Medical Vocabulary

Medical Vocabulary

Going for a check-up - Insomnia

• I’m here because I’m having trouble sleeping.
• I’m not sleeping well
• I have a long commute in the morning and I need to sleep well so I can drive safely.
• Nightmares (=bad dreams)
• Do you have any problems in your life right now, maybe with family or work?
• I am very stressed
• I think you need a vacation
• Trip (noun) ; TO travel (verb)
• You need to de-stress your life.

Going for a check-up – Shoulder Injury

• Tell me what the problem is.
• I was driving my motorbike the other day and fell off.  Now my shoulder hurts.
• You need to take ______ for _____ days. / Once a day / twice a day / three times a day

Dentist - Toothache

• I have a toothache ( /toothaKe/ )
• Let me check your teeth = let me take a look.
• I think it’s probably your wisdom teeth/tooth.
• I know, but my whole face hurts / is sore.
• That is a normal symptom.
• I think it’s necessary to remove that tooth.
• I don’t want to have an implant / a fake tooth.
• If you don’t take care of the problem, it could get worse.
• If you don’t want to have the procedure, I’ll prescribe some pain killers for you.
• How much will it cost?
• An extraction / to get an extraction
• If you have the extraction, we’ll give you an anesthetic and you won’t feel a thing. (you won’t feel anything.)

Dentist – Heavy Brusher

• Can I come in?
• I’m here because I have a toothache.
• Can you sit down and open your mouth so I can see what the problem is?
• Toothbrush / toothpaste / (dental) floss
• Plaque / teeth / enamel / gums (inflamed / recede) / cavity / filling / root canal
• I brush very hard / I’m a hard brusher.
• How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
• You shouldn’t brush your teeth so hard.  You can wear away at the enamel.
• I’ll give you some pills for the pain.
• Can you also clean my teeth today?

Hospital – Bad Cut

• What happened? (What’s the matter? / What’s the problem? / What seems to be the problem?)
• I’m bleeding.
• How did you cut yourself? (I cut myself with a knife.  I cut myself cooking. = I cut myself while I was cooking.)
• I cut off a bit of my nail / the tip of my finger.
• You have to be careful with knives / when using knives.
• Are you allergic to any medications?
• Penicillan
• The nurse will come to give you the shot.
• Do you want to rest for a while?  Do you need to lay down?
• Cot / stretcher (ambulance) / the infirmary (in schools)
• I think I may faint if I try to stand up now.
• That wouldn’t be good – please lay down for a while.
• To faint, to feel faint, to feel dizzy, to feel nauseous
• Do I need stitches?
• No, it just needs to be disinfected and we’ll cover it with a bandage.
• To be injured, to have an injury, a wound /woond/
• To get a shot / an injection, needle
• You need to stay here until your physician: clears you / gives you the okay / says everything is fine / tells you you can leave / signs off on your chart.

Hospital – Allergic Reaction

• Can you tell me what happened?
• I don’t know what’s (happening to me /wrong with me), but when I woke up this morning, I felt ill.
• Do you have health insurance?
• No, I don’t.
• You don’t?  That’s going to be a problem.
• Are you feverish? / Do you feel feverish?
• When I woke up this morning, I had a rash on my arms.
• I think I had an allergic reaction.
• Have you ever had hives before?

Make an appointment (1)

• How can I help you?
• I’m calling because I want to make an appointment with my GP (general practicioner).
• I need him to look at my arm because I broke it a while ago / six weeks.
• Can you TELL (give) me your name?  Telephone number?
• One moment please, I need to find my insurance card.
• Health care provider (the company)
• It’s important for you to bring your insurance card with you when you come in for your appointment.
• I have an open appointment next week.  Would that work / would that be ok?
• You will have to get an x-ray when you come in.

• You will need to update your medical history and release forms when you come in.
• Doctor = practicioner = physician

Make an appointment (2)

• I’m calling to make an appointment.
• I need to get some information from you.
• What is your name / phone number?
• What’s the matter? / What’s the problem?
• Yesterday, I got the flu and I’m still ill today.
• I want to see the doctor to get some medicine to make me feel better.
• I’d like to come in as soon as possible.
• Can you come in this evening?
• What time is the appointment? / What time do you have available?
• Can you come at 8 o’clock?