Medical English 2

Module 2: Blood
Reading
Anemia

Section A
Anemia is a blood disorder that happens when you do not have enough red
blood cells or hemoglobin, or when they do not work properly. Some types of
anemia are inherited (passed from parents), while others develop during a
person’s lifetime. The effects of anemia can be mild or very serious. Some
types cause small problems that improve with treatment, but others, such as
sickle cell anemia (red blood cells become sickle-shaped), can lead to lifelong
medical issues. Severe anemia may even be life-threatening, and in some
cases it can be a symptom of another disease, such as cancer.
Section B
The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue (extreme tiredness), which
makes people feel unable to do daily activities. Other symptoms can include
chest pain, dizziness, frequent infections, heart palpitations (fast or irregular
heartbeat), headaches, and pallor (pale skin). Some people may also have
pulsatile tinnitus (a pulsing sound in the ears) and dyspnea (shortness of
breath).
Section C
The most common cause of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia (not enough iron
in the body), which can happen if someone does not eat enough iron-rich food
or loses too much blood. Anemia can also be acquired (developed during life)
because of long-term illness, immune system problems, or vitamin deficiencies
such as lack of vitamin B12 (pernicious anemia).
Other types of anemia are inherited (passed from parents). These include
sickle cell anemia and thalassemia (the body makes less hemoglobin). Some
conditions, such as aplastic anemia (bone marrow does not make enough blood
cells) and hemolytic anemia (red blood cells break down too quickly), may be
either acquired or inherited.
Section D
Doctors usually ask about symptoms and then order blood tests. The most
common is a complete blood count (CBC), which measures the number of red
blood cells, the level of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen), and the
hematocrit (the proportion of red cells in the blood). A blood smear (examining
blood cells under a microscope) and a reticulocyte count (checking if bone
marrow makes enough new cells) can also help confirm the diagnosis.
Section E
A full blood count (FBC), also called a complete blood count (CBC), is one of the
most widely used blood tests. It gives important information about overall
health by measuring red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, as well as
hemoglobin, hematocrit, and the size and content of red blood cells.
Section F
Doctors use FBC results to identify many health problems. For example,
anemia is linked to low red blood cells or hemoglobin, while erythrocytosis (too
many red blood cells), leukocytosis (too many white blood cells), leukopenia
(too few white blood cells), thrombocytosis (too many platelets), or
thrombocytopenia (too few platelets) may show other diseases. These results
can suggest infections, cancers, blood disorders, or side effects of medication.

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Doctors always compare FBC results with symptoms to make the correct
diagnosis.
Questions 1–6
The reading passage has six sections, A–F.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings
below.
⚠️Note: There are more headings than sections, so you will not use all the
headings.

List of Headings Passage Sections

i. Full Blood Count
ii. What are the symptoms? Section A → ______
iii. Clinical significance Section B → ______
iv. The role of diet in blood health Section C → ______
v. What causes anemia? Section D → ______
vi. Treatment and prevention Section E → ______
strategies Section F → ______
vii. How is anemia diagnosed?
viii. What is anemia?

Questions 7–9
Complete the sentences below using ONE word only from the passage.
7. A shortage of red blood cells or __________, or their poor functioning, can
result in anemia.
8. Certain forms of anemia are __________ through family genes, while others
appear later in a person’s life.
9. In some situations anemia causes only __________ health effects, while in
others it can be very serious.
Questions 10-11
Choose the correct answer (A,B,C or D).
11. What is the most common symptom of anemia?
A. Chest pain
B. Fatigue
C. Headaches
D. Dizziness
12. What can be inferred about the different causes of anemia
described in the passage?
A. Not all forms of anemia can be prevented through changes in diet.
B. Every type of anemia is linked to iron deficiency.
C. Inherited anemias usually improve without treatment.
D. All acquired anemias are caused by blood loss.
Questions 13-15
Match each blood test (Questions 13–15) with the correct description (A–E).

Blood Tests Descriptions

13. Complete blood count (CBC) A. Kiểm tra xem tủy xương có tạo ra đủ
______ tế bào máu mới hay không.
B. Đo lượng đường trong máu.
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Module 2: Blood
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C. Đo số lượng hồng cầu, lượng
hemoglobin và tỉ lệ hồng cầu trong máu.
14. A blood smear ______
D. Quan sát tế bào máu dưới kính hiển vi.
15. A reticulocyte count
E. Kiểm tra xem cơ thể có đủ nước hay
______
không.

Questions 16-20
Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the passage, or FALSE if it
contradicts the passage.
16. FBC is alternatively referred to as CBC.
17. Anemia results from an excess of red blood cells.
18. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia both indicate an overabundance of
cells.
19. An FBC result alone is always enough for doctors to make a correct
diagnosis without considering other factors.
20. Erythrocytosis means an abnormally high number of red blood cells.
References
Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Full blood count (FBC) – Blood explained. Victoria
State Government.
[Link]
count
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Complete blood count (CBC). Cleveland Clinic.
[Link]
McCullough, P., & Wright, D. (2010). Professional English in use: Medicine.
Cambridge University Press.

Word/ IPA Word English Vietna Example

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Phrase form mese
Anemia /əˈniː.mi.ə/ noun A Thiếu The patient
conditio máu was
n where diagnosed
blood with
lacks anemia
enough after a
healthy blood test.
red
blood
cells or
hemogl
obin
Hemoglobi /ˈhiː.məˌɡloʊ.bɪn/ noun The Huyết Low
n protein sắc tố hemoglobi
in red n levels are
blood a key sign
cells of anemia.
that
carries
oxygen
Inherited /ɪnˈher.ɪ.tɪd/ adjective Passed Di Some types
from truyền of anemia
parents are
to inherited.
children
through
genes
Sickle cell /ˈsɪk.əl sel/ noun A Hồng Sickle cell
genetic cầu hình anemia can
blood liềm cause
disorde lifelong
r complicatio
causing ns.
red
blood
cells to
be
crescen
t-
shaped
Palpitation /ˌpæl.pɪˈteɪ.ʃən/ noun An Hồi hộp, Severe
unusual tim đập anemia may
ly rapid nhanh cause
or palpitation
irregula s.
r
heartbe
at

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Pulsatile noun A Ù tai Some
tinnitus rhythmi theo anemia
c nhịp patients
whooshi mạch report
ng pulsatile
sound tinnitus.
in the
ears,
often
linked
to blood
flow
proble
ms
Pallor /ˈpæl.ər/ noun An Da xanh Pallor is a
unhealt xao common
hy pale symptom of
appear severe
ance of anemia.
the skin
Dyspnea /ˈdɪ[Link].ə/ noun Difficult Khó thở The patient
y or experienced
labored dyspnea
breathi due to low
ng oxygen
levels.
Iron- /ˈaɪərn dɪˈfɪʃ.ə[Link]/ adjective A Thiếu The most
deficiency /noun conditio sắt common
n anemia is
caused iron-
by deficiency
insuffici anemia.
ent iron
in the
body
Pernicious /pəˈnɪʃ.əs ə noun A Thiếu Pernicious
anemia ˈniː.mi.ə/ serious máu ác anemia is
anemia tính linked to
caused poor
by vitamin B12
vitamin absorption.
B12
deficien
cy
Thalassem /ˌθæl.əˈsiː.mi.ə/ noun A Bệnh tan Children
ia genetic máu with
disorde bẩm thalassemi
r where sinh a need
the (Thalass regular

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body emia) transfusions
makes .
less
hemogl
obin
Aplastic /ˌeɪˈplæs.tɪk ə noun A Thiếu Aplastic
anemia ˈniː.mi.ə/ conditio máu bất anemia can
n where sản be life-
bone threatening.
marrow
fails to
produce
enough
blood
cells
Hemolytic /ˌhiː.məˈlɪt.ɪk ə noun Anemia Thiếu Hemolytic
anemia ˈniː.mi.ə/ caused máu tán anemia
by the huyết destroys red
rapid cells faster
breakdo than they
wn of are made.
red
blood
cells
Blood /blʌd smɪər/ noun A lab Phiến A blood
smear test máu smear
where helps
blood diagnose
cells different
are anemias.
examin
ed
under a
microsc
ope
Reticulocy /rɪˈtɪk.jʊ.lə.saɪt noun A test Số lượng A high
te count kaʊnt/ measuri hồng reticulocyt
ng cầu lưới e count
young may
red indicate
blood hemolysis.
cells
from
bone
marrow
Diagnosis /ˌdaɪ.əɡˈnoʊ.sɪs/ noun The Chẩn The doctor
identific đoán made a
ation of diagnosis
a of iron-

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disease deficiency
anemia.
Full blood /fʊl blʌd kaʊnt/ noun A test Công A full
count that thức blood
(FBC) measur máu toàn count is the
es phần first step in
blood anemia
cells diagnosis.
and
hemogl
obin
levels
Red blood /red blʌd selz/ noun Cells Hồng Low red
cells that cầu blood cells
carry are typical
oxygen in anemia.
in the
blood
White /waɪt blʌd selz/ noun Cells Bạch White
blood cells that cầu blood cells
fight are not
infectio directly
ns related to
anemia but
important in
FBC.
Platelets /ˈpleɪt.ləts/ noun Small Tiểu cầu Platelet
blood count is
cells often
that included in
help an anemia
with test.
clotting
Hematocri /hɪˈmæt.ə.krɪt/ noun The Dung Low
t proporti tích hematocrit
on of hồng suggests
red cầu anemia.
blood
cells in
blood
Erythrocyt /ɪˌrɪθ.roʊ.saɪ noun Too Đa hồng Erythrocyt
osis ˈtoʊ.sɪs/ many cầu osis is the
red opposite of
blood anemia.
cells
Leukocyto /ˌluː.koʊ.saɪ noun Too Tăng Leukocyto
sis ˈtoʊ.sɪs/ many bạch cầu sis may
white show
blood infection,

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cells not anemia.
Leukopeni /ˌluː.kəˈpiː.ni.ə/ noun Too few Giảm Leukopeni
a white bạch cầu a may
blood appear
cells alongside
aplastic
anemia.
Thrombocy /ˌθrɒ[Link]ʊ.saɪ noun Too Tăng Thrombocy
tosis ˈtoʊ.sɪs/ many tiểu cầu tosis can
platelet affect blood
s clotting.
Thrombocy /ˌθrɒ[Link]ʊ.saɪ noun Too few Giảm Thrombocy
topenia ˈtoʊˈpiː.ni.ə/ platelet tiểu cầu topenia
s may occur
in aplastic
anemia.