Module 2 – Unit 2: Language Focus
Understanding Medical Terms & Abbreviations
Read the description of Mr. Yee’s medical situation below and complete the tasks that follow.
Case Study
Mr. Yee a 62 y/o man with a history of asthma and hypertension walked into the emergency room with c/o substernal chest pain (6 out of 10) which started two hours ago while he was eating breakfast. He says that after the chest pain began he started wheezing, so he used his Albuterol inhaler, which relieved his wheezing but not his chest pain. He says he a coughed up a small amount of white sputum at that time, but he also says that is not unusual for him. Mr. Yee denies chest pressure or tightness, but he is complaining of nausea and states that he has been burping since breakfast. Except for asthma and hypertension, Mr. Yee denies any other medical history. He takes HCTZ 25 mg BID for his blood pressure and uses an Albuterol inhaler PRN for his asthma. He is allergic to sulfa.
- Can you explain the meaning of each word or term in the list below? Use the case study about Mr. Yee to help you. If you can’t explain the meaning, use a dictionary.
- Match the abbreviations in the reading with their meanings by drawing a line.
- Write four questions that a health professional might ask Mr. Yee to elicit the information in the description above.
- asthma
- sputum
- hypertension
- substernal
- chest tightness
- wheezing
- nausea
- inhaler
- burping
- coughed up
- allergic
y/o c/o HCTZ mg. BID PRN |
twice a day milligrams as needed, if needed year old hydrochlorothiazide complaint of |
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