OLDCARTS in Spanish – Questions to understand the history of the problem
OLDCARTS in Spanish – Questions to understand the history of the problem
OLDCARTS is a great acronym for understanding the history of the problem – but it requires some special vocabulary and grammar to use it properly in Spanish.
Learn how to collect important history information in Spanish like: Onset, Location, Duration, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Treatments, & Severity.
As we all know, there is a lot of flexibility with the Spanish language, and you have many options to ask the same question or say the same sentence. That’s the reason why I want to list a handful of options for the OLDCARTS categories, that way you can take what works for you and also learn some new verbs and structures in the Spanish language.
Here is the OLDCARTS in Spanish lesson I taught to the Facebook group:
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ONSET – Inicio
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
¿Cuándo empezó / comenzó (el dolor, la náusea, etc.)?  |
When did start (the pain, nausea, etc.)? |
| ¿Por cuánto tiempo tiene / ha tenido (los síntomas)? |
For how long do you have / have you have (symptons) |
| ¿Hace cuánto que tiene (los síntomas)? |
How long have you had (symptoms)? |
| ¿Hace cuánto que tuvo (los síntomas)? |
How long ago did you have (symptoms)? |
| ¿Qué hacía cuando empezó? |
What were you doing when it started? |
| ¿Empezó de repente o poco a poco? |
Did it start suddenly or little by little? |
LOCATION – Ubicación
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde tiene dolor? |
Where do you have pain? |
| ¿Dónde le duele? |
Where does it hurt you? |
| ¿…. mueve? |
¿Does …. move? |
| Muéstreme / señáleme / indíqueme / enséñeme dónde (le duele) |
Show me / point out where (it hurts) |
DURATION – Duración
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto tiempo dura? |
How long does it last? |
| ¿Por cuánto tiempo ha tenido ….? |
How long has it been going on? |
CHARACTERISTICS – Características
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo es….? |
What is …. like? |
| Descríbame el dolor, por favor |
Describe the pain, please |
| Descríbame cómo es cuando se siente mareado |
Describe what it’s like / how is it when you feel dizzy |
Pain Descriptors – Descriptores de dolor
Word |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| Agudo |
Sharp |
| Sordo |
Dull |
| Constante |
Constant |
| Va y viene |
Comes and goes |
| Ardiente / quemante |
Burning |
| Corre / es irradiado |
It runs or shoots / radiating |
| Con presión |
With pressure |
AGGRAVIATING FACTORS – Cosas que lo empeoran
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué lo / la hace peor / empeora? |
What makes it worse / worsens? |
| ¿Qué le hace peor / empeora? |
What makes you worsen? |
| ¿Cuáles cosas provocan…? |
What things cause …? |
| ¿Qué lo / la / le hace sentir peor? |
What makes you feel worse? |
RELIEVING FACTORS – Cosas que lo alivian
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué lo / la / le hace sentir mejor? |
What makes you feel better? |
| ¿Qué lo / la / le alivia? |
What relieves you? |
| ¿Toma medicina / algo para ….? |
Are you taking medicines / something for…? |
TIMING – Momento exacto
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuándo está mejor / peor? |
When is it worse? |
| ¿Le duele cuando…? |
Does it hurt when…? |
Possibilities for “le duele cuando”
Word |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Le duele cuando corre? |
Does it hurt when you run? |
| ¿Le duele cuando camina? |
Does it hurt when you walk? |
| ¿Le duele cuando hace ejercicio? |
Does it hurt when you exercise? |
| ¿Le duele cuando se esfuerza? |
Does it hurt when you make an effort? |
| ¿Le duele cuando sube las escaleras? |
Does it hurt when you go up the stairs? |
| ¿Le duele cuando come? |
Does it hurt when you eat? |
| ¿Le duele cuando usa el baño? |
Does it hurt when you use the bathroom? |
| ¿Le duele cuando tose? |
Does it hurt when you cough? |
| ¿Le duele cuando respira? |
Does it hurt when you breathe? |
| ¿Le duele cuando se levanta? |
Does it hurt when you get up into a standing position? |
| ¿Le duele cuando está de pie? |
Does it hurt when you are on your feet? |
| ¿Le duele cuando se sienta? |
Does it hurt when you sit down? |
| ¿Le duele cuando está sentado? |
Does it hurt when you are sitting? |
| ¿Le duele cuando se acuesta? |
Does it hurt when you lie down? |
| ¿Le duele cuando está acostado? |
Does it hurt when you are lying down? |
| ¿Le duele cuando tiene relaciones? |
Does it hurt when you have sex? |
| ¿Le duele cuando hay luz brillante? |
Does it hurt when there is bright light? |
| ¿Le duele cuando hay mucho ruido / mucha bulla? |
Does it hurt when there is a lot of noise? |
SEVERITY – Severidad
Question |
Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Le duele mucho / poco? |
Does it hurt a lot / litte? |
| ¿El dolor está fuerte / leve / moderado? |
Is the pain strong / light / moderado? |
| ¿Cómo está el dolor en una escala de 0 a 10? |
How is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10? |
| ¿Cuánto le duele en una escala de 0 a 10? |
How much does it hurt on a scale from 0 to 10? |
Study OLDCARTS in Spanish with these flashcards
I put together an OLDCARTS in Spanish vocabulary list and set of notes that includes this information in an easily downloadable .pdf – Get your copy for free today!
Keep up the good work speaking responsible Spanish to your patients! Check out our other books, classes & products to help you !
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