Chapter 1: Booking an Appointment
Before visiting a doctor, the first step is often scheduling an appointment. Here’s the vocabulary you need:✅ Appointment: A scheduled meeting with your doctor. Example: I have an appointment with the doctor at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.
✅ Book/Schedule an Appointment: To arrange a meeting with your doctor. Example: I need to schedule an appointment with my dentist.
✅ Doctor’s Office (US)/Surgery (UK): The place where you visit your doctor. Example: I waited in the doctor’s office until it was my turn.
✅ General Practitioner (GP): A doctor who treats general health conditions. Example: My GP referred me to a specialist for my skin condition.
✅ Referral: A recommendation from your GP to see a specialist. Example: I received a referral from my GP to see a cardiologist.
✅ Consultation: A meeting with your doctor to discuss your health. Example: I had a consultation with the specialist to discuss my treatment options.
Talk to a doctor: First dialogue
Receptionist: Good morning, how can I help you? Patient: I’d like to book an appointment with Dr. Smith. Receptionist: What seems to be the problem? Patient: I’ve been having severe headaches for the past few weeks. Receptionist: Dr. Smith has availability on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Will that work for you? Patient: Yes, that works. Thank you!Learn more: Read the article about health problems vocabulary
Chapter 2: At the Doctor’s Office
Once you’re at the doctor’s office, you’ll need to describe your symptoms and understand the doctor’s recommendations. Here are key terms:✅ Symptoms: Signs of illness (e.g., fever, cough). Example: I described my symptoms of fever and cough to the doctor.
✅ Diagnose: To identify an illness based on symptoms. Example: The doctor diagnosed me with hay fever.
✅ Treatment: The recommended course of action to cure or manage an illness. Example: The doctor prescribed antibiotics as the treatment for my infection.
✅ Prescription: A written order for medication from the doctor. Example: I took the prescription to the pharmacy to get my medication.
✅ Examination: A physical check by the doctor to diagnose your condition. Example: During the examination, the doctor checked my blood pressure.
✅ Test Results: Outcomes of medical tests used to help diagnose an illness. Example: My test results showed that everything was normal.
Common Symptoms and Illnesses
Understanding common symptoms and how to describe them in English is essential when visiting the doctor. Here are a few terms:✅ Cold: A common viral infection that causes sneezing, sore throat, and runny nose.
✅ Flu: A more severe viral infection that causes fever, body aches, and fatigue.
✅ Fever: A high body temperature.
✅ Headache: Pain in the head.
✅ Stomachache: Pain in the stomach.
✅ Sore Throat: Pain or irritation in the throat.
✅ Allergy: A condition in which the immune system reacts to substances.
✅ Rash: Red, itchy patches on the skin.
Talk to a doctor: Second dialogue
Doctor: So, tell me what’s the matter. Patient: I’ve had a persistent cough and a severe headache. Doctor: How long have you been experiencing these symptoms? Patient: For about two weeks now. Doctor: Let me have a look at your test results. It’s nothing serious. I’ll prescribe some antibiotics.Learn more: Read the article about idioms related to health
Chapter 3: After the Doctor’s Visit
Once your doctor’s visit is over, you may need to fill a prescription and take your medication as instructed. Here are some phrases and vocabulary for this process:✅ Pharmacy: The place where you can get your medication. Example: I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.
✅ Pharmacist: The person who prepares and dispenses your medication. Example: The pharmacist explained how to take my medication.
✅ Dosage: The amount of medication you should take. Example: The dosage is two pills twice a day.
✅ Instructions: Directions on how to take your medication (e.g., with food, on an empty stomach). Example: The doctor gave me instructions to take the medicine with food.
✅ Side Effects: Unwanted symptoms caused by medication. Example: One of the side effects of this medicine is drowsiness.
