For upper-intermediate learners: medical conditions, therapy, bodily systems, and the science and habits behind healthy living.
Free Body & Health vocabulary flashcards at the B2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and recognize and use these words confidently in real conversations.
Browse the full word list below for free. Sign up to study the set with spaced repetition — Budling schedules reviews so the words you know less well come back sooner.
immune
protected against a particular disease because your body has built a defence against it
inflammation
a localised response in the body involving redness, heat, and swelling as the immune system reacts
cardiovascular
relating to the heart and the blood vessels that carry blood around the body
obesity
a medical condition in which excess body fat reaches a level that poses health risks
therapy
a form of treatment designed to improve a physical or mental health condition over time
deficiency
a lack of a substance, such as a vitamin or mineral, that your body needs to function
syndrome
a set of symptoms and signs that consistently appear together and indicate a particular condition
hormones
chemical messengers produced by glands that travel through the blood and control body functions
arteries
the thick-walled blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body
lymphatic system
a network of tissues and vessels that removes waste, toxins, and excess fluid from the body
antibodies
proteins produced by the immune system that attach to and neutralise harmful substances
pathogen
a microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus that can cause disease
sedentary
involving very little physical movement, typically referring to a lifestyle spent mostly sitting
saturated fat
a type of fat found in animal products that can raise cholesterol levels if eaten in excess
cholesterol
a fatty substance produced by the liver that, in high amounts, can block blood vessels
insulin
a hormone produced by the pancreas that controls the level of sugar in the blood
endurance
the ability to keep doing a physical or mental activity for a long period without giving up
flexibility
the ability of your joints and muscles to move through their full range without pain
metabolism
the set of chemical processes in your body that convert food into energy
addiction
a strong physical or psychological dependence on a substance or behaviour that is hard to stop
withdrawal
the unpleasant physical or mental effects that occur when you stop taking a substance your body depends on
dehydration
a condition in which the body loses more fluid than it takes in, impairing normal function
insomnia
a persistent difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep through the night
depression
a mental health condition characterised by persistent low mood, low energy, and loss of interest
chronic pain
pain that lasts for more than three months and continues beyond normal healing time
respiratory
relating to breathing and the organs involved in taking in and expelling air
transplant
a medical procedure in which a damaged organ is replaced with a healthy one from a donor
biopsy
a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to be examined for disease
relapse
the return of an illness or harmful behaviour after a period of improvement or recovery
prognosis
a doctor's prediction of how a condition is likely to develop in the future
deteriorate
to become progressively worse in health or function over time
vein
a blood vessel that carries blood back toward the heart from the rest of the body
anaemia
a condition in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen to the body's tissues, often due to low iron
scan
a medical imaging procedure that produces detailed pictures of the inside of the body
hypersensitive
reacting too strongly to a substance, stimulus, or medication that would not normally cause problems