2F2 Diseases, Control, and Substance Abuse Flashcards
Learn about types of diseases, disease control methods, and substance abuse. Understand prevention and management strategies.
What is the definition of a disease?
An interruption, cessation, or disorder that may affect the whole body or any of its parts, characterized by a recognizable set of physical signs, symptoms, and effects.
The definition of disease can vary slightly in different contexts such as medical, epidemiological, or social, but generally refers to a deviation from normal body function.
What are the common causes of diseases?
- Genetic disorders
- Environmental factors
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Deficiency of a vital nutrient
What are the two main types of diseases?
- Communicable (infectious) diseases
- Noncommunicable (chronic) diseases
How are communicable diseases transmitted?
- Direct physical contact.
- Contaminated surfaces or objects.
- Airborne transmission.
- Bites from insects or animals.
What are some examples of communicable diseases?
- HIV/AIDS
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
- Viral hepatitis
- Influenza
- Sexually transmitted infections
What are the consequences of communicable diseases on society?
- They can cause high social and economic burdens.
- They can also pose major risks to international health security, as seen with the COVID-19 pandemic.
What characterizes noncommunicable diseases?
They are long-term, non-infectious illnesses caused by a combination of behavioral, physiological, environmental, and genetic factors.
What are some common examples of noncommunicable diseases?
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancers
- Chronic respiratory diseases
Why are noncommunicable diseases considered a major health issue globally?
- They account for 74% of all global deaths (41 million per year).
- They are influenced by factors such as industrial development and unhealthy lifestyles.
How can many noncommunicable diseases be prevented?
By avoiding risk factors like:
- tobacco use
- excessive alcohol consumption
- lack of physical activity
- unhealthy diets
What is the leading cause of death among noncommunicable diseases?
Cardiovascular diseases
These accounts for 17.9 million deaths per year.
How do communicable and noncommunicable diseases differ in terms of transmission?
- Communicable diseases are contagious and can spread from person to person.
- Noncommunicable diseases are not contagious.
Noncommunicable diseases can still have risk factors that cluster in populations, but they are not directly transmissible from one person to another.
What are the main factors that influence the occurrence of noncommunicable diseases?
- Behavioral
- Physiological
- Environmental
- Genetic factors
How does the World Health Organization respond to the burden of communicable diseases?
The WHO puts special efforts into ending epidemics and communicable diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
What impact has HIV/AIDS had globally?
It has led to 36.3 million deaths and remains a major global public health issue.
What are the metabolic changes that increase vulnerability to noncommunicable diseases?
- Increased blood pressure
- Being overweight/obesity
- Hyperglycemia
- Hyperlipidemia
What is the significance of research and innovation in managing noncommunicable diseases?
Improving investments in research and innovation, along with reinforcing primary health care, are crucial for effectively responding to noncommunicable diseases.
What do both communicable and noncommunicable diseases have in common?
Both cause significant functional disruption in the body and account for a high proportion of global deaths annually.
What are some strategies to reduce the burden of communicable diseases?
- Vaccination.
- Improving hygiene.
- Providing clean water.
- Public health education to prevent transmission.
How do communicable diseases impact low-income countries and marginalized populations?
They cause a high proportion of death and disability in these groups, exacerbating health disparities.
Describe how a vaccine works.
It introduces a harmless part or weakened form of a pathogen to stimulate the immune system to fight the disease.
Vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognize and combat specific pathogens, preparing the body to fight future infections.
What are antiseptics?
Agents that kill most of the microbes on living tissue.
What is the function of disinfectants?
Kill most, but not all, microbes on an inanimate object or surface.
What is a sterilant?
A substance that kills all living microbes on an inanimate object or surface.
Define a vector in the context of disease transmission?
A living agent that harbors and transmits a pathogen to another living being.
Vectors can include organisms like mosquitoes, ticks, or snails that transmit pathogens from one host to another.
What is vector control?
The process of eradicating agents of disease transmission, such as mosquitoes.
How can vector control be achieved?
- By eliminating breeding grounds, such as stagnant water.
- Using chemicals to kill vectors.
What is sanitation in terms of disease prevention?
- The process of filtering water.
- Cleaning sewage.
- Neutralizing toxins.
- Waste collection to promote public health.
Why is sanitation important for public health?
It prevents the spread of disease by cleaning up waste and contaminants that can harm the environment and health.
What is substance abuse?
The misuse or overuse of substances like prescription drugs, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
Define drug abuse.
Involves misusing or excessively using over-the-counter or prescription medications beyond their intended purpose.
Differentiate substance use from substance abuse.
- Substance use involves taking medications as prescribed.
- Substance abuse includes using them in excess or for non-medical reasons.
What is substance use disorder?
Also called as addiction, is a condition where the body becomes dependent on a substance, leading to loss of control over its use.
Substance use disorder involves a pattern of harmful substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.
What are common substances involved in substance use disorder?
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Prescription medications
- Illegal drugs
- Inhalants
- Solvents
What are some signs of substance abuse?
- Changes in behavior
- Neglect of hygiene
- Red eyes
- Slurred speech
- Withdrawal from usual activities
What are the causes of substance abuse?
- Genetic vulnerability
- Environmental stressors
- Social pressures
- Individual personality traits
- Psychiatric problems
How is substance abuse diagnosed?
Based on observed symptoms like physical changes in organs, changes in behavior, and medical tests such as liver enzyme levels.
Name some of the possible treatments for substance abuse.
- Detoxification
- Psychotherapy
- Medications like methadone or lorazepam
- Long-term management plans
What is detoxification in substance abuse treatment?
The process of removing a substance from the body under medical supervision to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxification aims to safely manage withdrawal symptoms when someone stops using substances, often the first step in treatment.
What role does psychotherapy play in treating substance abuse?
It helps identify underlying causes of substance abuse and develop strategies to avoid relapse.
What is behavioural therapy?
It teaches coping skills, stress management techniques, and healthy habits to support recovery.
What are long-term management plans in substance abuse treatment?
- Include ongoing therapy, participation in support groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), and monitoring health.
- They aim to prevent relapse, manage health complications, and support sustained recovery.
What are the effects of substance abuse on the body?
- Damage to organs
- Addiction
- Impaired decision-making
- Neglect of health
- Strained relationships
- Potential death
How do genetic factors contribute to substance abuse?
Genetic predisposition can increase the likelihood of developing substance abuse disorders due to inherited vulnerabilities.
Genetic factors can influence susceptibility to addiction by affecting how the body processes substances and experiences reward.
What environmental factors contribute to substance abuse?
- Stressful environments
- Peer influence
- Social pressures
Why do individuals with psychiatric problems often turn to substance abuse?
They may self-medicate to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders.
How do doctors diagnose substance abuse based on physical symptoms?
Indicators like:
- Liver enzyme changes
- Weight loss
- Coordination problems
- Chronic fatigue
What are some behavioral signs of substance abuse?
- Secretive behavior
- Financial issues
- Legal problems
- Neglecting responsibilities
What are the legal implications of substance abuse?
- DUI (Driving Under the Influence) charges
- Possession charges
- Legal fines
What are the psychological effects of substance abuse?
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Impaired cognitive functions
