If you work in healthcare or plan to volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s essential to know how to talk about common medical conditions in Spanish.
In this post, we’ll review 20 of the most frequent medical conditions, their Spanish names, English translations, and simple explanations to help you recognize and use them in real conversations with patients.
1️⃣ Hipertensión – Hypertension
Hipertensión is high blood pressure — when the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high.
Example: El paciente tiene hipertensión y necesita controlar su presión arterial todos los días.
2️⃣ Diabetes tipo 2 – Type 2 Diabetes
A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucosa).
Example: Mi madre tiene diabetes tipo 2 y usa medicamentos para controlar el azúcar.
3️⃣ Enfermedad cardíaca – Heart Disease
Refers to several types of heart problems, including coronary artery disease and heart failure.
Example: El paciente tiene antecedentes de enfermedad cardíaca.
4️⃣ Artritis – Arthritis
Inflammation of the joints that causes pain and stiffness.
Example: La artritis puede afectar las manos, rodillas o caderas.
5️⃣ Colesterol alto – High Cholesterol
When there’s too much cholesterol in the blood, increasing the risk of heart problems.
Example: El colesterol alto puede prevenirse con dieta y ejercicio.
6️⃣ Obesidad – Obesity
A medical condition involving excessive body fat that increases health risks.
Example: La obesidad puede causar hipertensión y diabetes.
7️⃣ Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
A progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, often caused by smoking.
Example: Los pacientes con EPOC necesitan inhaladores regularmente.
8️⃣ Insuficiencia renal crónica – Chronic Kidney Disease
Gradual loss of kidney function over time.
Example: El paciente tiene insuficiencia renal crónica y necesita diálisis.
9️⃣ Anemia – Anemia
A condition where the blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Example: La anemia puede causar cansancio y debilidad.
🔟 Alergias – Allergies
An overreaction of the immune system to substances like pollen, food, or medication.
Example: ¿Tiene alguna alergia a medicamentos?
1️⃣ 1️⃣ Migraña – Migraine
A severe headache often accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light.
Example: Las migrañas pueden durar horas o incluso días.
1️⃣ 2️⃣ Trombosis – Thrombosis
The formation of a blood clot (coágulo) inside a blood vessel.
Example: La trombosis puede ser peligrosa si el coágulo viaja a los pulmones.
1️⃣ 3️⃣ Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis
A condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.
Example: Las mujeres mayores son más propensas a la osteoporosis.
1️⃣ 4️⃣ Hipertiroidismo – Hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.
Example: El hipertiroidismo puede causar pérdida de peso y palpitaciones.
1️⃣ 5️⃣ Epilepsia – Epilepsy
A neurological disorder that causes recurrent seizures.
Example: El paciente tiene epilepsia y toma medicamentos anticonvulsivos.
1️⃣ 6️⃣ Gripe / Influenza – Flu
A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
Example: La gripe causa fiebre, tos y dolor muscular.
1️⃣ 7️⃣ Resfriado común – Common Cold
A mild viral infection of the nose and throat.
Example: El resfriado común es muy frecuente en invierno.
1️⃣ 8️⃣ Neumonía – Pneumonia
An infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs.
Example: La neumonía puede ser grave en personas mayores.
1️⃣ 9️⃣ Bronquitis crónica – Chronic Bronchitis
Long-term inflammation of the bronchi, often part of COPD.
Example: La bronquitis crónica causa tos con flema persistente.
1️⃣ 0️⃣ COVID-19
A viral infection caused by the coronavirus, primarily affecting the respiratory system.
Example: El COVID-19 causó una pandemia mundial y todavía requiere precauciones.
🩺 Quick Tip for Healthcare Workers
When asking patients about these conditions, you can use:
- ¿Tiene algún problema médico como diabetes o hipertensión?
- ¿Padece de alguna enfermedad crónica?
- ¿Está tomando algún medicamento actualmente?
Knowing these common medical conditions in Spanish can make a big difference in how effectively you communicate with your Spanish-speaking patients. Start by learning to recognize these names and practice using them in context — your confidence and clarity will grow with every patient interaction.
Watch the following video to learn how to correctly pronounce these conditions and listen to the Spanish explanation and examples:
