and likely to be fatal

Ex: The oncologist recommended a combination of chemotherapy and radiation to combat the malignant disease .

latent [adjective]

(of a medical condition or infection) present in the body but not currently producing symptoms

Ex: Herpes often enters a latent phase between outbreaks .

chronic [adjective]

(of an illness) difficult to cure and long-lasting

Ex: Tom 's chronic arthritis makes it challenging for him to move around comfortably .

life-threatening [adjective]

posing a significant risk to a person's life

Ex: The storm created life-threatening situations for residents in the area .

asymptomatic [adjective]

(of a disease) not showing any symptoms associated with it

Ex: Many individuals infected with the parasite are asymptomatic and may not seek medical attention .

cardiovascular [adjective]

related to the heart and blood vessels

Ex: Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help maintain cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of heart disease .

virulent [adjective]

(of a disease) able to make one sick

Ex:

ailment [noun]

an illness, often a minor one

Ex: The elderly often suffer from various age-related ailments such as arthritis .

affliction [noun]

a state of pain or suffering due to a physical or mental condition

Ex: Chronic back pain was his most debilitating affliction , affecting his ability to work and enjoy daily activities .

contagion [noun]

any disease or virus that can be easily passed from one person to another

Ex: Frequent handwashing and wearing masks are effective measures to reduce the risk of contagion in crowded places .

prognosis [noun]

a professional opinion regarding the likely course of an illness

Ex: The prognosis for patients with untreated tuberculosis can be poor if the infection spreads to vital organs .

syndrome [noun]

a group of medical signs that indicate a person is suffering from a particular disease or condition

Ex:

glaucoma [noun]

an eye condition characterized by increased pressure within the eye, which can lead to optic nerve damage and vision loss if not treated

Ex: Increased pressure in the eye can damage the optic nerve , causing peripheral vision loss in glaucoma .

inflammation [noun]

a physical condition in which a part of the body becomes swollen, painful, and red as a result of an infection or injury

sepsis [noun]

a severe, life-threatening response to infection causing widespread inflammation and potential organ failure

Ex: Sepsis symptoms include fever , rapid heart rate , and altered mental status .

fatty liver [noun]

a condition where excess fat accumulates in liver cells, often due to factors like alcohol consumption or obesity

Ex: Treatment for fatty liver focuses on lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise .

steatosis [noun]

a medical condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fat within liver cells

allergy [noun]

a medical condition in which one's body severely reacts to a specific substance if it is inhaled, touched, or ingested

Ex: The doctor advised her to avoid dairy products because of her lactose allergy .

concussion [noun]

a momentary loss of consciousness provoked by a hard blow on the head

Ex: The patient presented with symptoms of a concussion , including dizziness , confusion , and sensitivity to light , after a car accident .

autism [noun]

a disorder that begins in early childhood, causing behavioral, social, and communication challenges

hypertension [noun]

a condition that arises when one is experiencing a chronic elevation of blood pressure

tuberculosis [noun]

a potentially severe bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs and causes swellings to appear on them or other parts of the body

cystic fibrosis [noun]

a genetic disorder causing the production of thick and sticky mucus, affecting the respiratory and digestive systems and leading to various complications

Ex: Individuals with cystic fibrosis are at risk of developing complications such as diabetes and liver disease .

yellow fever [noun]

a tropical viral disease, characterized by fever, muscle pain, etc. which consequently leads to jaundice and potential death, transmitted by infected mosquitoes

insomnia [noun]

a disorder in which one is unable to sleep or stay asleep

Ex: The doctor recommended a few relaxation techniques to help combat her insomnia and improve her sleep quality .

obesity [noun]

the condition of having such a high amount of body fat that it becomes very dangerous for one's health

Ex: Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes , heart disease , and certain types of cancer .

attention deficit disorder [noun]

a neurological condition characterized by difficulty in sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, typically diagnosed in childhood and often persisting into adulthood

Ex:

dementia [noun]

a mental condition that happens when the brain is damaged by disease or injury, causing memory loss and impairing the ability to think or make decisions

Ex: The doctor explained that dementia can affect both short-term and long-term memory .

mumps [noun]

an infectious viral disease characterized by fever and the painful swelling of the neck

measles [noun]

a contagious disease that causes high fever and small red spots on the body, common in children

Ex: Measles can spread through coughing and sneezing , as well as direct contact with infected droplets .

narcolepsy [noun]

a neurological condition causing sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep, often accompanied by muscle weakness or vivid dreams

Ex: The use of medications , such as stimulants , is common in managing symptoms of narcolepsy .

restless leg syndrome [noun]

a condition causing an irresistible urge to move the legs, often with uncomfortable sensations, usually worse in the evening or at night

Ex: Restless leg syndrome often kept him awake , leading to tiredness during the day .

dermatitis [noun]

a general term referring to inflammation of the skin, often causing redness, itching, and various skin conditions

Ex: Eczema is a form of dermatitis characterized by itchy , inflamed skin .

gigantism [noun]

a rare medical condition characterized by excessive growth and height due to an overproduction of growth hormone during childhood and adolescence

Ex: Treatment for gigantism often involves surgery or medication to reduce the production of growth hormone .

trauma [noun]

a medical condition of the mind caused by extreme shock, which could last for a very long time

Ex: Childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects on a person 's mental and emotional well-being .

fester [noun]

a sore or wound that has become infected and is producing pus, often characterized by inflammation and discomfort

Ex: A warm compress can help reduce the swelling of a fester .

epidemic [noun]

the rapid spread of an infectious disease within a specific population, community, or region, affecting a significant number of individuals at the same time

Ex: The flu epidemic affected thousands of people last winter .

ACT Science
Physics	Electromagnetism and Mechanics	Chemistry	Chemical Substances and Compounds
Biology	Biochemistry and Cell Structure	Medical Science	Neurology and Blood Biochemistry
Anatomy and Genetics	Diseases	Zoology	Animal Life and Evolution
Agriculture and Forestry	Botany and Gardening	Geology	Geography and Oceanography
Astronomy and Aerospace Science