Health and lifestyle
Talk about illness, symptoms and healthy habits — and understand advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
In this lesson you will
- Describe common symptoms
- Talk to a doctor or pharmacist
- Discuss healthy and unhealthy habits
Learn
Symptoms: I have a headache / a sore throat / a cough / a temperature / a cold / the flu. My back hurts. I feel sick / dizzy / tired.
At the doctor’s: What’s the matter? How long have you had it? Take this twice a day after meals. You should rest and drink lots of water.
At the pharmacy: Can you recommend something for a cough? Do I need a prescription?
Lifestyle: I try to eat healthily. I exercise three times a week. I should sleep more. I’ve cut down on sugar.
Examples
- I’ve had a sore throat since Monday.
- My knee hurts when I walk.
- Take one tablet three times a day.
- I’m trying to eat less junk food.
Vocabulary
symptom
a sign of illness
sore throat
pain in your throat
temperature
(here) a fever
prescription
a doctor’s note for medicine
cut down on
eat or do less of
Practice
My head hurts. I have a ___.
Listening: At the pharmacy
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Pharmacist: Hello, how can I help?
Customer: I’ve had a bad cough for four days, and a sore throat.
Pharmacist: Do you have a temperature?
Customer: No, I don’t think so.
Pharmacist: Try this syrup — two spoons three times a day. If you don’t feel better in a week, see a doctor.
Customer: Thanks. Do I need a prescription?
Pharmacist: No, you don’t.
1.How many days has the customer had the cough? (number)
2.How often should they take the syrup?
3.The customer needs a prescription.
Speaking
Describe your lifestyle: what’s healthy, what isn’t, and three changes you’d like to make. Then role-play visiting a pharmacist with a cold.
Writing
Write a message to your manager saying you are ill, describing your symptoms and when you hope to return (40–60 words).
Lesson quiz
Pain in your tooth is…
Review
Key points
- Symptoms: headache, sore throat, cough, temperature; … hurts.
- Doctor/pharmacy phrases.
- Lifestyle: try to, should, cut down on.
What you learned
- ✓ I can describe symptoms.
- ✓ I can talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
- ✓ I can talk about healthy habits.
Grammar reference: Must, have to, should: obligation and advice