In this lesson, we learn how to discuss contraindications to thrombolytics in Spanish.
To assemble this lesson, I used a list of contraindications in the stroke chapter of my favorite medical education resource, MKSAP 19.
Luis Almeida joins us from Venezuela to help us with the Spanish for this lesson.
LEVEL – ADVANCED
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🙏 Gracias a Luis Almeida por su ayuda con esta lección. Conoce al equipo.
Onset of Symptoms
03:24
Knowing exactly when symptoms began is critical for determining thrombolytic eligibility — here’s how to ask.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Los síntomas comenzaron hace más de 4 horas y media.
The symptoms started more than four and a half hours ago.
¿Cuándo empezaron los síntomas?
When did the symptoms begin?
¿A qué hora empezaron los síntomas?
What time did the symptoms begin?
You can use either COMENZAR or EMPEZAR to say “to begin.”
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que le pareció normal?
When was the last time she seemed normal to you?
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que lo vio normal?
When was the last time he looked normal to you?
Learn more about asking about the onset of symptoms: See the Onset of Symptoms lesson in the Stroke Module.
Head Trauma or Stroke
05:05
Recent head trauma or a prior stroke changes the risk calculus — learn how to ask about both.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Traumatismo craneal o infarto cerebral durante los últimos tres meses.
Head trauma or stroke during the last three months.
En los últimos tres meses, ¿ha sufrido algún traumatismo craneal?
In the last three months, have you suffered any head trauma?
En los últimos tres meses, ¿ha sufrido algún golpe (fuerte) en la cabeza?
In the last three months, have you suffered any (severe) blows to the head?
En los últimos tres meses, ¿ha sufrido un infarto cerebral?
In the last three months, have you suffered a stroke?
There are multiple ways to say stroke in Spanish:
- derrame cerebral,
- infarto cerebral,
- accidente cerebral,
- accidente cerebrovascular,
- ACV,
- íctus,
- apoplejía
Bleeding
07:03
Active or recent bleeding is one of the biggest red flags before starting thrombolytics — here’s the vocabulary to screen for it.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Sangrado interno activo.
Active internal bleeding.
¿Ha tenido alguna hemorragia? / ¿Ha tenido algún sangrado?
Have you had any bleeding?
¿Ha sufrido alguna hemorragia interna? / ¿Ha sufrido algún sangrado interno?
Has he suffered any internal bleeding?
Although both SANGRADO and HEMORRAGIA can be translated as “bleeding,” just like “hemorrhage” in English, HEMORRAGIA implies that the bleeding is more serious.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN RELATIVA:
08:21
Hemorragia gastrointestinal o genitourinaria durante los últimos 21 días.
Gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding within the last 21 days.
¿Tiene úlceras sangrantes? / ¿Tiene úlceras hemorrágicas?
Do you have bleeding ulcers?
Durante las últimas tres semanas, ¿ha sufrido algún sangrado del tracto gastrointestinal o del tracto urinario?
During the last three weeks, has she had any bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract?
(Using the term “popó”)
¿Ha notado sangre en el popó? / ¿Ha notado sangre en la popó?
Have you noticed blood in your stool?
Do not be afraid to use POPÓ — it’s commonly used among health professionals to refer to stool, and the noun can be either masculine or feminine. Other common ways to refer to “stool” are LAS HECES and EL EXCREMENTO.
Learn more about discussing bowel movements in Spanish: El Sh¡t Show – How to poop in Spanish.
¿Ha notado sangre en la orina?
Have you noticed blood in your urine?
¿Su popó parece oscura y pegajosa? / ¿Su popó parece oscuro y pegajoso?
Does your poop look dark and sticky?
¿Ha tenido algún sangrado del útero?
Have you had any bleeding from the uterus?
Bleeding Diathesis
11:25
A history of bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use is another key contraindication to rule out.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Diátesis hemorrágica activa.
Active bleeding diathesis.
¿Le han diagnosticado algún problema de hemorragias?
Have you been diagnosed with any bleeding problems?
To express the passive action of receiving a diagnosis in Spanish, it’s very common to use the unspecified subject “they” — literally, “Have they diagnosed you with any bleeding problems?”
Other ways to say “bleeding problems”
- problema de hemorragia,
- problema hemorrágico,
- problema de sangrado(s)
¿Toma anticoagulantes?
Do you take anticoagulants?
¿Toma medicamentos para adelgazar la sangre? / ¿Toma medicamentos para diluir la sangre?
Do you take medications to thin the blood?
You’ll hear both ADELGAZAR and DILUIR used to express “to thin the blood.”
¿Le han administrado heparina en las últimas 24 horas?
Has she been given heparin in the last 24 hours?
Blood Pressure Over 185/110
14:15
Uncontrolled blood pressure raises the risk of hemorrhage — here’s how to discuss it with patients.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Presión arterial superior a 185 sobre 110 (a pesar de tratamiento).
Blood pressure higher than 185 over 110 (despite treatment).
¿Usted tiene la presión arterial descontrolada?
Do you have uncontrolled blood pressure?
Su presión es de 192 sobre 80.
Her blood pressure is 192 over 80.
You can simply use PRESIÓN to refer to PRESIÓN ARTERIAL/SANGUÍNEA.
Su presión arterial sistólica es superior a 185.
His systolic blood pressure is over 185.
Su presión arterial diastólica es superior a 110.
His diastolic blood pressure is over 110.
Practice numbers and reporting blood pressure: Numbers
Low Blood Sugar
17:04
Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke symptoms, so it’s important to rule it out first.
CONTRAINDICACIÓN ABSOLUTA:
Nivel de glucosa en la sangre inferior a 50.
Blood sugar level under 50.
¿Sufre de diabetes?
Do you suffer from diabetes?
¿Toma medicamentos para la diabetes?
Do you take medications for diabetes?
¿Se pone insulina? / ¿Se inyecta insulina?
Do you take insulin?
To express taking injectable medications, you’ll hear PONERSE, INYECTARSE, and APLICARSE.
¿Tiene un conteo de plaquetas inferior a 100?
Does he have a platelet count under 100?
18:26
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