Topic Two: Your Health

Dictation 3

Various Diseases

As medicine has progressed, many vaccines and cures have been developed for some of the diseases the world has encountered. However, because the evolution of disease organisms is very rapid, even with vaccines we have difficulty providing full immunity to many illnesses, and finding the proper treatment remains extremely tough.

Diseases can be classified into three general groups. There are conditions that are infectious meaning that they are caused by an infection through which a virus or other parasite enters the body.

Hereditary diseases are genetic, meaning that they are passed down from generation to generation. Heredity is not a "cause," and some of the diseases of unknown origin may be transmitted from parent to offspring.

Finally, there are diseases for which there is no known reason. In some cases, it is possible that heredity, diet, or some other aspect of human existence is vital, but it is not certain.

In spite of the great number of various diseases people always try to take care of their health and hope that in future the scientists will find unique remedies for all of them.

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Dictation 4¹

Diseases and Common Ailments

Nowadays because of quite a number of reasons people often fall ill and get various diseases when the normal structure or function of the body is harmed or weakened. A disease may last a brief or a long time and may be mild or severe. Some of them such as a common cold may disappear after a few days without any treatment. Others require medical interference to be cured. And some even may need a lifetime supervision.

Favourable standards of living help promote health. Also the body itself has defenses against any ailment. But now and then they give way and an illness occurs as the germs break through. Something goes wrong with certain chemical reactions in the body.

How do people know they are ill? Often they have symptoms such as pain, nausea, a sore throat, lack of appetite, fatigue, or fever. However, a disease may be present without a person knowing it. Sometimes it is discovered during a routine health examination.

Illnesses, that can be passed along by an infected person either directly or indirectly are called infectious or communicable. In previous centuries they were a serious problem. Today as a result of improved hygiene and living conditions, new drugs as well as widespread vaccines, the picture has changed. Malaria, yellow fever, scarlet fever, small pox and diphtheria have been almost wiped out. Though, they still pose problems in certain areas of the world.

A cold is the most common ailment. So far, scientists have identified more than 100 different viruses capable of causing it. For this reason, no vaccine exists to immunize against colds.

Some diseases are not the result of harmful microorganisms.They cannot be passed from person to person. No immunity can be produced for them and they are called noncommunicable. Among them are most diseases of the heart, allergy and a lot of others. So, there is still a hope

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that with the development of modern medicine some way out will be found.