Tag: health and medicine

Number of Children Affects Lifespan of Mothers

B1 – Intermediate 

Research found that women’s number of children could have an effect on their rate of ageing as well as their lifespan. It could even make them at lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Read the article about a study on the link between reproduction and women’s rates of ageing and longevity.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2601/260126-having-children-and-lifespan.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “wear and tear” mean? “The “wear and tear” and physical demands of multiple childbirths can negate this lowered risk.” Use the expression in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “longevity” mean? “Another factor that could increase longevity is the increased social support a mother receives from the state for having children.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “lifespan” mean? “A new study suggests that the number of children a woman has might affect her rate of ageing and her lifespan.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on this: “The number of children a woman has might affect her rate of ageing and her lifespan”.
  2. What do you think of this: “Having a smaller number of pregnancies could have favourable effects on a mother’s health”?
  3. What is your opinion about this: “The finding of shorter lifespans of women who never gave birth was surprising”?
  4. Do you agree or disagree: “Another factor that could increase longevity is the increased social support a mother receives from the state for having children.”? 

World Is Short of Nearly a Million Midwives

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new global report reveals a shortfall of nearly 1 million midwives, severely affecting maternal and newborn care worldwide. Around 90% of this shortage is in low- and middle-income countries, especially across Africa.

Read the article to know why experts warn that increasing training and deploying more midwives could prevent 4.3 million deaths annually by 2035, but this requires urgent investment and policy action.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/20/world-shortage-million-midwives-icm-healthcare-mothers-babies-intervention?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “antenatal care” mean? ” The tasks included counselling on contraception, antenatal care and screening, and care during childbirth.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “stillbirth” mean? “According to previous research, universal access to midwife-delivered care could prevent two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, saving 4.3 million lives annually by 2035.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “shortfall” mean? “Shortfalls were much smaller, although still present, in other regions including south-east Asia and Europe.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think there is a global shortage of midwives?
  2. How can the lack of midwives affect mothers during pregnancy and childbirth?
  3. Which countries or regions do you think are most affected by this problem, and why?
  4. What should governments do to encourage more people to become midwives?
  5. Do you think international support is necessary to solve this issue? Why or why not?

US Officially Leaves World Health Organization

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending almost 80 years of membership. Health experts warn this decision could weaken global disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness, disrupt funding, and reduce U.S. influence in critical health data sharing with potential global impacts on vaccine coordination and future outbreak responses.

Read the article to know more about this major international health policy shift.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zznx8qdno

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “arrear” mean? “Although WHO lawyers suggest the US is obliged to pay the arrears – estimated at $260m (£193m) – Washington said it saw no reason to do so.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “pathogen sharing” mean? “The US department said it would have bilateral relations with other countries to ensure disease surveillance and pathogen sharing, but were unable to provide information about which specific countries they had such links with so far.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “governing body” mean? “It told the BBC that its secretariat will act according to the advice from the governing bodies.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think could be the biggest global impact when a powerful country changes its health policy?
  2. How might this decision affect poorer countries or those with weaker healthcare systems?
  3. How could this policy shift affect future pandemics or global disease control?
  4. Do you think international organizations like the WHO are still important today? Why or why not?
  5. Should health policies be decided nationally or globally? Explain your opinion.

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people choose to stay up late even when they know it will leave them tired the next day. This habit often reflects a desire to reclaim personal time or control after a busy schedule, highlighting the tension between daily demands, rest, and self‑care.

Let’s read the article and explore how this behavior affects our health, productivity, and daily routines.

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/revenge-bedtime-procrastination

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the concept “revenge bedtime procrastination“. “After a jam-packed day, do you stay up late for some “me” time rather than go to bed a reasonable hour? If you’re in the habit of doing that, it could be a sign of revenge bedtime procrastination.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to raise one’s odds ” mean? “A long-term lack of sleep might also raise your odds of dying early from any cause.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “at the expense of”? “Also known as sleep procrastination, it means you get “revenge” for your busy daytime schedule by fitting in leisure time at the expense of shut-eye.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think some people deliberately stay up late even when they know they’ll be tired the next day?
  2. How might modern lifestyles and technology contribute to revenge bedtime procrastination?
  3. In what ways can delaying sleep affect someone’s work, relationships, or overall well‑being?
  4. Do you see revenge bedtime procrastination as an act of control, rebellion, or simply poor time management?
  5. What strategies could individuals use to resist the urge to stay up late for “me time”?

Food Improve Moods

B1 – Intermediate

Many people do not think about the fact that what they eat can affect how they feel.

Recent research shows that some foods might make our mood worse, while other foods could help support good mental health.

Experts have found a connection between diets with too much ultra-processed foods and a higher tendency to feel depressed or anxious.

They suggest choosing whole, natural foods to support a more positive state of mind.

Read the full article from the link below to learn more about how food can influence your emotions.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2512/251229-mood-food.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “corroborate” mean in this sentence? “Related research from Professor Felice Jacka at Deakin University in Australia corroborated Ms Kirkpatrick’s findings.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression. 
  2. What does the word “probiotic” mean? “Dr. Jacka said fermented, probiotic foods may influence brain-related biology and lead to more positive moods and enhanced learning.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression. 
  3. What does “fermented” mean? “Ms Kirkpatrick also advised people to increase their intake of high-fibre and fermented foods.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym or a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Some researchers claim that diet can significantly influence mental health. Do you agree or disagree?
  2. How easy is it to eat less processed food in your country?
  3. Does the food you eat affect your mood or mental state? Why or why not? Give example situations.
  4. Can a healthy diet replace other ways to improve mood, like exercise or therapy? Share your opinion.
  5. How important is proper diet for you? Why?

Too Fixated on Protein

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Protein is a very important macronutrient that our body needs for satiety, metabolism, and overall body function. Some good food sources of protein include meat, dairy, legumes, nuts, and grains.

Clearly, we need protein for good health and to build muscles, but with all this obsession with protein, we might be ignoring other important nutrients like fiber, for instance.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about our modern obsession with protein.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251016

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to cast your eye over something” mean? “Cast your eye over most aisles in the supermarkets now and you’ll see high protein products in abundance.” Use the expression in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “health halo” mean? “Sometimes fat is good; sometimes it’s bad for consumers. But protein seems to have this continuous health halo on it.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “the tide is turning” mean? “Historically, probably not. I think the tide is turning, and there’s more people interested in fibre and optimising their fibre intake and fibermaxxing even – it’s a trend on TikTok.” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that our modern obsession with protein could mean that we ignore other important food groups, like fibre? Share your insight.
  2. “The tide is turning, and there’s more people interested in fibre and optimising their fibre intake and fibermaxxing even – it’s a trend on TikTok.” Do you have the same trend in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  3. In general, what are your thoughts about people thinking some specific food items or food groups have health halos perceiving them to be healthy based on a single feature, such as being ‘organic’, ‘gluten-free’ or in this case ‘high-protein’, even if its overall nutritional value is poor?
  4. What are your usual protein sources? Which one is your favorite?
  5. What health trends have you tried and why was it interesting for you in the first place?

AI to Help Doctors Find and Fix Broken Bones

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way doctors diagnose and treat bone problems. With new tools and technologies, bone treatment has become faster, more accurate, and easier for both patients and medical professionals.

Read this article to learn more about this.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9de78gdleo

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “pilot scheme” mean? “Trust will take part in a two-year NHS England pilot scheme starting later this month.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. Define “dislocation“. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be used in hospitals to find fractures and dislocations and provide quicker treatment as part of a new trial.” Make a sentence using the word in the same context.
  3. What’s the meaning of “course of treatment“? “Every x-ray will still be examined by our clinicians, and they will make the final decision about the diagnosis and the correct course of treatment for that patient.” Use the phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think AI should be allowed to assist in diagnosing medical conditions? Why or why not?
  2. The article mentions that AI will highlight “potential issues.”
    Do you think this could cause doctors to rely on AI too much, or will it help them work more efficiently?
  3. How do you feel about your personal medical information being processed by AI systems?
  4. If AI becomes highly accurate, should it eventually replace some tasks done by radiologists and clinicians, or should humans always make the final decision? Explain your viewpoint.

First Gene Proven to Directly Cause Mental Illness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Researchers recently discovered that a single gene GRIN2A can directly trigger mental illness, overturning decades of belief that psychiatric disorders always require many genes acting together. The study suggests that people with certain variants of this gene have a significantly higher risk of developing psychiatric symptoms.

Read the article to know why this breakthrough could change how mental illness is studied and treated worldwide.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052230.htm?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “uncover” mean? “Researchers uncover a rare gene variant that can directly spark mental illness—and may be treatable.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “predictor” mean? “Having a close family member with a mental illness remains one of the strongest known predictors.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “polygenic” mean? “This distinguishes it from the polygenic causes of such disorders that have been assumed to date” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is discovering a single gene that directly causes mental illness an important scientific breakthrough?
  2. How could this discovery change the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions?
  3. What ethical concerns might arise from identifying genes linked to mental illness?
  4. How might this finding affect society’s understanding and stigma around mental health?
  5. What further research is needed before this genetic discovery can be used in real-world medical care?

Weight-Loss Drug Liraglutide Slowed Alzheimer’s Decline

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New research shows that a drug commonly used for diabetes and weight loss can reduce brain shrinkage in Alzheimer’s patients by nearly 50%.

Read the article to know more about the significant potential for repurposing existing medications to slow neurodegeneration offering hope for millions affected by Alzheimer’s globally.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/articles/2025/-weight-loss-drug-liraglutide-slowed-alzheimers-decline/?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “brain shrinkage” mean? “A drug prescribed for diabetes and weight loss has been shown to reduce brain shrinkage in Alzheimer’s patients by almost 50%.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “agonist” mean? “The drug, called liraglutide, is one of the glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1) agonists which also includes semaglutide – known as Wegovy or Ozempic – which are licensed for managing overweight and obesity and for type 2 diabetes.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “double-blind” mean? “The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 204 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease seen at 24 clinics throughout the United Kingdom.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What surprised you most about the idea that a weight-loss drug could help slow Alzheimer’s disease?
  2. Do you think existing medicines should be tested more often for new health benefits? Why or why not?
  3. What concerns might people have about using weight-loss drugs for brain health?
  4. How could this discovery change the way doctors treat Alzheimer’s patients in the future?
  5. Would you personally feel comfortable taking a medication for a different purpose than it was originally made for? Why?

Ozempic 2.0 Weight Loss Pill

B1 – Intermediate 

Pharmaceutical companies are working as quickly as they can to release a pill version of Ozempic, the widely-used weight loss drug. It is believed that the drug now being dubbed as Ozempic 2.0 will be changing the game not only for those with diabetes, but also those who want to lose some weight.

Read the article about Ozempic 2.0.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2512/251201-ozempic-weight-loss-pill-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “game-changing” mean in this sentence, “A new generation of game-changing weight-loss drugs could be launched next year.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to move with urgency toward something” mean? “We are moving with urgency toward global regulatory submissions to potentially meet the needs of patients.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a similar expression.
  3. What does “redefine” mean? “If approved, we are ready to offer a convenient, once-daily pill that can be scaled globally, removing barriers and redefining how obesity is treated around the world.” Give a synonym and use the word “redefine” in a sentence. Also, give another meaning of “redefine”.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Ozempic 2.0? What are its pros and cons?
  2. What is your opinion on this, “When approved, Ozempic 2.0 will offer a convenient, once-daily pill that can be scaled globally, removing barriers and redefining how obesity is treated around the world.”?
  3. Share your opinion about pharmaceutical companies working as fast as they can to produce the pill version of Ozempic. 
  4. In general, what do you think about weight loss pills? 
  5. What are other ways people can lose weight?