By Rachel Mitchell Text Copyright 2018 by Rachel Mitchell

Chronic disease [Noun] (a type of disease that persists over a long period of time).
My grandfather suffers from a chronic disease.
Tom has a relative who suffers from a chronic disease and must take a range of medicines.
Painkillers [Noun] (a type of medicine that relieves pain).
Thinking she was starting a cold, she took some painkillers.
When I woke up, he was in so much pain that he took some painkillers.
To diagnose [Verb] (to recognise a physical or mental problem by examining the patient).
His father was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year. The child had been diagnosed with asthma.
To stutter [Verb] (to talk the sounds of words over and over again in an uncontrolled way).
He stutters sometimes when he's excited;
He tended to stutter, which tried her patience.
Alive and kicking [Adjective] (healthy and active).
My grandfather is almost 90 but he's still alive and kicking. She's all right, still alive and kicking.
To break a habit [Verb] (to stop doing something that you do regularly, especially something bad or harmful).
He broke his habit of smoking last year. It can be hard to break a habit.
To black out [Verb] (to suddenly lose consciousness).
He blacked out and collapsed on the floor.
He drank 5 glasses of whisky and then he blacked out.
To be under the weather [Expression] (do not feel well; feel sick).
Tom was feeling a bit under the weather today, so he chose to take the day off.
I'm feeling a bit under the weather. I think I've caught a cold.
To phone in sick [Expression] (to call your superior to inform him/her that you are too ill to go to work).
I phoned in sick to let my boss know I wouldn't be coming in. He had to phone in sick last week, because he caught a cold.
Sick as a dog = to be at death’s door [Expression] (very sick; extremely ill).
I caught a flu and for three days I was as sick as a dog. She can't come in to work today, she’s sick as a dog.