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Health and lifestyle is a recurring topic in 2nde exams, oral and written.
🔹 Health vocabulary :
• symptom, diagnosis, treatment, prescription, surgery
• disease, illness, infection, epidemic, pandemic
• healthcare system : doctor, nurse, pharmacist, specialist, surgeon
• mental health : stress, anxiety, depression, burnout
🔹 Lifestyle vocabulary :
• balanced diet, malnutrition, obesity, junk food
• physical activity, sedentary lifestyle
• substance abuse : smoking, alcohol, drugs
• well-being : sleep, hydration, relaxation
🔹 Health issues in Senegal :
• malaria — leading cause of death, especially in children
• malnutrition — still a problem in rural areas
• access to healthcare — shortage of doctors in rural zones
• traditional medicine vs modern medicine
🔹 Useful structures :
• Regular exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• A balanced diet consists of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
• Prevention is better than cure.
• People should be encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles.
📝 Discussion : 'Are young people in Senegal living healthier lives than their grandparents?'
Arguments that they are healthier :
• Greater access to health information (internet, social media)
• Better vaccination coverage
• Improved medical facilities in cities
Arguments that they are less healthy :
• Increasing consumption of junk food and sugary drinks
• More sedentary lifestyles (television, mobile phones)
• Higher stress levels due to academic and economic pressure
• Loss of traditional diet (millet, local vegetables) in favour of imported food
Sample sentence : 'Although young Senegalese people benefit from better medical services than previous generations, the adoption of sedentary habits and processed food is creating new health challenges that traditional medicine never had to address.'
What is the difference between a disease and an illness?
Correction
A disease is a specific medical condition with identifiable causes (malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes). Illness is a more general term for a state of poor health or the subjective experience of feeling unwell. All diseases cause illness, but illness can also be vague or psychological.
Why is malaria such a serious health problem in Senegal?
Correction
Malaria is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which thrives in Senegal's warm, wet climate. It is particularly dangerous for young children and pregnant women. While treatment exists, limited access to healthcare in rural areas, poverty and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes make it difficult to eliminate.
Give three recommendations for a healthy lifestyle using modal verbs.
Correction
1. You should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. 2. You ought to eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits. 3. You shouldn't spend more than two hours per day on your phone — it affects both eyesight and sleep quality.
What does 'prevention is better than cure' mean? Give a health example.
Correction
It means it is better to avoid illness than to treat it once it occurs. Example: using mosquito nets and repellent to prevent malaria is far cheaper and more effective than treating malaria after infection.
Write a short paragraph about the impact of junk food on health.
Correction
The growing consumption of junk food — fast food, sugary drinks and processed snacks — is having a serious impact on public health. These foods are high in salt, sugar and saturated fat but low in essential nutrients. Regular consumption increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Young people are particularly vulnerable, as food companies aggressively market these products through social media and advertising.