Pulmonology | B1 English Proficiency
Module 1:
Taking a Respiratory
Medical History
Module Objectives
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
- Confidently inquire about common respiratory symptoms in English.
- Understand and explain key pulmonology terms in simple language.
- Conduct a structured and empathetic patient history for respiratory complaints.
- Utilize appropriate English phrases for history-taking at a B1 proficiency level.
Key Vocabulary for History-Taking
Cough (Tosse)
Explanation: Sudden expulsion of air from lungs to clear throat/airways.
Examples: “Do you have a cough?” “How long have you had this cough?”
Shortness of breath / Dyspnea
Explanation: Feeling of insufficient air or difficulty breathing.
Examples: “Are you experiencing any shortness of breath?” “Does the dyspnea happen at rest or with activity?”
Wheezing
Explanation: High-pitched, whistling sound during breathing due to narrowed airways.
Examples: “Do you hear any wheezing when you breathe?” “Is the wheezing worse at night?”
Sputum / Phlegm
Explanation: Mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
Examples: “Are you coughing up any sputum?” “What color is the phlegm?”
Chest pain (Dor no peito)
Explanation: Discomfort or pain in the chest area.
Examples: “Are you having any chest pain?” “Can you describe the chest pain?”
Fever (Febre)
Explanation: Abnormally high body temperature.
Examples: “Have you had a fever recently?” “How high was your fever?”
Fatigue
Explanation: Feeling very tired and lacking energy.
Examples: “Do you feel more tired than usual?” “Is the fatigue affecting your daily activities?”
Smoking history
Explanation: Information about past or current tobacco use.
Examples: “Do you smoke?” “How many cigarettes do you smoke per day?”
Allergies (Alergias)
Explanation: Immune reaction to substances like pollen, dust, or certain foods.
Examples: “Do you have any allergies?” “Are you allergic to any medications?”
Clinical Dialogue:
Taking a History for Persistent Cough
Scenario: Mr. Silva, a 45-year-old patient, presents with a persistent cough and occasional shortness of breath.
Doctor: “Good morning, Mr. Silva. Please have a seat. What brings you here today?”
Patient: “Good morning, Doctor. I’ve had a cough for about two months, and sometimes I feel a bit short of breath.”
Doctor: “I see. Let’s talk about your cough first. How long has it been bothering you exactly?”
Patient-friendly check: “When did your cough start?”
Patient: “It started slowly, maybe two months ago. It’s not constant, but it’s there most days.”
Doctor: “Is the cough dry, or do you cough up anything? I mean, do you produce sputum or phlegm?”
Patient-friendly check: “Is your cough dry, or do you cough up mucus?”
Patient: “Sometimes I cough up a small amount of clear phlegm, especially in the morning.”
Doctor: “Okay. Do you experience any wheezing when you breathe? That’s a whistling sound in your chest.”
Patient: “Yes, sometimes, especially when I’m active or at night.”
Doctor: “And the shortness of breath you mentioned. When does that happen? Is it all the time, or only when you exercise?”
Patient-friendly check: “When do you feel out of breath?”
Patient: “Mostly when I walk fast or go up stairs. It’s worse than before.”
Doctor: “Have you had any chest pain? This is discomfort in your chest area.”
Patient: “No, no chest pain.”
Doctor: “Have you had a fever recently?”
Patient-friendly check: “Have you had a high temperature?”
Patient: “No, no fever. I just feel quite tired sometimes, a bit of fatigue.”
Doctor: “I understand. Now, Mr. Silva, about your smoking history. Do you smoke?”
Patient: “I used to smoke a pack a day for 20 years, but I stopped five years ago.”
Doctor: “That’s good that you stopped. Do you have any known allergies?”
Patient: “No, none that I know of.”
Doctor: “Thank you for this information, Mr. Silva. We will do a physical examination and discuss the next steps.”
Now let’s do some practical exercises
Exercise 1: Rephrasing for Clarity
- “Could you elaborate on the chronicity of your dyspnea?”→ “How long have you been short of breath?”
- “Do you experience any exacerbation of your wheezing upon nocturnal recumbency?”→ “Is your wheezing worse when you lie down at night?”
- “What is the consistency and color of your expectorated sputum?”→ “What does the mucus you cough up look like?”
Exercise 2: Question Formation
- Keywords: “cough,” “worse,” “night”
→ “Is your cough worse at night?” - Keywords: “sputum,” “blood”
→ “Is there any blood in your sputum?” - Keywords: “shortness of breath,” “walking”
→ “Do you feel short of breath when you are walking?” - Keywords: “allergies,” “medications”
→ “Do you have any allergies to medications?”
Exercise 3: Role-Play Prompt
A patient complains of a “tight chest” and difficulty breathing, especially after jogging.
Ask 3-4 follow-up questions.
Example Questions:
- “When did you first notice this tightness in your chest?”
- “Does the difficulty breathing happen every time you jog?”
- “Do you hear any whistling sounds when you breathe?”
- “Have you had a fever or cough with this?”
Summary
This module focused on essential English communication skills for taking a respiratory medical history. It covered key vocabulary like cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and sputum, and practiced their use in a clinical dialogue. The emphasis is on using clear, empathetic language and providing patient-friendly explanations for medical terms to ensure effective communication and build patient trust.
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