Inglés Médico: 48 Términos Esenciales para Pacientes

"make an appointment"

To schedule a specific time to see a doctor or specialist, either by phone, online portal, or in person at the front desk

"She called the surgery first thing on Monday to make an appointment with her GP about the persistent cough she had had for two weeks."

"describe your symptoms"

To explain to a medical professional what physical or emotional sensations you are experiencing, including where they occur, how intense they are, and when they started

"The nurse asked him to describe his symptoms carefully so she could prioritise his triage level before the doctor came in to see him."

"medical history"

A record of all past illnesses, surgeries, medications, allergies, and family health conditions that a healthcare provider uses to understand a patient's overall health background

"The specialist reviewed her full medical history before deciding whether the new medication would interact safely with the one she had been taking for years."

"referral letter"

An official document from a GP or general practitioner that formally directs a patient to see a specialist or access a particular service within the healthcare system

"Without a referral letter from his family doctor, the hospital outpatient clinic could not add him to the waiting list for the orthopaedic consultation."

"follow-up appointment"

A scheduled visit after an initial consultation or procedure to check on recovery progress, review test results, or adjust a treatment plan

"The doctor booked a follow-up appointment for three weeks later to check whether the antibiotics had cleared the infection completely."

"waiting room"

The area in a clinic or hospital where patients sit before being called to see a healthcare professional

"She arrived fifteen minutes early and sat in the waiting room reading a magazine until a receptionist called her name over the intercom."

"walk-in clinic"

A medical facility that accepts patients without a prior appointment for minor or urgent health concerns, operating on a first-come, first-served basis

"Because his regular doctor was fully booked, he went to the walk-in clinic down the road and was seen within forty minutes for his ear infection."

"second opinion"

The assessment of a patient's condition by a different doctor, sought when the patient wants confirmation of a diagnosis or wants to explore alternative treatment options

"After receiving a concerning diagnosis, she decided to seek a second opinion from a specialist at a different hospital before agreeing to surgery."

"sharp pain"

A sudden, intense, stabbing sensation that is clearly located in a specific area, often signalling an acute injury or inflammation

"She felt a sharp pain in her lower right abdomen that came on suddenly while she was at her desk, which prompted her to call an ambulance."

"dull ache"

A persistent but not severe pain that feels heavy, throbbing, or constant and lingers over a prolonged period rather than arriving in sudden bursts

"He had a dull ache in his lower back every morning that eased after he moved around for an hour but always returned if he sat at his computer for too long."

"throbbing sensation"

A rhythmic, pulsating pain that beats in time with the heartbeat, commonly experienced in the head during migraines or in injured tissue with inflammation

"The dentist explained that the throbbing sensation around her molar was caused by an abscess pressing on the nerve root beneath the tooth."

"shortness of breath"

Difficulty breathing fully or comfortably, sometimes described as a feeling of tightness in the chest or an inability to get enough air with each breath

"The patient reported shortness of breath when climbing stairs, which the cardiologist said warranted an immediate ECG to rule out cardiac causes."

"nausea"

An unpleasant feeling of sickness in the stomach that may or may not lead to vomiting, often caused by illness, medication, motion, or anxiety

"The chemotherapy caused persistent nausea for the first three days after each cycle, making it difficult for her to eat anything solid."

"fatigue"

An extreme and overwhelming sense of tiredness, weakness, or lack of energy that is not relieved by rest and may indicate an underlying medical condition

"She told her GP that the fatigue had become so severe that she could not get through a working day without needing to rest, which led to blood tests for thyroid function."

"swelling"

An increase in the size of a body part caused by fluid accumulation, inflammation, or injury, visible as puffiness or a change in shape around the affected area

"The nurse noticed significant swelling around the ankle joint and sent the patient for an X-ray to rule out a fracture before applying a support bandage."

"fever"

A body temperature above the normal range — generally above 38°C or 100.4°F — which is typically a sign that the immune system is fighting an infection

"His temperature had reached 39.5°C and the on-call doctor confirmed he had a fever, prescribing paracetamol and advising plenty of fluids and rest."

"prescription"

A written or electronic order from an authorised doctor directing a pharmacist to dispense a specific medication in a particular dose and form to a named patient

"The doctor printed a prescription for a seven-day course of antibiotics and reminded him to collect it from any registered pharmacy before the end of the week."

"dosage"

The prescribed amount of a medication to be taken at one time, along with the frequency and timing of each dose, as specified by the prescribing doctor

"She read the dosage instructions carefully: two tablets three times daily with food, for a maximum of ten days without reviewing with her doctor."

"side effects"

Unwanted or unexpected physical or psychological reactions to a medication that occur alongside its intended therapeutic effect

"The patient leaflet listed drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness as common side effects of the antihistamine, and advised against driving while taking it."

"over-the-counter medication"

A medicine that can be purchased directly from a pharmacy or shop without a doctor's prescription, used to treat common minor ailments

"The pharmacist recommended an over-the-counter medication for her headache and reminded her not to exceed the maximum daily dose printed on the box."

"course of treatment"

A full programme of medication or therapy that must be completed as prescribed, even if symptoms improve before the end of the scheduled period

"The doctor stressed the importance of finishing the entire course of treatment and not stopping the antibiotics early just because she was already feeling better."

"intravenous drip"

A method of delivering fluids, nutrients, or medication directly into a vein through a needle or catheter, bypassing the digestive system for faster absorption

"Because he was severely dehydrated and unable to keep fluids down, the emergency team administered rehydration salts through an intravenous drip over several hours."

"drug interaction"

A change in the way a medication works when taken alongside another drug, food, or supplement, which can reduce effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects

"The pharmacist flagged a potential drug interaction between the new blood pressure tablet and the supplement she had been buying online and urged her to consult her GP."

"pain relief"

Medication or non-pharmaceutical methods — such as heat, ice, or physiotherapy — used to reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain

"Post-surgery, the nurse administered regular pain relief on a fixed schedule rather than waiting for the patient to ask, which kept his discomfort at a manageable level."

"emergency room"

The section of a hospital that provides immediate treatment for serious, life-threatening, or urgent medical conditions on a twenty-four-hour basis

"When his chest pain did not ease after twenty minutes, his wife drove him straight to the emergency room rather than waiting for a routine appointment."

"triage"

The process by which medical staff assess and sort patients according to the urgency of their condition so that the most critical cases receive treatment first

"The triage nurse quickly assessed the severity of each patient's condition and assigned a colour-coded priority level that determined how long they would wait."

"hospital admission"

The formal process of being accepted as an inpatient at a hospital, where a patient is assigned a bed and registered in the system for ongoing care

"Following the scan results, the doctor decided that a hospital admission was necessary to monitor her condition overnight and start intravenous treatment."

"discharge papers"

Official documentation given to a patient when leaving hospital, summarising their diagnosis, treatment received, medications to continue, and follow-up instructions

"The nurse went through the discharge papers with him carefully, explaining which tablets to take at home and what warning signs should prompt him to return to hospital."

"intensive care unit"

A specialised hospital ward with advanced monitoring equipment and a high ratio of nurses to patients, used for patients with life-threatening conditions requiring constant supervision

"After the operation, she was moved to the intensive care unit for forty-eight hours so that staff could monitor her vital signs around the clock."

"informed consent"

The process by which a patient is given clear information about a procedure, its risks and benefits, and alternatives, and then formally agrees to proceed

"Before the operation, the surgeon spent fifteen minutes explaining the procedure so the patient could give fully informed consent without feeling rushed or pressured."

"vital signs"

A set of basic measurements — including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature — that indicate a patient's immediate physiological state

"A nurse checked his vital signs every hour through the night to ensure there were no signs of post-operative complications developing."

"next of kin"

A person's closest living relative or nominated contact who is legally or practically responsible for receiving medical information and making decisions if the patient cannot

"The hospital asked her to provide the name and phone number of her next of kin in case she needed surgery and was unable to consent herself."

"anxiety"

A persistent feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about uncertain future events, which can range from mild background tension to a diagnosable disorder affecting daily function

"She explained to her therapist that the anxiety had escalated to the point where she was avoiding social situations and struggling to leave the house on some days."

"depression"

A mood disorder characterised by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, and in severe cases, thoughts of self-harm

"The GP diagnosed depression after she described several weeks of feeling hopeless, unable to concentrate at work, and withdrawing from friends and family."

"counselling"

A form of talking therapy in which a trained counsellor helps a person explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a safe, non-judgemental environment

"After the bereavement, his employer offered six sessions of counselling through the company's employee assistance programme, which he found genuinely helpful."

"cognitive behavioural therapy"

A structured, evidence-based talking therapy that identifies and challenges unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, replacing them with more balanced perspectives and coping strategies

"The psychologist recommended cognitive behavioural therapy to help him understand the link between his catastrophic thinking and the panic attacks he was experiencing at work."

"mindfulness"

A mental practice of paying deliberate, non-judgemental attention to the present moment — including thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations — to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation

"Her psychiatrist suggested adding a daily mindfulness practice to her routine, explaining that ten minutes of focused breathing could significantly lower baseline anxiety levels over time."

"burnout"

A state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace stress, characterised by reduced performance, detachment, and a feeling of emptiness

"The occupational health doctor recognised the classic signs of burnout and recommended a period of sick leave along with a phased return-to-work plan."

"self-harm"

Deliberate injury to one's own body as a way of coping with overwhelming emotional distress — a serious symptom that requires sensitive professional support

"The school counsellor created a safe space for the student to disclose the self-harm and immediately involved the safeguarding lead and parents in arranging specialist support."

"mental health crisis"

A period of acute emotional distress or psychiatric emergency in which a person is unable to cope using their usual resources and may be at risk of harm to themselves or others

"When his flatmate recognised the warning signs of a mental health crisis, she called the crisis line rather than leaving him alone and waited with him until support arrived."

"health insurance"

A contract between a policyholder and an insurer that covers the cost of medical treatment, hospital stays, and sometimes preventive care, either fully or partially

"When she moved to the United States for work, her employer enrolled her in the company health insurance plan, which covered eighty percent of most medical costs after the deductible."

"GP surgery"

A primary care clinic in the United Kingdom where general practitioners see patients for routine and non-emergency health concerns, acting as the first point of contact with the NHS

"She registered with the GP surgery on the corner of her street and was able to book a same-day appointment online through the NHS app for her sore throat."

"deductible"

The fixed amount a patient must pay out of pocket for healthcare services before their insurance company starts covering costs for that benefit period

"He reached his annual deductible by February due to the ongoing physiotherapy sessions, which meant all remaining treatments for the year were fully covered by the insurer."

"patient rights"

The legal and ethical entitlements of individuals receiving medical care, including the right to information, dignity, confidentiality, consent, and access to their own records

"The hospital's patient rights charter, displayed prominently in the waiting area, explained that every patient had the right to refuse treatment and to ask for an interpreter if needed."

"out-of-pocket expenses"

Medical costs that the patient must pay directly and that are not covered by their health insurance plan, such as co-payments, dental treatment, or non-formulary drugs

"Although the consultation was covered, the specialist's recommended MRI scan was listed as an out-of-pocket expense on her insurance policy, costing nearly four hundred pounds."

"National Health Service"

The publicly funded healthcare system of the United Kingdom, which provides most medical services free at the point of use to all legal residents, funded through general taxation

"Having lived in the UK for ten years, she had come to rely on the National Health Service for everything from vaccinations to her recent hip replacement surgery."

"telehealth consultation"

A medical appointment conducted remotely via video call, phone, or online messaging, allowing patients to receive advice and sometimes prescriptions without visiting a clinic in person

"During the pandemic, her practice switched almost entirely to telehealth consultations, and she found that many routine check-ins were just as effective as in-person visits."

"medical records"

A comprehensive written or electronic file documenting all healthcare interactions, diagnoses, test results, treatments, and medications for a patient, owned by the provider but accessible to the patient

"She requested access to her medical records to check whether a previous blood test result had been filed correctly before her appointment with the haematology specialist."