Discussion Focus

1 What might the doctor ask you?

a What would you say if the doctor asked you the following

questions?

1) What do you complain of?

2) Where do you feel (the) pain?

3) Have you ever had any operation?

4) How much alcohol do you drink?

5) Do you smoke? How many cigarettes a day?

6) Are you taking any medication?

7) Are you allergic to anything (any antibiotics, etc.)?

8) Do you have any mental problems in your family?

9) When did you last have a medical check?

b Work with a partner. Role-play a conversation between a

doctor and a patient. Think of other questions which may arise

in this sort of dialogue. Use the vocabulary of the previous

exercises.

2 What does the doctor prescribe?

Read the sentences in A and B carefully. Say which doctor’s

advice in A will be good for the patients with their health

problems in B

A

a) Take one three times a day after meals.

b) Take a teaspoonful last thing at night.

c) Rub a little on before going to bed each night.

d) We’ll get the nurse to put a bandage on.

e) You’ll need to have some injections before you go.

f) I’ll ask the surgeon when he can fit you in for an operation.

g) You’ll have to have your leg put in plaster.

h) I think you should have total bed rest for a week.

B

1. Anne with bad sunburn.

2. Jo who’s broken her leg.

3. John who’s off to the Tropics.

4. Paul with flu.

5. Liz with a bad cough.

6. Sam who needs his appendix out.

7. Rose suffering from exhaustion.

8. Alf who’s sprained his wrist.

3 Every year scores of viruses attack people seasonally and the

most harmful of them are those of flu.

Discuss with your partner the following questions:

1) Do you happen to know the origin of the word ‘flu’?

2) Have you ever had flu?

3) Do you often catch flu?

4)What is the nature of flu?

5) What is your experience of being laid up with flu?

6) How does it feel to be having flu?

7) Do you think it is possible to avoid flu? If yes, how?

4 Read the leaflet telling us what we should know about flu.

Do the tasks that follow.

You’ve got your own defence system here’s how to make it work

You’re feeling rotten – weak, shivery, with an aching head, back and limbs. Your temperature’s up over 38°C (100°F). Probably you’re sweating a lot, you’ve lost your appetite and you feel sick. You’ve got flu.

So what do you do?

There’s no quick cure. Flu – influenza – is caused by a virus. And viruses can’t be killed with antibiotics. Only the body’s own defence system can get rid of them. So for most of us there’s no point in seeing the doctor when we’ve got flu. But while a bout of flu lasts, which may be anything from 24 hours to several days,

here’s what you should do.

Stay indoors, keep warm, and keep away from other people as much as possible so you don’t pass on the infection.

Have plenty of cool drinks – water, fruit drinks, milky drinks. About 2-3 litres a day.

If you feel shivery or feverish, with a temperature over 38°C (100°F) or aches or pains, try taking soluble aspirin every 4 hours during the day. And rest in bed if you can.

Try to have 3 light meals a day. But don’t force yourself to eat if you’ve lost your appetite.

Flu vaccination

Flu vaccine is usually only given to people who are especially at risk because of their health and to people who cannot miss work, like nurses, doctors, firemen or policemen. These people may be offered flu vaccination once a year, generally in the autumn before winter epidemics. But even vaccination cannot give complete protection against flu.

Remember

Keep flu to yourself. Stay away from other people. Make sure handkerchiefs and also plates, knives, forks etc., are always well washed.

Look after yourself by resting in bed and having lots of cool drinks.

There’s no need for the doctor unless the flu persists for more than a few days or gets suddenly worse.

But if you are elderly and in poor health, or if you suffer from a severe chest condition like bronchitis or asthma, then flu can become a more serious illness.

So remember:

• When there’s flu about, try to avoid crowded places and keep away from anyone who’s got flu.

• If you think you’ve caught flu, get in touch with your doctor. Then he can at least keep an eye on you.

• In the autumn, ask your doctor if he thinks you should be vaccinated against flu.

5 Say if these statements are true or false according to the text.

1) With flu your temperature is normally very high.

2) Antibiotics can help you to get better from flu.

3) If you have flu, it’s essential to have substantial meals.

4) Flu is contagious – other people can catch it from you.

5) Flu is not a serious illness for anyone.

6) Having flu, stay indoors and keep warm.

7) To bring down the temperature, you may take a couple of

aspirins.

8) If you’re sure you’ve got flu, you should immediately contact

your doctor.

9) People suffering from a severe chest condition should be very

careful about flu.

10) Vaccination against flu is of little use.

11) Flu usually lasts a few days.

6 Work in pairs. Imagine that a friend of yours may have flu.

Ask questions to find out if he/she has flu. Judging by the

answers, give him/her advice what to do.

7 There’s a popular belief that ‘we are what we eat’. People who care about their health should pay special attention to what they eat.

a Before reading the text below discuss in class what food is good

for our body.

b Skim the text and find out what materials are essential to keep

our body strong and healthy.