Describe a health problem you once had – IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer 1

Typhoid fever was one of the worst medical conditions I’ve ever experienced. I dealt with a severe fever a few months ago, followed by other symptoms and the health condition that struck me was caused by tainted food. Fortunately, now I am free of the illness.

I didn’t realize there was a problem until I got sick with a temperature and felt weak. My body was swollen in various places, and I had lost my appetite. The weariness and weakness just became worse. This occurred after I consumed a roll purchased from a street vendor. I normally avoid street food sellers, but I decided to give it a go because he was new to the neighborhood. The next day, I had a severe stomachache and a high fever. I believed I had food poisoning and attempted home treatments to get rid of it. However, it got increasingly harder to manage overtime, and the ache in my body became excruciating.

I went to the physicians, who told me that typhoid could not be readily healed and that I would have to be hospitalized to keep it under control. As a result, he prescribed certain medications and gave me some other helpful advice. I was hospitalized at the clinic for five days and had to continue taking the prescribed medicines for three months following discharge. I found it quite difficult to take medications for three months straight.

It had me worried that it would strike again. Then I visited a few physicians, who requested that I undergo some blood tests. Thanks to the Almighty, the health condition was now under control. The doctor encouraged me to keep taking the medications for another month because they take time to work on the body.

Sample Answer 2

It is imperative for individuals to look after their health. Sickness creates tremendous discomfort, and when someone in the family gets affected, others also go through great anxiety. Here, I’d like to talk about my health problem. Although I’m as fit as a fiddle, I feel dehydrated and exhausted at times.  One day, during my regular jogging,  I fainted, which panicked everyone around the park. My father, who accompanied me, was shocked too.  Initially, he thought that I had fainted due to dehydration, but when he checked my pulse rate, it was less than 50 times a minute, which was a sign of a severe problem. So, he immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. The doctors examined me thoroughly and admitted me to the ICU. After a complete diagnosis, the doctor opined that it was Bradycardia. The doctor stated that my health issue was severe and advised me to get pacemaker surgery done. My family became worried about it. But the doctor assured me that it was best for my health. So, I underwent pacemaker surgery, and finally, after a day and a half of being under ventilators, I opened my eyes. My family and I were extremely grateful to God and the doctors for curing my health problem. At this point, I learnt that the human body is a fantastic thing, it does have the capacity to heal, but an individual needs to be patient to let it do so.

Vocabulary

1. Pacemaker

• Meaning: a small device implanted in the human chest which helps maintain an average heart rate. 
  Eg: Due to the unavailability of pacemakers in the rural hospital, many patients lose their life. 

2. Fit as a fiddle

• Meaning: In good physical condition 
  Eg: Although Ram was paralysed during his childhood days, he’s now as fit as a fiddle to play the hockey match. 

 3. Dehydration 

• Meaning: a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body. 
  Eg: Due to the scorching heat, the old man suffered from dehydration. 

4. Capacity 

• Meaning: the maximum amount that something can contain. 
  Eg: The new car has a seating capacity of 4 people. 

5. Exhaust

• Meaning: very tired 
  Eg:  I feel exhausted after a 5-hour journey. 

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