Tag: health

Teens, Television, and Depression

B1 – Intermediate

Watching TV can be fun. But too much of it can lead to more harm than good.

Read the article below to know the connection between depression and watching too much TV. Be ready to express your thoughts about it.

http://www.english-online.at/society/teens-depression/television-habits-teens.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you consider yourself a TV addict? If yes, how much time do usually spend watching TV?
2. Do you agree that too much TV may lead to depression?
3. What do you think are other causes of depression?
4. What are some of the social activities that you enjoy doing with friends and family?

Coffee Can Help You Live Longer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A cup of coffee has always been a part of a lot people’s morning routine. It could definitely awake our senses and boost our energy. Now, coffee drinkers have more reasons to drink that fresh cup.

Read the article on how coffee can help you live longer.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1511/151119-coffee.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a coffee drinker? How many cups do you drink each day?
  2. How healthy do you think coffee is?
  3. Why might coffee reduce the incidence of suicides?
  4. How do you feel about certain coffee shops like Starbucks?

Happiness Can Break Your Heart Too

B1 – Intermediate

It isn’t only sad events and hurtful situations that can break our hearts. It turns out that happy circumstances can also be harmful to the health.

Read the article below to know more.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1603/160305-happy-heart-syndrome.html

 Discussion Questions:

1. What did you think about the article?
2. How might happiness be unhealthy?
3. How would you define happiness?
4. Share some of the happy memories you’ve had in the past week or month.

High Blood Pressure – A Silent Killer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Below is a short article that gives some interesting information about high blood pressure and its consequences.

Read the article then be ready to talk about health and other health issues.

http://www.english-online.at/health_medicine/high-blood-pressure/high-blood-pressure-silent-killer.htm

Discussion Question:

  1. Do you know some people who suffer from high blood pressure? What are their struggles with this condition?
  2. Is high blood pressure also a widespread health problem in your country? Why do you think that is?
  3. Have there been steps taken by the national health ministry to reduce cases of this so-called ‘silent killer’? What are they?
  4. Do you agree that a lifestyle change can make a person healthier?
  5. What are some of the things you do to stay healthy?

Hooked Up to Computers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With so many advancements in the medical field, it is no surprise that doctors and surgeons are able to utilize computers as part of a person’s recovery.

Read the article below to know about Matt Nagel and his operation.

http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/archive/ai.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your initial reaction to the story?
  2. Will this kind of technology be helpful to a lot of people? Why or why not?
  3. How can this technology be helpful to paralyzed people? What do you see are its dangers/risks?
  4. Do you see this new technology becoming widely available to help a lot of people in the near future?
  5. Matt Nagel is the first patient to try out this new technology. Would you be willing to be the first person to ever try out a new medical technology? Why or why not?

Zika Virus Could Affect 4 Million People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil.

Read the article below and discuss your current knowledge and opinions about this health issue.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1602/160202-zika-virus.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you know about the Zika virus?
2. How worried are you about the Zika virus?
3. Will there be a vaccine for all viruses one day?
4. If there are no diseases, will there be an overpopulation problem?
5. Why would it be a problem to find a vaccine for the Zika virus?

Burning Off A Burger

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C1 – Advanced

Is losing weight something that you’ve been working on? It always is , for most people. There are now hundreds of ways and “tricks” that people can follow to lose weight. But is staying in the gym for half the day the key to losing weight? Or can simple, mundane activities do the trick?

Click on the title below to know roughly how much exercise you need depending on the food you eat.

How Far Do You have to Run to Burn Off A Burger?

Discuss:

1. Based on the article, explain the correlation of food and exercise.
2. What was your reaction after seeing some of the representations in the article? Do you agree with them?
3. Where do you find yourself in terms of over all health and wellness?
4. What foods are you willing to ignore for the sake of health? What foods are you fond of?

Smart Snoring Device

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mayo Clinic says half of adults snore. Snoring is breathing when asleep with some harsh or snorting noises that is caused by vibration of the soft palate inside our mouths. It can cause serious health issues.

Watch the video below to find out about the high tech anti-snoring device.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “damper” mean? “Your snoring is putting a damper on things at home.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “on the go” mean here, “Nora comes in a beautiful portable bag, equipped with a rechargeable battery, making it easy to use on the go.”?

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does snoring affect one’s sleep?
  2. What do you do to avoid or minimize snoring?
  3. What do you think of Smart Nora?
  4. Would you consider yourself to be a person who generally sleeps well?

Smoking Will Kill Young Men in China

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Because of various researches and studies, we have become aware of the consequences of smoking. In China, alarming results of a report exposes the dangers of smoking among young Chinese men.

Read the article below and be ready to talk about health.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/smoking-will-kill-one-in-three-young-men-in-china/3013944.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the graph (The Price of Smoking Around the World) featured in the article.
2. Do you think that increasing the price of cigarettes will help reduce the number of smokers or cigarette-related deaths?
3. What are other good ways to discourage people from smoking?

Lower Your Stress Levels

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stress is inevitable. We’ve got small ones and big ones.

Read the article below to know some ways we can deal with stress on a daily basis. Express your thoughts afterwards.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-e-porter/5-changes-that-will-immediately-lower-your-stress-levels_b_8229422.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the changes mentioned in the article?
  2. Which ones do you practice daily?
  3. Can you think of other ways we can face daily challenges?
  4. What activities do you like to do to relax yourself?
  5. What are some of your favourite hobbies?