LESSON 9

LESSON 9

DISEASE

A.    READ THE TEXT BELOW

                                              ASTHMA

Asthma is a disease of the lungs that is that is characterized by tightening of the air pathways. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, tightness or pressure. Many of these conditions are reversible with medication but not 100% reversible in all patients. Some common features of asthma are inflammation, airway obstruction and airway sensitivity. Some risk factors for asthma are a family history of asthma, regular lung infections, presence of allergies, exposure to tobacco smoke, low birth weight, and being male.
The current rise in asthma cases among children is alarming. Asthma may occur at any age but is very common in children. Approximately 10% of children have asthma and that rate may rise in the future. Experts don't agree why the rate is increasing but here are some ideas:

•      Children are being exposed to more triggers (things that bring on asthma attacks; dust, tobacco smoke,  pollution)

•      Children don't have strong immune systems (they aren't exposed to many childhood diseases.)

•      Decreases in the rates of breast feeding may also play a role.

Asthma is a disease that causes many problems for the patient. However, it can be controlled. With the right information and medical attention medical professionals can prevent many deaths.

Taken from www.hospitalenglish.com



WORD LIST

•    Asthma                : a medical condition which makes breathing difficult by      causing the air passages to become narrow or blocked
•    Disease                : illness of people, animals, plants, etc
•    immune system     : the cells and tissues in the body which make it able to protect itself against infection
•    Breathe                : to move air into and out of the lungs
•    Symptoms            : any feeling of illness or physical or mental change which is caused by a particular disease
•    Tightness              : to be in a difficult situation
•    Wheezing             : to make a high, rough noise while breathing because of some breathing difficulty
•    Pressure               : the force you produce when you press something
•    Infection               : a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus
•    Treatment             : the use of drugs, exercises, etc. to cure a person of an illness or injury
•    Sensitivity             : having a strong physical reaction to something
•    Inflammation        : a red, painful and often swollen area in or on a part of your body
•    Exposure             : a serious medical condition that is caused by being outside in very cold weather
•    Allergens             : a substance which can cause an allergy

Taken from Cambridge Advance Learner’s Dictionary


B.    EXERCISES

     EXERCISE 1

Choose the right answer for the quetions below!

1.    What are some common symptoms associated with asthma?
        a.    shortness of breath
        b.    coughing
        c.    chest pain
        d.    all of the above
2.    What age does asthma present at?
        a.    any age
        b.    childhood
        c.    30s
        d.    10-12 years
3.    Asthma is ___________ of the lungs.
       a.    a part
       b.    a disease
       c.    a risk factor
       d.    a symptom
4.    Family history of asthma, regular lung infestions, and exposure to tabacco smake are all ___________ of asthma
       a.    risk factors
       b.    triggers
       c.    diseases
       d.    exposures
5.    Recently, there has been an increase in asthma cases among ________.
       a.    young adults
       b.    IV drug users
       c.    the elderly
       d.    children
6.    Many of the symptoms of asthma are 100% ________ with medication in some patients.
       a.    reversible
       b.    stronger
       c.    avoidable
       d.    sensitivity
7.    What percent of children have asthma?
       a.    20%
       b.    1%
       c.    10%
       d.    15%
8.    What is one idea why the asthma rate is increasing in children?
       a.    Children are being exposed to more triggers.
       b.    Children have strong immune systems.
       c.    Breast feeding has increased.
       d.    More children are smoking.
9.    Airway obstruction and airway sensitivity are common ________ of asthma.
       a.    diseases
       b.    triggers
       c.    features
       d.    risk factors
10.    Asthma is a disease that causes _________ .
       a.    severe headaches
       b.    tightening of air pathways
       c.    relaxation of the lungs
       d.    medication

     EXERCISE 2

  Fill in all the gaps with the right word !

  ____is a disease of the ___  that is that is characterized by tightening of the air pathways. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, shortness of ___ , coughing, chest pain, tightness or pressure. Many of these conditions are reversible with medication but not 100% reversible in all patients. Some common ____ of asthma are inflammation, airway obstruction and airway sensitivity. Some ___ ___   for asthma are a family history of asthma, regular lung infections, presence of allergies, exposure to tobacco smoke, low birth weight, and being male.
The current rise in asthma cases among ____ is alarming. Asthma may occur at ___ age but is very common in children. Approximately 10% of children have asthma and that rate may rise in the future. Experts don’t agree why the rate is increasing but here are some ideas:
- Children are being exposed to more ___  (things that bring on asthma attacks; dust, tobacco smoke, pollution)
- Children don’t have strong ____ (they aren’t exposed to many childhood diseases.)
- Decreases in the rates of breast feeding may also play a role.
Asthma is a disease that causes many ____  for the patient. However, it can be controlled. With the right information and medical attention, medical professionals can prevent many deaths.