Chapter 1 Interactive Exercises

Question 1

Some athletes may develop abnormally high red blood cell counts. Why? In the athlete’s case, is this a sign of disease?

Answer 1

Abnormally high red blood cell counts can and do occur in well-trained athletes. Athletes develop increased cardiovascular efficiency and produce more red blood cells. Their hearts can handle the slightly increased viscosity of the blood and thus higher red blood cell levels may not be a sign of disease.

Question 2

A patient reports to her physician that she feels weak and dizzy. Is this enough information to make a diagnosis? What other sources of information can her physician consult?

Answer 2

No. Many diseases share these symptoms. A simple history can determine if she ate recently or if she is under stress, depressed, or anxious, and a blood test can determine sugar levels and the presence of diabetes. The physician can consult a blood test to determine anemia or other blood disorders. A physical exam can determine whether she has hypertension.

Question 3

A skin rash is an example of _______.

a. sign
b. symptom
c. laboratory result
d. syndrome

Answer 3

a. sign

Question 4

A(n) ______ disease has a sudden onset and short course.

a. acute
b. terminal
c. chronic
d. idiopathic

Answer 4

a. acute

Question 5

The cause of a disease is known as its _____.

a. pathogenesis
b. complication
c. sequela
d. etiology

Answer 5

d. etiology

Question 6

The condition in which the human body performs its vital functions normally is known as ______.

a. health
b. disease
c. disorder
d. homeostasis

Answer 6

a. health

Question 7

Signs and symptoms grow more severe in a period known as _____.

a. remission
b. exacerbation
c. relapse
d. complication

Answer 7

b. exacerbation

Question 8

T/F: Homeostasis refers to the process of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms

Answer 8

False

Question 9

T/F: Mortality refers to the number of deaths caused by a disease.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

T/F: Symptoms are objective evidence of a disease.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

T/F: Signs may be perceived by the physician.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

T/F: Remission and relapse may characterize a chronic disease.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

Fill In: The predicted outcome of a disease is its _____.

Answer 13

prognosis

Question 14

Fill In: Diseases with a rapid onset and resolution are called _____ diseases.

Answer 14

acute

Question 15

Fill In: If the cause of a disease is not known, it is said to be _____.

Answer 15

idiopathic

Question 16

Fill In: Return of symptoms after their apparent cessation is _____.

Answer 16

relapse

Question 17

Fill In: The signs and symptoms of a chronic disease at times subside during a period known as _____.

Answer 17

remission