Focus
Health topics appear regularly across all four sections of IELTS. Vocabulary spans physical health, mental health, and health systems.
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Topic Vocabulary: Health
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# Topic Vocabulary: Health
01
Section
Physical Health
| Term | Meaning & Usage |
|---|---|
| sedentary lifestyle | Lifestyle with little physical activity. "A sedentary lifestyle is linked to heart disease." |
| obesity | Being severely overweight. "Childhood obesity rates have doubled in many countries." |
| chronic disease | A long-term illness. "Chronic diseases like diabetes now cause most deaths globally." |
| immune system | Body's defence against infection. "A balanced diet supports the immune system." |
| life expectancy | Average lifespan. "Life expectancy rose sharply in the 20th century but has begun to plateau." |
02
Section
Mental Health
| Term | Meaning & Usage |
|---|---|
| mental well-being | Overall psychological health. "Mental well-being is now recognised as essential to overall health." |
| stress | Mental pressure or strain. "Work-related stress has increased since remote work became common." |
| burnout | Exhaustion from prolonged stress. "Burnout is particularly common in healthcare workers." |
| mindfulness | Focused awareness of the present moment. "Mindfulness practices have moved from retreat centres into mainstream therapy." |
| stigma | Social disapproval. "The stigma around seeking mental-health help has gradually eased." |
03
Section
Healthcare Systems
| Term | Meaning & Usage |
|---|---|
| universal healthcare | Government-provided health coverage for all. "Most European countries offer universal healthcare." |
| public vs private healthcare | State-funded vs fee-based. "Public healthcare covers the majority, but private care offers shorter wait times." |
| preventive medicine | Care aimed at preventing rather than treating disease. "Preventive medicine is more cost-effective than emergency care." |
| pandemic | A disease spread worldwide. "COVID-19 was the first true pandemic of the digital age." |
| vaccination campaign | Programme to immunise a population. "The measles vaccination campaign eliminated the disease in many regions." |
04
Section
Lifestyle & Habits
| Term | Meaning & Usage |
|---|---|
| balanced diet | Food providing proper nutrition. "A balanced diet emphasises vegetables, fruit, and whole grains." |
| processed food | Industrially prepared food. "Highly processed food drives much of the rise in chronic disease." |
| physical activity | Exercise and movement. "Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity daily provides substantial health benefits." |
| sleep hygiene | Habits that support good sleep. "Sleep hygiene has become a recognised component of mental-health advice." |
| smoking / alcohol consumption | Traditional health-risk behaviours. "Smoking rates have halved since 1990 in most developed economies." |
05
Section
Sample Essay Sentences
- Preventive health measures typically cost less and save more lives than treatment of existing disease.
- The mental-health consequences of modern working patterns have only recently been taken seriously.
- Access to quality healthcare remains unequal both within and between countries.