Antecedentes familiares en inglés: enfermedades cardíacas, cáncer, diabetes y otras frases frecuentes
"Any family history of heart disease or cancer?" es casi siempre una de las primeras preguntas que hace un médico nuevo. Los antecedentes familiares importan porque dan forma a la visión que el médico tiene de tu riesgo, pero cuando la gente intenta responder, suele tropezar con tres cosas: cómo llamar a cada familiar, la edad de inicio y si la persona sigue viva. Ten preparadas esas tres piezas, más un puñado de nombres de enfermedades habituales en inglés, y podrás describir tu árbol genealógico con claridad.
Este artículo enseña comunicación en inglés para situaciones de atención sanitaria. No es un diagnóstico médico ni un consejo de tratamiento. Ante síntomas urgentes, contacta con los servicios de emergencia o médicos de tu zona.
Vocabulario esencial
| Término | Significado | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| family history | historial de enfermedades en familiares | There's heart disease in my family. |
| immediate family | padres, hermanos, hijos | My immediate family — parents and siblings. |
| extended family | tíos, primos, etc. | Extended family — aunts, uncles, cousins. |
| paternal / maternal side | rama paterna / rama materna | Heart disease runs on my paternal side. |
| diagnosed at | diagnosticado a la edad de ___ | She was diagnosed at 50. |
| passed away from | falleció a causa de | He passed away from a stroke at 68. |
| run in the family | tiende a darse entre los familiares | Diabetes runs in my family. |
| heart disease | enfermedad cardiovascular | My father has heart disease. |
| heart attack | infarto de miocardio | He had a heart attack at 55. |
| stroke | accidente cerebrovascular / ictus | My grandmother had a stroke. |
| cancer | cáncer | My aunt had breast cancer. |
| breast / colon / lung / prostate cancer | cánceres de órganos específicos | colon cancer at 60 |
| diabetes (type 1 / type 2) | diabetes mellitus | type 2 diabetes |
| high blood pressure / hypertension | presión arterial elevada | Both parents have high blood pressure. |
| high cholesterol | colesterol elevado en sangre | High cholesterol on my mother's side. |
Referencia rápida: términos familiares
| Concepto | English |
|---|---|
| padre | father / dad |
| madre | mother / mom |
| hermano mayor / menor | older brother / younger brother |
| hermana mayor / menor | older sister / younger sister |
| padre del padre | paternal grandfather |
| madre del padre | paternal grandmother |
| padre de la madre | maternal grandfather |
| madre de la madre | maternal grandmother |
| tío | uncle |
| tía | aunt |
| primo / prima | cousin |
| hijo / hija | son / daughter |
| cónyuge | spouse |
A los médicos les interesa sobre todo tu familia cercana (padres, hermanos, hijos). Los abuelos, tíos y tías cuentan como familia extendida: te preguntarán por ellos, pero con algo menos de peso.
Frases imprescindibles
- "There's [BLANK] in my family."
- heart disease
- diabetes
- early-onset cancer
- "It runs on my [paternal / maternal] side."
- "My [relative] has [BLANK]."
- My father has type 2 diabetes.
- "My [relative] had [BLANK] at age [BLANK]."
- My mother had breast cancer at 50.
- "My [relative] passed away from [BLANK] at age [BLANK]."
- My grandfather passed away from a heart attack at 62.
- "He / she is in remission."
- "No one in my immediate family has [BLANK]."
- "I'm not sure of the exact age, but it was [BLANK]."
- in his early 60s
- "I was adopted, so I don't know my biological family history."
- "My family history is mostly cardiovascular."
Expresiones torpes frente a naturales
| Awkward | Natural | Por qué |
|---|---|---|
| My father heart bad. | My father has heart disease. | Usa "has + heart disease." |
| Mother dead cancer. | My mother passed away from cancer. | "Passed away from" es natural y respetuoso. |
| Many family sugar disease. | Several family members have diabetes. | No digas "sugar disease": usa "diabetes." |
| Grandfather die young from heart. | My grandfather passed away from a heart attack at a young age. | Añade la enfermedad y la edad. |
| My all family high blood. | High blood pressure runs in my family. | "Runs in my family" es la frase fija. |
| Aunt cancer breast 50. | My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer at 50. | Usa "was diagnosed with + condition + at age." |
| I no know, no relation. | I was adopted, so I don't know my biological family history. | Da una razón clara. |
Diálogo situacional: anamnesis con tu médico de familia
Doctor: Let's go over your family history. Any heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or stroke in close family members?
You: Yes, several. My father has type 2 diabetes — he was diagnosed in his early 50s. He also has high blood pressure.
Doctor: And on your mother's side?
You: My mother had breast cancer at 50. She had surgery and chemo, and she's been in remission for about ten years now.
Doctor: Anyone with heart attacks or strokes?
You: My paternal grandfather passed away from a heart attack at 62. My maternal grandmother had a stroke in her 70s but recovered.
Doctor: Any siblings with health issues?
You: My older brother has high cholesterol but is on medication. My younger sister is healthy.
Doctor: Thanks. Given your family history, we'll keep an eye on your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
Plantillas de frases intercambiables
- "My [relative] has [BLANK]."
- My father has type 2 diabetes.
- "My [relative] had [BLANK] at age [BLANK]."
- My aunt had colon cancer at 60.
- "My [relative] passed away from [BLANK] at age [BLANK]."
- My grandfather passed away from a stroke at 75.
- "There's [BLANK] on my [paternal / maternal] side."
- There's high blood pressure on my paternal side.
- "No one in my immediate family has [BLANK]."
- heart disease
- cancer
- "I don't know my biological family history because [BLANK]."
- I was adopted
Práctica rápida
Di cada una de estas frases en inglés natural.
- Di que tu padre tiene diabetes tipo 2, diagnosticada alrededor de los 50 años.
- Menciona que tu madre tuvo cáncer de mama a los 50 y ahora está en remisión.
- Indica que tu abuelo paterno falleció a causa de un infarto a los 62 años.
- Señala que la hipertensión es común en tu rama paterna.
- Di que nadie de tu familia cercana ha tenido cáncer.
Respuestas de referencia
- My father has type 2 diabetes; he was diagnosed at around 50.
- My mother had breast cancer at 50, and she's in remission now.
- My paternal grandfather passed away from a heart attack at 62.
- High blood pressure is common on my paternal side.
- No one in my immediate family has cancer.
Hoja resumen lista para copiar
Te van a preguntar todo esto en cualquier médico nuevo, revisión anual o valoración prequirúrgica. Guarda una copia en las notas del móvil.
Family medical history summary
Father: alive / passed away Age: ___ Conditions: __________
Mother: alive / passed away Age: ___ Conditions: __________
Sibling 1 (older / younger): __________ Conditions: __________
Sibling 2 (older / younger): __________ Conditions: __________
Paternal grandfather: __________ — passed away at ___ from __________
Paternal grandmother: __________ — passed away at ___ from __________
Maternal grandfather: __________ — passed away at ___ from __________
Maternal grandmother: __________ — passed away at ___ from __________
Aunts / uncles with significant conditions: __________
Cousins with early-onset conditions: __________
Conditions that "run in the family":
- __________
- __________
Notes:
- I was adopted: yes / no (if yes, I don't have biological family history)
- Anything else worth mentioning: __________
Lecturas relacionadas
- Para un historial médico personal más completo: ver Antecedentes médicos en inglés: enfermedades crónicas, cirugías, hospitalizaciones e historial familiar
- Para hacer seguimiento de tus propias enfermedades crónicas: ver Seguimiento de enfermedades crónicas en inglés: cómo hablar de hipertensión, diabetes y asma en consultas de rutina
Recordatorio: Este artículo enseña comunicación en inglés para situaciones de atención sanitaria. No es un diagnóstico médico ni un consejo de tratamiento. Las evaluaciones de riesgo y los planes de seguimiento basados en antecedentes familiares deben seguir las indicaciones de tu médico local.