| Evaluation Dialogue Between Doctor-Patient: |
| Doctor |
Good morning. How can I help you? |
| Patient |
Vengo porque me han medido la tensión en la farmacia y me han dicho que la tengo alta. |
| Doctor |
OK, let’s take a good look at this since high blood pressure is a cardiovascular risk factor, and it’s smart to keep it under control. What did they say your blood pressure was at the pharmacy? |
| Patient |
Sí entiendo, me dijeron que tenía la tensión de 180/100. |
| Doctor |
Why did you go to the pharmacy to have your blood pressure taken? Is it something you do often? |
| Patient |
No es algo que haga a menudo, fui porque me encontraba raro y me dolía un poco la cabeza. En casa tengo un aparato que me dio mi hija pero no lo utilizo nunca. |
| Doctor |
Good for you, for looking into it. I’m going to ask you for more information related to cardiovascular risk factors, and other things that could be influencing your high blood pressure. |
| Patient |
Vale, doctor. |
| Doctor |
How tall are you and how much do you weigh? How old are you? |
| Patient |
Peso 90 kilos y mido 1,82 metros. Tengo 65 años. |
| Doctor |
Are you a smoker? |
| Patient |
Sí fumo, pero muy poco, unos 3 o 4 cigarros al día nada más. |
| Doctor |
And do you drink alcohol? |
| Patient |
Una copa de vino con la comida nada más. |
| Doctor |
Do you exercise daily? |
| Patient |
Salgo a caminar por la mañana con mi mujer, no todos los días pero igual unas 3 veces por semana durante 1 hora más o menos. |
| Doctor |
Great, that is very important and good for both of you. Has anyone ever told you that your blood glucose level is high, or that you’re diabetic? |
| Patient |
No, no lo recuerdo. |
| Doctor |
OK, perfect, then let’s approach this in steps. Before treating you, I’m going to order a test that you have to do while fasting, first thing in the morning. I’m going to ask you to wear the blood pressure monitor you have at home, take your blood pressure during the next two weeks, and bring me the results to see what blood pressure you normally have. It’s important to take your blood pressure first thing in the morning, relaxed, before doing any exercise or feeling stress of any kind. And then take it again throughout the day, in the same conditions I mentioned. |
| Doctor |
And secondly, we’ll try to control the other cardiovascular risk factors such as weight and lifestyle habits. After calculating your BMI, you are overweight and have a BMI of 27. Your high blood pressure is very dependent on weight and a low sodium diet without fatty or processed foods. It’s also important to try to stop smoking. |
| Patient |
Sí, he querido dejar de fumar ya hace unos años pero no veo el momento. Mi hija me ha dicho ya varias veces que debería dejarlo. |
| Doctor |
If you want to stop smoking, I encourage you to do it and make an appointment with the nurse, so she can help you with the program we have at the healthcare center. Patients normally see good results, and the nurse does a great job. |
| Patient |
Genial. Lo haré. |
| Doctor |
You’ve got a good habit of walking three days a week, and I encourage you to continue that. Maybe even do it one more day a week or find something else you like, such as biking or swimming, so you can alternate activities. |
| Patient |
Sí, ahora que es verano me apetece mucho ir a la piscina y podría ir algún día a la semana a nadar. |
| Doctor |
Very well. If it sounds OK, I’m going to schedule an appointment in two weeks to look at the blood pressure values you wrote down, see the results of your blood work, and see how it’s going with the other cardiovascular risk factors. How does that sound? |
| Patient |
Me parece muy bien, doctora. Pediré la cita para la analítica y con la enfermera para que me informe sobre el programa para dejar de fumar. Muchas gracias. |
| Doctor |
You’re welcome, see you in two weeks. |
