Flu symptoms.

Read about the flu symptoms and fill in the blanks. Don't worry about new words, just get the main idea.

Flu's symptoms, from body aches to cough and fever, are legendary. But what causes all that misery? Look below to find out why you feel so awful.

_________: The infecting viruses trigger the release of pyrogens into the bloodstream. These chemicals stimulate the cold-sensing neurons in the hypothalamus, the body's thermostat. The hypothalamus then raises the body's temperature, stimulating the activity of infection-fighting white blood cells and inhibiting the growth of the temperature-sensitive invading viruses.

Headache: As the body's inflammatory response to the virus kicks in, the arteries in the ______ expand, irritating nearby nerve endings in the confined space of the head. As the fever increases, the _________ rate rises, sending more __________ rushing through the body, including the head, resulting in a pounding headache.

Sore Eyes: The mucous membranes of the _________ and ___________are connected, and both become inflamed during the infection. The blood vessels in the eye typically become dilated, causing redness, burning and sensitivity to __________.

__________ Congestion: Nasal congestion results when the blood vessels in the mucous membranes expand, engorging the region and leaking fluids and virus-fighting white blood cells into the region in response to the presence of the virus. The result: a stuff, runny nose.

Cough: Inflammation of the respiratory tract and drainage of nasal mucus irritate the _________, triggering the cough reflex. Such a "dry" cough, which doesn't' bring up phlegm, is common in influenza. A "productive" cough may be a sign of a secondary infection such as bronchitis or ______________.

Sore Throat: Sore throat and difficulty swallowing are caused by the inflammation of the tissues in your _________ as the virus attacks the upper respiratory system.

Fatigue: Fatigue from the flu is caused both by the body devoting energy to the immune response to the virus and the effect of immune-response messenger cells on the nervous system throughout the ________.

Body Aches: As the virus spreads, your immune system's white blood cells fight from dominance, and the immune-response messengers that spread throughout the body affect muscle cells, causing ___________ aches.

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Heart Disease and Stroke- simple present

Click on the title to get an article about hear disease and stoke from the BBC News. Then answer:

Introduction:

1. How often does an adult die in the UK from a heart disease?
2. How many people die a year in the UK from a heart disease?
3. When do heart attacks occur?

Heart disease:

1. How does the oxygen get to the different parts of the body?
2. Who are more likely to suffer from a heart attack?
3. Name the treatments doctors can use to help people.

Stroke:

1. What does it happen when blood clots and vessels burst?
2. What's the normal treatment for a person at risk of suffering a stroke?
3. Whay do doctors use drug treatments and rehabilitation?

Swine flu vaccine 'step closer'

Read and answer:

1. Where are the scientists from?
2. Is it important for manufacturers to start large-scale production of a virus against the H1N1 strain?
3. Name one of the labs working towards a vaccine.
4. What do scientists have to create to get a strain suitable for vaccine manufacture?
5. What is the name of the technique used?

Swine flu vaccine 'step closer'

Influenza vaccines can be manufactured on a large scale
A viral strain which can be used to make a vaccine against swine flu has been produced by UK scientists.
It is a "crucial step" for manufacturers to start large-scale production of a virus against the H1N1 strain, they said.
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control is one of a handful of laboratories globally working towards a vaccine.
US researchers also recently produced a candidate "starting strain".
To get a strain suitable for vaccine manufacture, scientists have to create a hybrid virus which is a cross between the H1N1 virus which is causing disease and "a tried and tested laboratory strain".
Using a technique called reverse genetics the researchers took gene sequences encoding parts of the swine flu virus that are recognised by the body's immune system and combined them with gene sequences from laboratory strains.

Click on the title to get the full article from BBC