Health Vocabulary

A medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may harm health

“Rising rates of obesity in children are linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor diets.”

A person's emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing

“Workplaces are increasingly recognising the importance of employee mental health.”

Action taken to stop something harmful from occurring, particularly illness or disease

“Disease prevention is far more cost-effective than treatment for most conditions.”

A way of living that involves little physical activity, typically associated with desk work and screen time

“A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.”

A health system that provides access to medical care for all citizens regardless of ability to pay

“Proponents of universal healthcare argue it reduces inequality and improves public health outcomes.”

A long-term health condition that typically progresses slowly and cannot be fully cured

“Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes places enormous strain on healthcare systems.”

The state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy, encompassing physical, mental, and social dimensions

“Many employers now offer wellbeing programmes to support staff productivity and retention.”

The study of how diseases spread and can be controlled in populations

“Epidemiology played a central role in tracking the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak.”

A method that considers the whole person — body, mind, and social context — rather than individual symptoms

“A holistic approach to patient care leads to better long-term health outcomes.”

An epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region or the entire world

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in global health infrastructure.”

Deaths that could have been avoided through timely and effective healthcare or public health interventions

“Reducing preventable mortality requires both improved healthcare access and health education.”

The simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions in a patient

“Patients with comorbidity require more complex care and are at greater risk of complications.”

Relating to illness caused unintentionally by medical treatment or a physician's actions

“Overprescription of antibiotics is a leading cause of iatrogenic illness globally.”

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect health outcomes

“Poverty and lack of education are powerful social determinants of health that drive health inequality.”

The ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of drugs that once treated them effectively

“Antimicrobial resistance is considered one of the greatest threats to global public health.”