Cultural Topics
Medical Spanish - Spanish for healthcare: cultural topics
Religion
Most people of Hispanic origen are Christians, and, in fact, many are Catholic. They believe deeply in God, and try to follow the teachings of Jesus.
It is not uncommon to hear a Hispanic person saying the rosary when they or a loved one is ill, in the hospital, or in the emergency room.
Use this link to hear one of the most common prayers: Padre Nuestro (Our Father)
Understanding this aspect of culture can be important when interacting with patients and their families.
Certain beliefs about illness
Have you ever said something out loud, and then have said "Oh, I better knock on wood to avoid a jinx?" Have you ever felt ill in some way, and felt certain that it had to do with a behavior of yours or something about your environment?
The following are some aspects of folklore in Hispanic culture:
Empacho (indigestion, or upset stomach) - Empacho generally refers to abdominal symptoms like discomfort, bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, etc. The term is applied when the cause is thought to be behavioral such as eating too many sweets, swallowing gum, forcing a child to eat something, etc. Herbal teas might help.
Mal de ojo (sickness from eye) - A baby can acquire this problem after receiving admiring or jealous looks from someone. The baby may cry and become fussy and sickly. A red string with a treenut tied around the wrist can be protective. Treatment includes passing an egg over the baby's body. The egg is an unborn and unblemished entity.
Caída de mollera (falling of the fontanelle) - This condition includes symptoms of gastroenteritis and dehydration. It is thought that this can occur from removing the breast or bottle too soon, or from not holding the baby correctly.
Susto (scare) - Susto can occur as chronic symptoms after a frightening event. These may include insomnia, depression, and weight loss. Herbal teas, or in fact, certain rituals may help.
Mal aire (bad air) - If cold or nighttime air enters into a body orifice, it can cause pain and distension. (Of course these could actually be symptoms of an ulcer or pneumonia.) To get the bad air out, a cup can be squeezed a little, then the rim surface pushed onto the skin, then let to reform its shape creating a little vaccuum, thereby raising the skin, and sucking out the bad air.
Understanding and respecting the above cultural beliefs strengthens the medical relationship with the family, who will then be more receptive to the exact diagnosis and treatment of the condition.