Applications of force, heat, electricity and radiation to health care

Question 1

Explain in simple terms the concepts of force and pressure and give an example of the use of pressure in health care.

Answer 1

Force
any interaction that when unopposed, will change the motion of an object, can be acceleration or de acceleration. force is measured in Newtons.

Pressure
main application of force in health care. Pressure = force/area.
pressure can be exerted in solids , liquids and gases.

Examples of pressure in:
Solids - pressure sores (ulcers)
Liquids- Blood Pressure
Gases- Breathing.

Question 2

Explain in simple terms the concept of heat and give examples of how heat relates to health care.

Answer 2

The chemical building block of our body (atoms and molecules ) are always vibrating, when heat is applied to molecules and atoms they vibrate more causing them to expand and increasing the speed of chemical reactions.
The body gets rid of excess heat by increasing blood flow to the skin (basis of heat therapy). High heat disrupts the shape of molecules and can kill cells ( i.e sunburn), This includes killing microorganisms (the basis for heat sterilization)

Question 3

Explain in simple terms the concept of electricity and give an example of how electricity relates to healthcare.

Answer 3

Electricity is the flow of charged particles usually electrons ( negative charge) or protons (positive charge). Voltage is the cause and current (flow) is its effect.

-Conductors ( substances particles can flow through) include:
nerve cells, fluids containing ion, pacemaker wires.

• Insulators (substances particles cannot flow through) include:
  Dry skin, myelin sheath.

Example of electricity in health care

• Defibrillators, Currents > 100 milliamp
• Electric shock therapy , Current between 0.5-1.5 Amps

Question 4

Explain in simple terms the concept of radiation and give an example of how radiation relates to health care.

Answer 4

Radiation is the emission or travel of energy either as particles (nuclear radiation) or as electromagnetic waves. Radiation can be absorbed, reflected or pass through materials.
Electromagnetic waves have different properties according to the wavelength(close together = more energy).

If DNA is damaged (directly or indirectly) one of three things can happen:

• DNA repairs itself
• DNA cell commits suicide (apoptosis)
• DNA mutates ( can be benign or cause tumor)

Radiation in healthcare includes:

• Diagnostic Imaging ( XRAY, CT SCAN, MRI)
• Functional ( fMRI, PET, Nuclear Medicine)
• Therapeutic ( Radiation to kill cancer cells)