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Introduction

In this dialog, Richard visits Dr. April to discuss a persistent pain in his lower back that he's been experiencing for a few days. Dr. April begins by asking Richard about his symptoms and then conducts a brief examination.

As they talk, Dr. April checks Richard’s blood pressure, discusses the possibility of further tests, and writes a prescription for pain relief. She also schedules a follow-up appointment to review the test results and ensure that Richard's condition is properly addressed.

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Conversation

Dialog

Dr. April: Good morning, Richard. How are you feeling today?

Richard: Good morning, Dr. April. I've been better. I’ve been having some pain in my lower back for a few days now.

few = alguns

Dr. April: I see. Let’s start with a quick examination. Can you describe the pain? When did the symptoms start?

Richard: It’s a dull, constant pain that gets worse when I sit for too long. It started about a week ago.

Dr. April: Have you noticed any other symptoms, like numbness or tingling?

Richard: No, just the pain. I was hoping it would go away on its own, but it hasn’t.

Dr. April: I understand. Let me check your blood pressure first.

(Dr. April takes Richard’s blood pressure.)

Dr. April: Your blood pressure is slightly elevated, but nothing too concerning. I’d like to run a few tests to get a better understanding of what’s causing the pain. Have you had any allergies to medication before?

Richard: No, I don’t have any known allergies.

Dr. April: Good to know. I’ll write you a prescription for some pain relief medication, and I’ll also schedule a follow-up appointment for next week to go over your test results.

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Vocabulary

1. Follow-up appointment
   A subsequent appointment scheduled to monitor a patient's progress after the initial visit or treatment.
   Translation: Consulta de acompanhamento

2. Prescription
   A written order from a doctor for a specific medication or treatment to be provided to the patient.
   Translation: Receita médica

3. Pain relief medication
   Medicines that are used to reduce or alleviate pain.
   Translation: Medicamento para dor

4. Examination
   A medical assessment conducted by a healthcare professional to check a patient’s health or diagnose an illness.
   Translation: Exame

5. Known allergies
   Allergies that a person is already aware of, usually to certain substances, medications, or foods.
   Translation: Alergias conhecidas

6. Nothing too concerning
   A phrase indicating that a situation or condition does not seem to be serious or worrisome.
   Translation: Nada muito preocupante

7. Blood pressure
   The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body.
   Translation: Pressão arterial

8. Go away on its own
   A phrase used to describe a condition or symptom that resolves without medical intervention.
   Translation: Desaparecer sozinho

9. Numbness
   A loss of sensation or feeling in a part of the body.
   Translation: Dormência

10. Tingling
    A prickly or stinging sensation, often felt in the skin, similar to the feeling of "pins and needles."
    Translation: Formigamento

11. Dull
    Describing a pain that is not sharp or intense but persistent and sometimes difficult to locate.
    Translation: Surdo (in reference to pain)

12. Get worse
    To become more severe or intense over time.
    Translation: Piorar

13. Run tests
    To conduct medical tests or examinations to diagnose a condition or understand a patient’s symptoms.
    Translation: Fazer exames

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Sample sentences

Examination:

1. The doctor performed a thorough examination to determine the cause of the symptoms.

2. After the examination, she recommended additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Known allergies:

1. Before prescribing medication, the nurse asked if the patient had any known allergies.

2. The label on the medical record clearly listed all of his known allergies.

Nothing too concerning:

1. The slight fever is nothing too concerning, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

2. The doctor reassured her that the test results were nothing too concerning.

Blood pressure:

1. The nurse measured his blood pressure during the routine check-up.

2. High blood pressure can lead to serious health issues if not managed properly.

Go away on its own:

1. The doctor said that the mild cold should go away on its own within a few days.

2. He hoped the headache would go away on its own, but it persisted for over a week.

Numbness:

1. She complained of numbness in her fingers after sitting in the same position for too long.

2. Numbness in the limbs can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Tingling:

1. He felt a strange tingling sensation in his feet after the long flight.

2. Tingling in the hands might be a sign of poor circulation.

Dull:

1. She described the headache as a dull, throbbing pain that wouldn’t go away.

2. The dull ache in his back made it difficult for him to focus on work.

Get worse:

1. If the symptoms get worse, you should seek medical attention immediately.

2. Her cold seemed to get worse after spending the day outside in the rain.

Run tests:

1. The doctor decided to run tests to rule out any serious conditions.

2. We need to run tests to determine why you’re experiencing these symptoms.

Prescription:

1. The doctor gave her a prescription for antibiotics to treat the infection.

2. He filled the prescription at the pharmacy and began taking the medication as instructed.

Pain relief medication:

1. She took some pain relief medication to help with the discomfort after the surgery.

2. The doctor prescribed pain relief medication to manage the chronic pain in his back.

Follow-up appointment:

1. The nurse scheduled a follow-up appointment to check on his progress after the treatment.

2. After the initial consultation, she was asked to return for a follow-up appointment the following week.

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Exercises

Initial role play

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Final role play

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Personal experience

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Homework

Reading comprehension

1. What specific pain is Richard experiencing, and how long has he had it?

2. How does Richard describe the pain he is feeling?

3. What does Dr. April suggest doing after noticing Richard’s slightly elevated blood pressure?

4. Has Richard experienced any other symptoms besides the pain in his lower back?

5. What is Dr. April's plan for Richard's treatment moving forward?

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Fill-in-the blanks

1. After the __________, the doctor recommended further tests to ensure accuracy.

2. The nurse asked the patient to undress for the physical __________.

3. It's important to inform your doctor of any __________ before taking new medication.

4. The patient’s chart lists all __________ to avoid potential reactions.

5. The doctor assured the patient that the minor irregularity in the test results was __________.

6. Though the symptoms seemed unusual, they were __________ according to the physician.

7. The nurse checked his __________ during every visit to monitor any changes.

8. High __________ can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.

9. The doctor said that the rash would likely __________ without needing any medication.

10. She hoped the mild discomfort would __________, but it persisted for several days.

11. The patient reported feeling __________ in his left arm, which concerned the doctor.

12. __________ in the fingers can be a sign of nerve damage.

13. The __________ sensation in her feet made it difficult to walk comfortably.

14. He experienced a __________ in his hands after holding the cold object for too long.

15. She complained of a __________ ache in her lower back that worsened throughout the day.

16. The pain was __________ rather than sharp, but it was still bothersome.

17. If the symptoms __________, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.

18. The doctor warned that the condition could __________ if not treated properly.

19. To determine the cause of the symptoms, the doctor decided to __________.

20. We need to __________ to confirm the diagnosis before proceeding with treatment.

21. The doctor wrote a __________ for antibiotics to clear up the infection.

22. He filled the __________ at the pharmacy and started the medication as instructed.

23. The patient was prescribed __________ to help manage the chronic pain.

24. She took __________ to alleviate the discomfort after the minor surgery.

25. After the initial consultation, the nurse scheduled a __________ to review the test results.

26. The doctor requested a __________ to monitor the patient’s progress after starting the new medication.

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