Tag: health and medicine

Toddlers Get Their Calories from Ultra-Processed Foods

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A study revealed that nearly half of toddlers’ daily calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), raising concerns about long-term health impacts like obesity and poor nutritional habits.

Read the article to know more the most common UPFs consumed by the toddlers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003221629.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cohort study” mean? “The researchers analysed data from the Gemini twin cohort study, using the Nova classification to divide the food and drink consumed into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods (eggs, milk, vegetables, fish and fruit); processed culinary ingredients (salt, butter and oil); processed foods (tinned fish, peanut butter and cheese); and UPFs (cereals, yoghurts, industrially made sliced bread, biscuits, sausages, crisps).” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “hyperpalatable” mean? “The research team said this may be partly attributable to the “hyperpalatable” nature of these UPFs, as they tend to be foods higher in fat, sugar and/or salt.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “redress” mean? “The researchers called for policies to redress the balance of children’s diets towards a lower proportion of UPFs, such as restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods marketed towards children, adding warning labels to products (e.g. those that are high in sugar), and subsidizing fresh and minimally processed food.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What types of ultra-processed foods contribute most to toddlers’ diets?
  2. How does the high consumption of ultra-processed foods affect toddlers’ long-term health?
  3. What are some demographic factors that influence toddlers’ consumption of ultra-processed foods?
  4. What strategies or recommendations does the study suggest to reduce ultra-processed food intake in young children?

Potential New Treatment for Aggressive Prostate Cancer Subtype

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Research has identified a potential new treatment for a particularly aggressive subtype of prostate cancer. This development could provide more targeted therapy options for patients with this challenging diagnosis, improving outcomes.

Read the article on a promising degrader that targets CDK12 and a related gene to destroy tumors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241004121704.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “genetic alteration” mean? “When researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center first identified a new subtype of aggressive prostate cancer, they knew they needed to understand how this genetic alteration was driving cancer and how to target it with treatment.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “cancer driver gene” mean? “The loss of this gene activates other known cancer driver genes, causing them to be overexpressed at a high level while also causing DNA to be replicated very rapidly.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “bona fide” mean? “Then, when we added loss of the p53 oncogene, the mice developed bona fide invasive prostate cancer,” said senior author Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and S.P. Hicks Professor of Pathology at Michigan Medicine.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What specific subtype of prostate cancer does the new treatment target, and why is it considered aggressive?
  2. How does the new treatment differ from existing therapies for prostate cancer?
  3. What are the expected outcomes or survival benefits for patients using this treatment?
  4. What were some notable side effects of the new treatment observed during clinical trials ?

Man Regains His Voice after a Rare Medical Operation

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Larynx or more commonly known as the “voice box is the organ responsible for speech. It also is important in breathing and swallowing.

Laryngeal cancer patients go through the ordeal of not being able to breathe, swallow, or speak on their own. Hence, a total larynx transplant should be performed on them. Unfortunately, larynx transplantation is not performed on patients with active cancer.

Marty Kedian is just one of many cancer of the larynx patients who was lucky enough to successfully undergo one and now on his way to recovery.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about Marty Kedian’s larynx transplant.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/man-regains-his-voice-with-the-help-of-a-rare-medical-operation/7692852.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to keep up something” mean? “His voice sounded rough, but he was able to keep up a discussion for an hour.” Give a synonym and use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “to push the boundaries” mean? “We want to be able to push those boundaries, but do it as safely and ethically as we can.” Use the idiom in your own sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “tracheostomy” mean? “His tracheostomy will remain in place for at least a few more months.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on larynx transplant? What might be the pros and cons of this kind of surgery?
  2. Share your thoughts on this, “Doctors have not fully accepted these larynx transplants because people can survive without a larynx.”
  3. “Kedian would not let doctors remove his entire larynx to cure the cancer because he wanted to read bedtime stories to his granddaughter, with his own voice rather than what he called robotic-sounding speech devices.” Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Talk about the time you or someone you know had some problems with your/their voice box and/or voice.

Eye Colour Change Is Riskiest Cosmetic Surgery 

B1 – Intermediate

Originally, eye color change surgery is used to repair an eye injury or other medical conditions. Nowadays, it is also used for cosmetic reasons as a permanent substitute to colored contact lenses. It may seem like a convenient option for those who regularly use colored contact lenses. In this case however, convenience comes with greater risks.

Read the article and know more about this risky cosmetic procedure.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2409/240902-eye-colour-change.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “opt for” mean? “Increasing numbers of people worldwide are opting for cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “likelihood“? “Research conducted by the online eyewear store Overnight Glasses asserts that eye colour surgery comes with a 92 percent likelihood of complications.“. Make a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does “to highlight something” mean?” Dr Ashley Brissette highlighted things that could go wrong. ” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the risks associated with the eye colour change procedure?
  2. Why do you think people would choose to have this procedure?
  3. In your opinion, what other cosmetic procedures are risky?
  4. What is your stand on cosmetic surgeries?

Why People Stutter

B1 – Intermediate

A fluency disorder that start when a child is very young is also known as “stuttering”. It is a speech disorder which affects around 5%-10% of people during their childhood. Some cases end in childhood while 25% continues to have this speech defect until they become adults.

Stutterers have a lot of problems in their daily lives because they are often misunderstood and the condition is not effectively treated.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about reasons people stutter and its possible treatments.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/why-people-stutter-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to stutter” mean? “They studied the brains of people who stutter or who recovered from a stutter; they found they are different from the brains of people who don’t.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym of this verb.
  2. What does the phrase “run in the/one’s family” mean? “The condition often runs in families, and some of the genetic differences are related to sex.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym of this idiom.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “onset“? “The treatment of stutter differs and depends on whether the person is a young child very close to onset, a school-aged child, or an adult.” Make your own sentence and give a synonym of this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the causes of stuttering in childhood?
  2. What causes stuttering adults?
  3. Have you ever stuttered? Talk about this situation.
  4. How can disfluency be treated?
  5. Do you know anyone who has this disorder? What problems do they have to deal with having this condition?
  6. Why do you think stuttering isn’t treated properly/effectively?

Concerns Over the Future of Community Pharmacies

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Community pharmacies are an important stop that many make in every town and city. However, some concerns have been raised about the possible disappearance of community pharmacies lately. Part of the reason is because more patients are now choosing to get their medicines online.

Read the article to know more about some of the concerns over what the future holds for community pharmacies in the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmj25466j87o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “the heartbeat of something” mean? “We are the heartbeat of the community when it comes to healthcare because we are easily accessible to people.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “the first port of call” mean? “Ifesi Anyamene runs Godstone Pharmacy, and said it is the “first port of call” for many in the village.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “family-run business” mean? “Ms Anyamene said many independent pharmacies were family-run businesses and “not about profit”.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. “The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) previously warned of 10 closures a week and said more than 1,400 pharmacies had closed in England in the last 10 years.” What is your reaction to and your thoughts on this?
  2. Is it really possible for a family-run pharmacies to be “not about the money”? Share your insights.
  3. In your country, there similar concerns about the problems community pharmacies are currently facing? Share about it.
  4. What do you know about the community pharmacies in your country?
  5. Is it alright for the government to squeeze community pharmacies’ fundings? Express your opinion about this.

UK Doctors to Treat Eco-Anxiety

B1 – Intermediate 

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people affected by ecological anxiety or eco-anxiety. This is a relatively new medical condition. A person suffers from it when all the extreme weather and climate changes and other environmental issues make them feel nervous or anxious.

Perhaps it is time to start acknowledging that this condition is real and affects many people. Medical experts need to be prepared to offer help to people with this condition. 

In the UK, if you go for a health consultation related to eco-anxiety, the doctor could give you a medical diagnosis, some advice on what to do to reduce your negative impact on the environment, and some tips on how to manage eco-anxiety.

Read the article about how doctors in the UK have been advised to start treating eco-anxiety patients.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2407/240722-eco-anxiety.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hidden in plain sight” mean? “The United Nations has described eco-anxiety as an emergency crisis hidden in plain sight.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to raise a topic” mean? “Doctors in the UK have been advised to raise the topic of climate change during consultations with patients.” Use the expression in a sentence.
  3. What does “distressed” mean? “A UN survey found that 59 per cent of young people in a study were distressed about the climate.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘distressed’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, who suffers more from climate anxiety? Is it young or older people? Explain your idea.
  2. How can we help people who have eco-anxiety?
  3. What is an extreme weather event that you are scared of? Why?
  4. Should eco-anxiety given more attention by the health ministry of every country now? Share your opinion.
  5. Should your government focus on this problem more now? Why or why not?
  6. What other health problems do you think your government should focus on? Talk about the disease or condition and why is it not given so much attention by the government?

EU Rejects Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Since its discovery in 1906, scientists have come a long way when it comes to the study and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists have been working round the clock to gain more, if not full, understanding of how this disease affects the brain. As a result of extensive researches over time, some drugs have been used to treat it and new ones are consistently being discovered. One of which is lecanemab, a drug that had shown to slow cognitive decline.

However, despite it getting approved in the US last year, the European Medicines Agency or EMA believes that the risk of lecanemab’s adverse side effects such as bleeding and swelling in the brain outweighs its benefits.

Read the article about EMA rejecting a license for the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgm0v1ne08o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “underlying mechanism” mean? “Alzheimer’s researchers hailed the trial results as “historic” because no previous drug had convincingly shown that the underlying mechanism of the disease could be slowed.”  Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘underlying mechanism’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “value for money” mean? “Even if the drug was to be approved in the UK, it would then be up to health bodies – such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) – to decide whether the drug represents value for money and should be recommended to patients.”Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘value for money’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a turning point” mean? “In the programme, broadcast earlier this year, Prof Cath Mummery, consultant neurologist and head of clinical trials at the Dementia Research Centre at UCL, said although the benefits of the drugs were small, they represented a “turning point”.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘a turning point’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the benefits and risks associated with lecanemab.
  2. Share your opinion on EMA’s decision to reject lecanemab’s license.
  3. “Prof Tara Spires-Jones, president of the British Neuroscience Association, said the EMA’s decision will come as “a disappointment to many”.” Share your thoughts on this.

Is MSG Bad for You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, is a flavor enhancer often used in Asian cuisine, processed foods, and soups. It has been a topic of controversy for decades, with some claiming it causes adverse health effects, while scientific research largely indicates it is safe for consumption.

Watch the video to learn more about MSG and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “hunch” mean? “Kwok’s connection between his headache and his common seasoning in American Chinese seasoning was just a hunch.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘hunch’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “staple” mean? “By 1930’s, MSG was a kitchen staple across most of Asia.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘staple’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “binge” mean? “It is possible that binging MSG produces headaches, chest pains and heart palpitation for some people.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘binge’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think MSG should be avoided to maintain a healthy diet? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever experienced adverse effects after consuming MSG? How did it influence your view on it?
  3. Do you believe the negative reputation of MSG is justified? Why do you think it persists despite scientific evidence?
  4. Should restaurants and food manufacturers be required to disclose the use of MSG on their labels and menus? Share your thoughts.
  5. Would you choose a product labeled as “MSG-free” over one that contains MSG? Why or why not?

Reasons You Wake Up Tired

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We often find ourselves sacrificing sleep in order to complete assignments, study for exams, work, or participate in social activities. The prevailing belief is that the less hours of sleep we get, the more energetic we will feel. However, recent research has shown that this may not necessarily be the case.

Sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining our energy levels and overall well-being. It is during sleep that our bodies repair and regenerate, allowing us to wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized. Inadequate sleep can lead to feelings of fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and a weakened immune system.

Read the article and learn why sometimes we feel more tired after getting a really good night’s sleep.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/10/health/waking-up-tired-reasons-solutions-wellness/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “sleep inertia”? “This discrepancy is often due to a heightened state of sleep inertia, a circadian process that modulates memory, mood, reaction time and alertness upon waking.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to toss and turn” mean? “Maybe your bed partner has a sleep disorder and snores or tosses and turns.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “shift-based” mean? “Sometimes our schedules differ on weekdays versus weekends. Schedules can also fluctuate for people with shift-based jobs.” Use this adjective in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What have you learned from the article?
  2. Are you the type of person who can function with very little sleep? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think you regularly get enough sleep? If not, how can you maintain good performance throughout the day?
  4. Dr. Kashani said that “The most important sleep habit is to sleep. To sleep as much to sleep as much as your body needs and when your body needs it.” Do you agree? Elaborate on your answer.
  5. Would you consider seeing a sleep specialist or going to a sleep clinic should the need arise? Explain.
  6. What’s your sleep environment and routine like?
  7. Have you ever had any sleep problems? What did you do to fix it?