A ‣ Medical information leaflets

Read this extract from a leaflet included in a packet of painkillers.

Before taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:

1. are taking low-dose¹ aspirin (up to 75 mg daily)
2. suffer from asthma², or have a past history³ of asthma
3. have a connective tissue disorder⁴
4. have a history of gastrointestinal disease⁵ or suffer from bowel⁶ problems
5. are elderly as it increases the risk of adverse reactions⁷
6. have heart problems, have had a previous stroke⁸ or think you might be at risk of these conditions⁹

Do not exceed¹⁰ the stated dose or duration¹¹ of treatment

Like all medicines, these tablets may sometimes cause side effects,¹² though not everybody gets them.

Stop taking this medicine and seek medical help if you suffer from any of the following:

1. allergic reactions¹³
2. are sick and it contains blood or dark particles¹⁴ that look like coffee grounds
3. pass blood in your stools¹⁵
4. stiff neck, headache, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), fever and disorientation (not knowing where you are).

¹ measured amount of medicine that is relatively small
² medical condition in which breathing becomes difficult because air passages have narrowed
³ record of medical conditions a person has experienced
⁴ illness of the body or mind
⁵ illness of the stomach or digestive passages
⁶ tube that carries solid waste out of the body
⁷ unwanted results
⁸ sudden change in blood supply to the brain causing loss of function of part of the body
⁹ illnesses or physical problems
¹⁰ take more than
¹¹ length
¹² unwanted effects in addition to the intended one
¹³ conditions affecting skin or breathing because of eating or coming into contact with certain substances
¹⁴ small pieces
¹⁵ medical term for excrement (formal) or poo (informal, childish)

B ‣ Medical metaphors

Social and other problems are oft en talked about as if they were illnesses: The current spate of car theft s is a symptom of a deeper underlying problem. [medical meaning = problem indicating an illness]

This behaviour is symptomatic of his general lack of self-confidence.

The causes of a problem can be diagnosed and the outlook for a situation can also be referred to as the prognosis. [medical meaning = identify what illness a patient has] [medical meaning = how experts expect an illness to develop]

The medical meaning of the key word is given in brackets before the examples below:

[ailing = unwell, sickly] an ailing organisation [one that has a lot of problems] The economy has been ailing for some time, but there are hopes of a recovery soon.

[rash = a lot of small red spots on the skin] a rash of burglaries [a number of similar things happening at the same time]

[fever = high temperature] World Cup fever, election fever [great excitement]

at fever pitch, to reach fever pitch [a point of very high intensity] With a week to go before Anne’s wedding, preparations had reached fever pitch.

[jaundiced = yellow-looking skin because of a liver problem] Experts in the history of the area take a rather jaundiced view of the likely success of the peace talks. [unenthusiastic or sceptical because of previous bad experiences]

[scar = mark left on skin aft er an injury such as a cut] carry the scars of / be scarred by [be permanently affected by a negative experience] I’m afraid that children will always be scarred by experiencing war at a young age.

[infect = pass on an illness] I hope Helen’s enthusiasm will infect everyone else. [pass on to]

[pulse = regular beating of heart, e.g. as felt on wrist] That journalist really has his finger on the pulse of public opinion. [understands how things are changing]