Health care is a field that focuses on improving and protecting patient's health. There are a lot of complicated words that can be misinterpreted. Health care is a field that focuses on protecting, improving, and maintaining people’s health. It includes many areas, such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, biology, and mental health. Health care professionals use specific terms to describe diseases, treatments, symptoms, body systems, and medical procedures. Understanding this vocabulary is important because clear communication can help health care professionals provide safe and effective care to patients.
The purpose of this glossary is to introduce important health care terms and explain their meanings in simple and accessible English. It is designed to help students and people who are interested in health care understand commonly used medical vocabulary. By learning these terms, readers can become more familiar with the language used in health care and better understand information related to human health.
acute
adjective
Acute means, sharp, severe, or coming on suddenly.
Example: She went to the hospital because of acute abdominal pain.
en: aigu
anatomy
noun
Anatomy is the scientific study of the physical structures and parts of living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants.
Example: Anatomy helps health care students understand how the body is organized.
en: anatomie
bacteria
noun
Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled living organisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Example: Some bacteria are useful, while others can cause disease.
en: bactérie
blood pressure
noun
The pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels.
Example: The doctor checked my blood pressure.
en: pression artérielle
chronic
adjective
Describing a health condition that lasts for a long time or keeps returning.
Example: Asthma can be a chronic condition.
en: chronique
diagnosis
noun
A diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease, condition, or problem by examining its signs, symptoms, and test results, or the final decision reached from that examination.
Example: The doctor gave her a diagnosis after examining her.
en: diagnostic
emergency
noun
A serious and unexpected situation that requires immediate medical attention.
Example: The patient was taken to the emergency room after the accident.
en: urgence
heart rate
noun
The number of times the heart beats in one minute.
Example: Exercise can increase your heart rate.
en: fréquence cardiaque
immune system
noun
Complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that works as your body's defense team to fight off harmful germs, viruses, and diseases.
Example: A healthy immune system helps fight infections.
en: système immunitaire
infection
noun
A condition in which bacteria or viruses that cause disease have entered the body.
Example: The doctor prescribed a medicament for the infection.
en: infection
infection
noun
An infection is the invasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites in the body's tissues.
Example: The doctor prescribed antibiotics for the infection.
en: infection
inflammation
noun
Inflammation is the body's natural defense response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli.
Example: The injury caused inflammation in her knee.
en: inflammation
insulin
noun
A hormone that helps the body control the amount of glucose in the blood.
Example: People with diabetes need insulin to regulate their blood glucose.
en: insuline
neuron
noun
A neuron is a specialized nerve cell that acts as an information messenger in the body, using electrical and chemical signals to send messages between the brain and the rest of the nervous system.
Example: A neuron can transmit information to another cell.
en: neurone
pathogen
noun
A pathogen is any organism or agent that can cause disease.
Example: Some bacteria can act as pathogens and cause illness.
en: pathogène
patient
noun
A person receiving medical care.
Example: The patient spoke with the nurse about her symptoms.
en: patient
physical examination
noun
A physical examination is a routine medical evaluation where a healthcare provider checks your overall health, looks for signs of illness, and assesses body functions.
Example: The doctor performed a physical examination before ordering tests.
en: examen physique
side effect
noun
An unwanted effect that can occur when taking a medicine or receiving a treatment.
Example: A side effect of this medicament is loss weight.
en: effet secondaire
treatment
noun
Treatment means the manner in which you deal with a person, a medical condition, or a physical substance.
Example: The patient received treatment for the infection.
en: traitement
vaccine
noun
A vaccine is a biological preparation that gives active immunity against a specific disease.
Example: The vaccine helps protect people from serious illness.
en: vaccin
virus
noun
A virus is a tiny, infectious particle made of genetic material inside a protective protein coat that can only reproduce by taking over a living cell.
