Health and Sickness - General Nouns Related to Health and Sickness

Here you will learn some general English nouns related to health and sickness such as "condition", "epidemic", and "carrier".

review

flashcard

spelling

quiz

start-learning

illness [noun]

the state of being physically or mentally sick

Ex: He recovered from his illness after a long treatment .

disease [noun]

an illness in a human, animal, or plant that affects health

Ex: She campaigns for awareness of the disease .

sickness [noun]

the state of being unwell

Ex: She carried medicine for any unexpected sickness during her trip .

infection [noun]

the act in which a disease-causing organism, such as a virus or parasite, causes a particular illness

Ex: Hospitals take strict precautions to prevent infections from spreading among patients and staff .

disorder [noun]

a disease, illness, or medical condition that impairs normal physical or mental function

Ex:

complaint [noun]

a typically minor health issue or condition for which one seeks medical assistance

Ex: The clinic specializes in treating various skin complaints , from rashes to eczema .

condition [noun]

a medical problem, such as a disorder, illness, etc.

Ex: Living with a mental health condition can be challenging , but many find support through therapy and community resources .

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 .

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 .

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 .

bug [noun]

a tiny living organism that can cause disease

Ex: The doctor explained how the bug spreads .

burnout [noun]

a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by stress, overwork, or a lack of balance between work and personal life

Ex:

indisposition [noun]

a mild state of being unwell, often leading to a temporary inability to perform one's usual activities

Ex: The manager showed understanding when the team member communicated their indisposition and need for a sick day .

infirmity [noun]

the state of being weak and unhealthy, especially due to old age or sickness

Ex: Age often brings with it various infirmities , making daily tasks more challenging .

insanity [noun]

a state of severe mental disorder affecting a person's ability to understand reality, think rationally, or behave in a socially acceptable manner

Ex: Early intervention is emphasized for symptoms associated with insanity .

insufficiency [noun]

a bodily system or organ's failure to function in an effective or typical manner

Ex: Thyroid insufficiency leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormones .

malaise [noun]

a feeling of being physically ill and irritated without knowing the reason

Ex: She felt a general sense of malaise , with fatigue and a lack of energy persisting for several days .

mental illness [noun]

conditions affecting how a person thinks, feels, behaves, or their mood, often needing medical or therapeutic help

Ex: Support from friends and family plays a crucial role in managing mental illness .

pandemic [noun]

a disease that spreads across a large region or even across the world

Ex:

syndrome [noun]

a set of characteristics, behaviors, or qualities commonly observed in a specific situation or group of individuals

Ex:

lump [noun]

a swollen area under the skin, usually caused by a sickness or injury

Ex: Common places where lumps may occur include the neck , armpits , groin , breasts , and joints .

cough [noun]

a condition or disease that makes one cough frequently

Ex: The child 's cough worsened , prompting a visit to the pediatrician .

trauma [noun]

damage inflicted on the body as a result of an external force or event

Ex: Victims of domestic violence often suffer from both physical and emotional trauma .

injury [noun]

any physical damage to a part of the body caused by an accident or attack

Ex: She 's been doing exercises to heal her shoulder injury .

incapacity [noun]

‌the state of being physically or mentally unable to do one's work or to manage one's affairs

bout [noun]

a short period during which someone is suffering from an illness

Ex: His frequent bouts of insomnia left him feeling exhausted and unable to focus during the day .

carrier [noun]

a person or animal that carries a disease, without suffering from it themselves, and transmits to other people or animals

Ex: Typhoid Mary became infamous as a carrier of typhoid fever , transmitting the disease to many while remaining unaffected herself .

community spread [noun]

the outbreak of a contagious illness among the people of a particular region where the source of the infection is not easily traceable

Ex: The rapid community spread of the virus has overwhelmed local hospitals and healthcare facilities .

dehydration [noun]

a harmful state in which the body has lost a lot of water

exacerbation [noun]

the act of aggravating a disease, pain, illness, etc.

malady [noun]

any physical problem that might put one's health in danger

Ex: The doctor diagnosed her with a mysterious malady that caused chronic fatigue and muscle weakness .

nausea [noun]

the feeling of discomfort in the stomach, often with the urge to vomit

Ex: She experienced nausea after eating too much at the fair .

pain [noun]

the unpleasant feeling caused by an illness or injury

Ex: The dentist gave me medicine to ease the pain .

pallor [noun]

the condition of having an unhealthy pale appearance as a result of illness, emotional distress, etc.

pathogen [noun]

any organism that can cause diseases

Ex: The researchers identified a new viral pathogen that was causing the outbreak of respiratory illness in the community .

patient zero [noun]

the first person known to have a certain disease, often seen as the starting point of an outbreak

Ex: Researchers are studying patient zero to learn more about the transmission and progression of the virus .

attack [noun]

a sudden, severe, and often brief appearance of a health problem that is hard to control

Ex:

emaciation [noun]

a state of extreme thinness and weakness, often due to illness, starvation, etc.

Ex: The veterinarian was alarmed by the emaciation of the stray dog and quickly began a feeding regimen .

agony [noun]

severe physical or mental pain

Ex: The agony of arthritis can make simple movements excruciating .

coma [noun]

a state of deep unconsciousness, typically of a long duration and caused by a serious injury or severe illness

Ex: Doctors monitored her brain activity while she was in a coma .

superspreader [noun]

someone who spreads a contagious disease to a very large number of people

symptom [noun]

a change in the normal condition of the body of a person, which is the sign of a disease

Ex: Muscle aches and fatigue are common symptoms of many viral infections .

unconsciousness [noun]

the state of not being awake or aware of one's surroundings

Ex: She experienced brief unconsciousness after the fainting spell .

undernourishment [noun]

a condition in which individuals do not receive enough nutrients and calories, leading to various health problems such as stunted growth

Ex: During pregnancy , undernourishment can harm both the mother and the baby 's health .

upset [noun]

a health problem that disrupts the normal functioning of the stomach

Ex: The upset led to severe cramps and bloating .

red zone [noun]

an area with a high number of infected people where strict public health rules are applied to control the spread of infection

Ex: Travel to and from regions classified as a red zone is currently restricted to limit the movement of potentially infected individuals .

relapse [noun]

‌the return of symptoms or a condition after a period of improvement or recovery

Ex: Despite her efforts to manage her depression , she experienced a relapse and sought help from her therapist .

seizure [noun]

a sudden and unexpected start or return of a medical problem

Ex: Witnessing her friend 's seizure was terrifying , but she knew what to do and called for help immediately .

shake [noun]

a reflexive movement of the body or part of it caused by cold, fear, or excitement

Ex:

sneeze [noun]

the act of blowing air out of your nose and mouth in a forceful way

Ex: She could n't hold back the sneeze during the quiet moment .

cyst [noun]

a growth with abnormal features that appears in the body and contains fluid

debility [noun]

physical weakness that is caused by a disease or aging

Ex: The disease progressed , leading to increasing debility and a decline in overall physical functioning .

clean bill of health [phrase]

a doctor's report stating that the patient is in good physical or mental health

Ex: He 's been given a clean bill of health by the doctor .

Health and Sickness
Types of Injuries	Skin Diseases and Problems	Gastrointestinal Diseases and Problems	Musculoskeletal Diseases and Problems
Reproductive System Diseases and Problems	Infectious Diseases	Genetic Disorders	Autoimmune Diseases
Specific Diseases	Medical Conditions	Mental Illnesses and Problems	Cancer
Disability	Mental and Physical Pain	Physical Healthcare and Recovery	Animal Diseases
Describing Mental Illnesses	Describing Health and Sickness	Describing Pain and Injury	General Nouns Related to Health and Sickness
General Verbs Related to Injury	General Verbs Related to Health and Sickness