English for health professionals

Signs and symptoms

The problems a patient reports are called symptoms. Signs or findings refer to what the health professional finds upon examining the patient.

Objectives:

  • State the symptoms/presenting complaints
  • Talk about and describe symptoms

Preparation activity

What do you know about this topic in English?

  Match the following symptoms with their meanings.

  1. Build up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  2. Bring up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  3. Clear up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  4. Cough up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  5. Swell up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  6. Tighten up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  7. Puff up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  8. Ease up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  9. Creep up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  10. Blow up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  11. Throw up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  12. Flare up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)
  13. Dry up vomit (phlegm) increase (stress headaches) swell, increase in size (abdomen, bloating) heal, improve (skin) improve, reduction in pain symptoms (put feet up, rest) get worse (rash, allergies) become tighter (chest, breathing) vomit (stomach, gastro) swell, increase in size (eyes) become dehydrated (skin, scalp) become larger (leg, knee) symptoms slowly become apparent expel from lungs (lung infection)

Listen and repeat

Listen to the following examples and practice repeating the phrases.

Expressions and Examples: Talking about symptoms, phrasal verbs

Improved: My skin really cleared up with that medication.

Become larger: I swell up when I eat peanuts.

Slowly came on: This cold really crept up on me.

Reduced pain: That massage really helped the pain in my back ease up.

Vomit: When I have the flu I often throw up all the food I’ve eaten.

Became dehydrated: After that race my throat really dried up.

Let’s Listen: Podcast

Listen to the following short conversations to understand signs and symptoms better.

Transcript Download