Tag: health and medicine

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?

Transplanting a Head to Another Body

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As time moves forward, so as our technology. However, how far can this development go before we stray too far? We have been constantly finding new ways to extend the lives of those around us, and Robert White’s idea to do this is a head transplant.

Finding a way to perform a head transplant is one of the most controversial ideas in all of medicine. Provoking questions of possibility and feasibility, even if it were possible, is this transplant worth pursuing?

To find out more, watch this video:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “brain cooling”. “Brain cooling revolutionized the field of neurosurgery and put White one step closer to his body transplant goal.”  Create a sentence using this term.
  2. What does “fraught with something” mean? “But this vision was fraught with serious ethical concerns.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘fraught with something’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “immune rejection” mean? “The brain appeared to survive a head transplant, and with high doses of drugs, could live without immune rejection.” Use this term to make your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your stance on the idea of a head transplant? Elaborate on your answer.
  2. What are the possible benefits of head transplantation?
  3. What are the problems with the idea of a head transplant?
  4. Do you think that a head transplant is possible? Explain your insight.
  5. Do you think scientists should pick up where Dr. White left off? Explain your thoughts.
  6. Do you believe that “part of the ‘self’ reside outside the mind”? Elaborate on your belief.

Electric Salt Spoon

B1 – Intermediate 

According to the World Health Organization, a person should only consume less than 5 grams of salt per day. Very high amounts of salts can cause health issues like heart problems, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Now, if you are trying to be healthy, salt is probably one thing that you need to cut down on. How can we do it if food taste like nothing without it?

A new invention in Japan could be the solution. 

Read this article to know more about the Electric Salt Spoon.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2406/240613-electric-salt-spoon-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to cut down on something” mean? “They hope their spoon will help people to cut down on the amount of salt they eat.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does “to tend to favour someone/something” mean? “Japan has a food culture that tends to favour salty tastes.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “intake” mean? “The World Health Organization recommends a daily salt intake of less than 5 grams.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What could be the good and bad things about the Electric Salt Spoon?
  2. Would you be interested to buy and use it? Why or why not?
  3. This electric salt spoon costs about $99. What do you think of this price? 
  4. Do you think this electric spoon will sell well in the future? Why or why not?
  5. How can we reduce our salt intake?

Only 10 Percent of the Population Is Left-Handed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Determining the cause of left-handedness has long been a scientific mystery. Experts in neuroscience have been working hard to come close to an understanding of this trait.

At present, there are approximately 708 million left-handers. This is a little less than 10% of the world population.

Let’s watch the video and know more details on a recent study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics on the correlation between having rare gene variants and being left-handed.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0hsy12y/why-is-only-10-percent-of-the-population-left-handed-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “strong bias towards something/someone” mean? “The human genome encodes a kind of strong bias towards right-handedness, but it doesn’t completely determine it.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Define the word “asymmetry“. “The asymmetry is important in the brain for various functions, including language and hand and motor control, and also visual attention.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “suppression“? “The strongest environmental effect that we know of on handedness is actually the suppression of left-handedness in children.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what factors cause left-handedness?
  2. Share some thoughts that went through your mind as you watched the video.
  3. What are the negative views of left-handedness?
  4. Are you a lefty? If not, do you know anyone who is? What do you think are the struggles of left-handed people?
  5. Do left-handed people have advantages over right-handed people? If so, what are they?

Cycling Is Good for Your Knees

B1 – Intermediate 

If you are thinking about how to prepare your body and health for old age, consider getting on a bicycle now!

According to a new study, one surprising benefit of riding bikes is the possibility to have less knee pains when you are older.

Read the article about how cycling is good for your knees.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2405/240523-cycling-and-knees.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the condition “wear-and-tear arthritis”. “Osteoarthritis is often called wear-and-tear arthritis.” Make your own sentence with this term.
  2. What does “less likely to die prematurely” mean? “A lot of research shows that cyclists are around 20 per cent less likely to die prematurely.” Make your own sentence with this phrase.
  3. What does “to wear down” mean? “The cartilage wears down and becomes painful.”  Make your own sentence with this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this medical news?
  2. What are the good effects of cycling on our body?
  3. What is your opinion about riding bicycles?
  4. What do you know about wear-and-tear arthritis and other diseases that involve bones, muscles and joints? Talk about them with as much details as you can.

Rare Condition that Makes Faces Appear Demonic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We can tell a lot by looking at a person’s face. You can easily identify their emotions simply by looking at them.

However, there are people whose perception of other people’s faces aren’t exactly accurate.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the demon face syndrome.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0htvclc/the-rare-condition-that-makes-faces-appear-demonic-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the expression “to see the world through someone’s eyes“. “Thanks to one patient’s pioneering work with researches at Dartmouth College, we now have an interesting insight into what it’s like to see the world through his eyes.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “distortion“? “He wouldn’t see distortions to faces on screen.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the verb “depict” mean? “That visualization also depicts a face.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the visual disorder PMO all about? Explain in your own words.
  2. What were your thoughts upon knowing about this condition?
  3. What do you imagine are the struggles of people with PMO?
  4. What other rare neurological conditions have you heard of? Talk about them.