Inglés para seguimiento de enfermedades crónicas: cómo hablar de hipertensión, diabetes y asma en las visitas de rutina
Las visitas por enfermedades crónicas funcionan de forma distinta a las agudas. El médico no intenta llegar a un nuevo diagnóstico — quiere saber cómo de estable has estado, cómo te va con la medicación y si ha aparecido algo nuevo. Un seguimiento tiene tres apartados fijos: cifras recientes, síntomas / calidad de vida y adherencia a la medicación. Cubre esos tres más tus preguntas, y un seguimiento trimestral puede resolverse en quince minutos.
Este artículo enseña comunicación en inglés para situaciones de atención sanitaria. No es un diagnóstico ni un consejo de tratamiento médico. Todas las decisiones sobre cambios en la medicación, objetivos de autocontrol o ejercicio deben seguir las indicaciones de tu clínico local.
Vocabulario esencial
| Término | Significado | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| follow-up visit | visita de seguimiento / control | I'm here for a follow-up visit. |
| under control | bien controlado/a | My blood pressure is under control. |
| readings / numbers | mediciones / valores | My readings have been around 130/85. |
| log / journal | registro de seguimiento | I keep a log of my blood pressure. |
| consistent | estable / constante | My numbers have been consistent. |
| flare-up | reaparición súbita de síntomas / exacerbación | I had a small asthma flare-up last week. |
| trigger | cause that sets off symptoms | Cold air is a trigger for me. |
| inhaler | inhaled medication device | I use my inhaler twice a day. |
| rescue inhaler | quick-relief inhaler | I used my rescue inhaler twice this month. |
| blood sugar | blood glucose level | My fasting blood sugar has been around 110. |
| A1C | three-month blood sugar average | My A1C was 7.5 last time. |
| dose adjustment | change in dose | We talked about a dose adjustment. |
| compliance / adherence | sticking with the medication | I haven't missed any doses this month. |
Frases imprescindibles
Aperturas generales para una visita de seguimiento:
- "I'm here for my [BLANK] follow-up."
- blood pressure follow-up
- diabetes follow-up
- asthma follow-up
- "Things have been [BLANK] since last time."
- mostly stable
- up and down
- better
- "I've been taking my medications as prescribed."
- "I missed a dose [BLANK]."
- once or twice this month
- "I have a few questions about my treatment."
Hipertensión:
- "My blood pressure has been around [BLANK] in the morning."
- around 130/85
- "It's been higher when [BLANK]."
- I'm stressed at work
- "I check it [BLANK] times a week."
Diabetes:
- "My fasting blood sugar has been around [BLANK]."
- around 110
- "My A1C was [BLANK] last time."
- 7.5
- "I've been more careful with my diet, but I miss exercise."
Asma:
- "I use my controller inhaler [BLANK]."
- twice a day, morning and night
- "I used my rescue inhaler [BLANK] this month."
- three times
- "My main trigger seems to be [BLANK]."
- cold air / dust / exercise / pollen
Forma poco natural vs. forma natural
| Poco natural | Natural | Por qué |
|---|---|---|
| I come check old sickness. | I'm here for a follow-up visit. | Usa "follow-up visit". |
| My pressure little high. | My blood pressure has been a bit high. | Añade "a bit"; usa el presente perfecto. |
| Blood sugar today 200. | My blood sugar this morning was 200. | Añade una referencia temporal. |
| I forget take medicine many. | I've missed a few doses recently. | Usa "miss a dose". |
| Asthma break. | I had an asthma flare-up. | "Flare-up" es la palabra habitual en enfermedades crónicas. |
| Inhaler I use much. | I've been using my rescue inhaler more often. | Distingue el inhalador de rescate del de mantenimiento. |
| A1C 8 last. | My A1C was 8 at the last test. | Añade "was + at the last test". |
Diálogo situacional 1: seguimiento de hipertensión
Doctor: How have things been since last time?
You: Mostly stable. My morning readings have been around 130/85. A few times last week they were closer to 145/90 — I think work has been stressful.
Doctor: Are you taking the lisinopril every morning?
You: Yes, every day. I've missed one dose this month, that's it.
Doctor: Any side effects — dizziness, dry cough?
You: A mild dry cough sometimes, but it's manageable.
Doctor: Let's keep your dose the same and recheck in three months. Keep logging your numbers.
Diálogo situacional 2: seguimiento de diabetes
Doctor: Let's review your numbers. What does your meter show?
You: Fasting has been around 110, post-meal mostly under 160. My last A1C was 7.5; I'm hoping today's is lower.
Doctor: That's good progress. Any low blood sugar episodes?
You: Once last month, around 4 p.m. I felt shaky, ate some juice, and it went away.
Doctor: Make sure you're not skipping meals. Are you still walking after dinner?
You: About four nights a week. I'd like to add weekend exercise — could you suggest something safe?
Diálogo situacional 3: seguimiento de asma
Doctor: How has your asthma been?
You: I use my controller inhaler twice a day, morning and night. I used my rescue inhaler three times this month — twice during a cold, and once after running outside in cold air.
Doctor: Any nighttime symptoms?
You: I woke up coughing twice last week. Otherwise sleep is fine.
Doctor: Let's review your inhaler technique and consider a small step-up before allergy season.
Plantillas de frases intercambiables
- "My [BLANK] has been around [BLANK] [BLANK]."
- blood pressure has been around 130/85 in the morning
- fasting blood sugar has been around 110 most mornings
- "I used my rescue inhaler [BLANK] this [BLANK]."
- three times this month
- "I haven't missed any doses [BLANK]."
- this month
- since the last visit
- "My main concern this visit is [BLANK]."
- the cough
- the side effect
- the morning numbers
- "Could we [BLANK]?"
- adjust the dose
- try a different inhaler
- revisit my targets
Práctica rápida
Di cada una de estas en inglés natural.
- Abre la visita diciendo que vienes a un seguimiento de diabetes.
- Informa de que tu tensión arterial ha estado en torno a 135/88 últimamente.
- Di que se te ha olvidado la medicación dos veces este mes.
- Menciona que has usado el inhalador de rescate tres veces este mes.
- Pregunta si se puede ajustar la dosis.
Respuestas de muestra
- I'm here for my diabetes follow-up.
- My blood pressure has been around 135/88 lately.
- I missed a dose twice this month.
- I used my rescue inhaler three times this month.
- Could we adjust the dose?
Hoja resumen lista para copiar
Rellénala diez minutos antes de cada seguimiento. Llegar con datos hace la visita diez veces más productiva que la charla informal.
Chronic-disease follow-up summary
Condition(s): __________
Reason for today's visit: routine follow-up / new symptom / medication question
Numbers since last visit (averages):
- Blood pressure: ___ / ___ (morning) ___ / ___ (evening)
- Fasting blood sugar: ___ mg/dL
- Post-meal blood sugar: ___ mg/dL
- Last A1C: ___ on [date]
- Peak flow / asthma symptoms: __________
Symptoms / quality of life:
- Better / same / worse since last visit
- New symptoms: __________
- Sleep affected: yes / no
- Activity affected: yes / no
Medication adherence:
- Missed doses this period: ___
- Side effects noticed: __________
- Refills needed: __________
My questions today:
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
Lecturas relacionadas
- Para completar la historia familiar: ver Historia médica familiar en inglés: enfermedades cardíacas, cáncer, diabetes y otras frases comunes
- Para el inglés de las pruebas de rutina: ver Inglés para pruebas médicas: análisis de sangre, análisis de orina, radiografía, ecografía, resonancia magnética
Recordatorio: Este artículo enseña comunicación en inglés para situaciones de atención sanitaria. No es un diagnóstico ni un consejo de tratamiento médico. Todas las decisiones sobre ajuste de dosis u objetivos de autocontrol deben seguir las indicaciones de tu clínico local.