Heart Transplants and Air Fresheners: Health Facts and Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary: Health and Medicine
Hypertension / high blood pressure
Income / the money a person or company receives in a certain period of time.
Developed / having an advanced economy and a high standard of living.
Decent / of an acceptable standard
Cardiac / relating to the heart.
Significantly / in a way that is important and has an effect.
Severe / very serious
Transplant / an operation in which an organ from one person is put in another person’s body.
Declare / say or state something officially
Temporary / lasting for a limited time
Biological / studying the bodies of living things.
Permanent / lasting for a very long time
Artificial / made to be like something natural.
Facts About the Heart and Heart Transplants
What does the heart do?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells.
How many times does the heart beat in one day?
The heart beats over 100,000 times.
Who performed the first heart transplant?
The first heart transplant was performed in 1967 by Dr. Christian Barnard.
How many heart transplants were performed in China in 2019?
China performed 679 heart transplants.
Why does a heart have to be transplanted very quickly?
The heart can only survive for 4-6 hours outside the body.
What are some requirements for the person receiving a new heart?
The recipient should have the same blood type and similar body size as the donor to help prevent rejection.
How long did the patient with the first artificial heart survive?
The patient survived for five months after the operation.
3D Printing and Organs
How is a 3D printer different from a regular printer?
A regular printer uses ink on a flat surface, while a 3D printer uses depth to build objects layer by layer.
What is the benefit of 3D printing organs?
A benefit is that the patient’s own cells could be used to create the organ.
Vaping and Lung Health
Concerned / worried about something
Flavors / taste
Inhaled / breathed in
Vaping / the act of using an e-cigarette
Popular / enjoyed by a large number of people
Lungs / the organs that allow us to breathe
Vapor / small liquid drops in the air
Detected / discovered
Prompted / caused something to happen
Irritants / substances that bother or cause pain
Device / a smoking device
Medical Equipment and Places
A thermometer is a device used to measure someone’s temperature.
A surgeon is a person who performs operations.
An ambulance is a vehicle used to transport injured patients.
A hospital is a place where sick people are treated.
A stethoscope is an instrument used to listen to body sounds.
A laboratory is a place where experiments are conducted.
A paramedic is a healthcare professional who takes care of injured people in an emergency.
An artificial heart is a device that replaces a heart for a short period of time.
A spaceship is a vehicle used to transport astronauts into space.
Indoor Air Pollution and Air Fresheners
Odor / an unpleasant smell
Pollutant / any substance that causes harm to air, soil, or water.
Exposure / lack of protection from something harmful
So-called / used to show that something is not described in a suitable way
Organic / made without the use of chemicals.
Compound / a substance made up of two or more elements
Fragrance / a pleasant smell
Perfume / a liquid made from flowers, put on the skin to give a pleasant smell
Concern / worry
Questions and Answers on Air Fresheners
What are air fresheners used for?
They are used to remove unpleasant odors from the home.
Name some sources of indoor air pollution.
Air fresheners, candles, incense, and cleaning products.
Name some conditions caused by indoor air pollution.
Asthma, headaches, runny nose, coughing, and breathing difficulties.
Name some places where air fresheners are used.
Homes, offices, stores, hospitals, restaurants, schools, airports, and many other facilities.
What is the problem with “green” air fresheners?
There is no regulation on how the terms “green” or “organic” can be used for non-food products, so companies can advertise as they wish, and studies have found that they often contain dangerous compounds too.
What can be done instead of using air fresheners?
Remove the source of the smell, increase airflow by opening windows or using fans, and do regular cleaning.
Fragrance-Free Policies
What is a fragrance-free policy?
Regulations or policies that limit or ban the use of air fresheners and other fragranced products (such as perfume and hairspray) in public places or workplaces to protect people with allergies, asthma, or breathing issues.