ALTERNATIVE METAPHORS FOR CHRONIC DISEASE IN POPULAR MEDICAL WRITING

Yangibaeva Iklima Ataxanovna

Authors

Yangibaeva Iklima Ataxanovna Trainee-teacher at Urgench Innovation University Uzbekistan,

Keywords:

Metaphor, Chronic Disease, Medical Discourse, Popular Science, War Metaphor, Journey Metaphor, Balance, Ecosystem, Patient Communication, Health Narratives

Abstract

Metaphors are powerful linguistic and cognitive tools that shape how medical knowledge is communicated and understood. In popular medical writing, they bridge the gap between complex biomedical concepts and everyday experiences. Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions are often framed through the battle metaphor, which emphasizes struggle and victory. While widely used, this metaphor has been criticized for oversimplifying long-term illness and placing undue responsibility on patients.

References

1. Hendriks, H. (2018). Metaphors in medical communication: Framing chronic illness in patient–doctor interaction. Health Communication, 33(12), 1526–1534.

2. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

3. Larson, B. (2011). Metaphors for Environmental Sustainability: Redefining Our Relationship with Nature. Yale University Press.

4. Reisfield, G. M., & Wilson, G. R. (2004). Use of metaphor in the discourse on cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22(19), 4024–4027.

5. Semino, E., Demjén, Z., Demmen, J., Koller, V., Payne, S., Hardie, A., & Rayson, P. (2017). The online use of metaphors for cancer. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 7(1), 60–66.

6. Sontag, S. (1978). Illness as Metaphor. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.