Health: Upper-intermediate Spanish vocabulary

34 Spanish words about health at upper-intermediate level. Each entry links to the full meaning, a real example sentence, and usage notes written for English speakers.

• alcoholnounalcohol — the chemical substance ethanol; alcoholic drink in general; a topic of public-health policy
• sustancianounsubstance — a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; also essential quality
• bienestarnounwellbeing, welfare
• traumanountrauma — a deeply distressing experience; the lasting psychological effects thereof
• remedionounremedy, solution — a cure or way of correcting something
• propagarseverbto propagate, to spread
• trastornonoundisorder — a functional disruption, especially psychological or neurological
• aliviarverbto alleviate, to relieve
• angustianoundistress, anguish
• estigmanounstigma
• digerirverbto digest
• paliarverbto palliate, to ease — to relieve the symptoms or suffering caused by something without addressing root causes
• leveadjectivemild, slight — small in degree; not severe or serious
• fibranounfibre — thread-like material; dietary fibre; fibre optic internet
• forma físicanounphysical fitness — the condition of being physically fit and healthy
• tolerancianounwillingness to accept beliefs, customs or behaviour different from one's own
• cuidarseverbto look after one's own health, wellbeing or appearance
• calmantenouna medicine that reduces pain, anxiety or agitation
• analgésiconouna medicine specifically used to relieve pain
• cansancionouna feeling of physical or mental exhaustion or weariness
• neumoníanouna serious infection that inflames the air sacs of one or both lungs
• padecerverbto suffer from an illness, condition or hardship over a period of time
• contagiarverbto pass an illness or infection on to someone else
• regularadjectiveregular — occurring at fixed intervals or following a consistent pattern
• hábitonounhabit, routine — a repeated behaviour pattern acquired through practice
• sanarverbto heal, to recover
• prevenirverbto prevent
• inyectarverbto inject, to infuse
• miembronounlimb — an arm or leg; also a member of a group
• recuperarverbto recover, to retrieve
• relajar(se)verbto relax
• obesidadnounobesity — the medical condition of being severely overweight
• restringirverbto restrict, to limit
• venenonounpoison, toxin