Common Diseases Flashcards
meaning: infectious diseases, lifestyle diseases, neurological and nutrients
infectious diseases - are transmitted between people
lifestyle disease - can be with changes in lifestyle
neurological - diseases that affect the brain / nervous system
nutrients - the part of foodstuffs that feed your body and make it strong
what is a disease and describe the 3 different types of diseases
a disease is any condition that causes person pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems / death.
- Infectious diseases that are transmitted between people such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV and AIDS.
- Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity. these diseases have to do with how people live.
- Neurological diseases affect the body’s nervous system, such as epilepsy.
what are the different factors that cause disease (3)
number of factors that increase person’s risk of developing disease. unhealthy lifestyle + environment can cause poor health. if we understand what causes diseases, we can make choices what’ll protect us and keep us healthy. illnesses can be caused by:
- Social factors: How we live affects our health. e.g. - not enough exercise, an unhealthy diet, substance abuse and stress all cause illnesses.
- Environmental factors: e.g., unclean water, unhygienic living conditions, pollution.
- Economic factors: healthy foods and clean environments cost money.
What are the 3 main things that cause diseases (not the factors)
1 - Use of alcohol and tobacco
people who abuse alcohol can seriously damage bodies. too much alcohol stops liver working properly. when livers don’t work properly, we are less able to fight off diseases. it’s easier to get infections, + wounds don’t heal well. alcohol can damage other important organs too, such as heart + brain.
smoking tobacco also poisons our bodies. nicotine + other poisonous chemicals damage lungs + heart each time we light up. it’s more difficult for blood to move around in body, so smokers may feel more tired than those who don’t.
2 - Poor eating habits
in our modern world, we eat too much fast and processed food. these foods high in fats + sugars and don’t contain any nutrients. eating unhealthy food can lead to becoming overweight, which can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes.
3 - Physical inactivity
exercise important part staying healthy. helps you keep a healthy weight. it reduces your risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. it relieves tension + stress, which helps you fight off illness.
modern people do lot of sitting, even when we work. we often watch TV rather than play games, and use transport to move around. unfortunately, more physically inactive we are, more likely we are to get ill.
meaning: genetic, seizure and burden
genetic - in the genes; passed through families
seizure - when people have seizures, they lose consciousness and their bodies jerk / thrash about uncontrollably
burden - something which make your life harder
describe diabetes
diabetes is caused by body not being able break down and sue sugar; therefore there’s too much sugar in blood. there are different types diabetes and they have different causes. Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by inactive lifestyle, obesity and an unhealthy diet (too much fat and sugar). type 2 diabetes can be managed by losing weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle. type 1 diabetes is usually genetic; it’s managed with daily injections.
who can you call for help and information about diabetes
Diabetes South Africa
011 792 9888 (Gauteng)
0333 346 0934 (Pietermaritzburg)
021 425 4440 (Western Cape)
describe epilepsy
epilepsy means to have repeated seizures. this happens when there is unusual electric discharge in brain. there are many different causes, but sometimes causes can’t be found.
most people with epilepsy take medication which helps to control their seizures. people with epilepsy should avoid alcohol and drugs, get enough sleep and avoid stress. activities that are dangerous for people with epilepsy include climbing and diving.
what are the do’s and don’t’s if someone has a seizure and what number can you call for help an information
Do:
- protect person from injury
- place them in recovery position once seizure is over
- stay with person until recovery is complete
- be calm and reassuring
Do not:
- try to put anything in person’s mouth
- restrain the person’s movements
For help and information call - 0860 374 537
describe obesity, anorexia, and HIV and AIDS
Obesity
obesity / being overweight can have serious effect on your health. it increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. obesity usually caused by a combination of:
- too much food
- the wrong kind of food (lots of fat and sugar)
- too little exercise
BMI
person considered obese when his / her weight is 20 % / more above the normal weight. your Body Mass Index (BMI) is way measuring your mass in relation to height to find if you are at healthy weight.
If your BMI is: - less than 20 you are underweight - between 20 and 25 your weight is ideal - between 25 and 30 you are overweight - more than 30 you are obese (Learn how to work out BMI in book)
treatment is usually plan, made with doctor / nurse, to reach a normal weight for your age and height. this would include a combination of a healthy eating plan and an exercise routine.
Anorexia
anorexia is an eating disorder where person has very low body weight and has fear being fat. the extreme dieting and weight loss puts person at risk of malnutrition and even death. causes of anorexia aren’t completely understood but it is thought that it is a combination of factors:
- poor self-esteem and body image
- social pressures (emphasis on being very thin)
- genetic factors (inherited from family)
Anorexic person may experience following:
- severe mood swings; depression
- lack of energy and weakness
- slow thinking poor memory
- dry, yellowish skin and brittle nails
- constipation and bloating
- tooth decay and gum damage
- dizziness, fainting and headaches
- growth of fine hair all over the body and face
anorexia is usually treated by treating the underlying emotional causes of disorder. this is usually done under the care of a psychiatrist / psychologist and sometimes a dietician is involved.
HIV and AIDS
HIV virus which affects the person’s immune system; eventually the person develops AIDS, a fatal disease. the most common ways of spreading HIV are are through sexual contact, sharing needles / from infected mothers to their babies during birth and breastfeeding. once person is infected with HIV, virus stays in body rest of their lives. are drugs that can help to control virus. it is possible live healthy, happy life when you are HIV-positive.
Antiretroviral drugs are main form treatment for HIV. they don’t cure HIV, but can people getting sick for many years. people who are HIV-positive should also:
- eat healthy, balanced diet
- avoid alcohol cigarettes
- avoid exposure to infectious diseases
- live in clean, hygienic environment
- regularly see their doctor or nurse at the clinic
how can you show care and support to a sick person
- ask them how they are feeling
- don’t make them feel ashamed / embarrassed because of the disease
- make sure the are eating and drinking enough healthy things
- allow them to feel sad / upset. it can sometimes help to share feelings
- if they look unwell, encourage them to visit their doctor or the clinic
- remind them to follow the doctor’s instructions for taking their medication, even if they are feeling better.
Talk to someone. Phone loveLife’s call centre toll free
- 0800 121 900
Where can you go for help with HIV
- your neighbourhood clinic
- state hospital
- ambulance 10177 / 101112
- Childline Crisis Line 08000 55555
- LifeLine 086 1322 322
- Suicide Line 0800 567 567
- AIDS helpline 08000 123 22
describe HIV and AIDS even more such as how do you get it what is it and which body fluids contain it.
What is HIV
H - Human - this particular virus can only infect humans
I - Immunodeficiency - HIV weakens your immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. a a “deficient” immune system can’t protect you.
V - Virus - a virus can only reproduce itself by taking over a cell in the body of its host.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the “flu” or the common cold. but there is an important difference - over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. that isn’t the case with HIV - the human immune system can’t seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.
we know that HIV can hide for long periods of time in the cells of your body and that it attacks key part your immune system - your T-cells / CD4 cells. your body has to leave these cells to fight infections and disease, but HIV invades them, uses them to make more copies itself, and then destroys them.
over time HIV can destroy so many of your CD4 cells that your body can’t fight infections and diseases anymore. when that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS.
What is AIDS
A - Acquired - AIDS is not something that you inherit from your parents. you acquire AIDS after birth.
I - Immuno - Your body’s immune system includes all the organs and cells that work to fight off infection or disease.
D - Deficiency - you get AIDS when your immune system is “deficient,” or it isn’t working the way it should.
S - Syndrome - a syndrome is a collection of symptoms and signs of a disease. AIDS is a syndrome, rather than a single disease, because it is a complex illness with a wide range of complications and symptoms.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection. people at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs).
you will be diagnosed with AIDS if you have had one or more specific OIs, certain cancers, / very low numbers of CD4 cells. if you have AIDS, you will need medical intervention and treatment to prevent death.
How do you get HIV
HIV is found in specific body fluids. is any of those fluids enter your body, you can become infected with HIV.
Which body fluids contain HIV
HIV lives and reproduces in blood and other body fluids. we know that following fluids contain high levels of HIV:
- blood
- semen
- breast milk
other body fluids and waste products - like faeces, nasal fluid, saliva, sweat, tears, urine / vomit - don’t contain enough HIV to infect you, unless they have blood mixed in them and you have significant and direct contact with them.
How is HIV transmitted through body fluids
- during pregnancy, childbirth / breastfeeding: babies have constant contact with their mother’s body fluids-including amniotic fluid and blood-throughout pregnancy and childbirth. after birth, infants can get HIV from drinking infected breast milk.
- as a result of injection drug use: injecting drugs puts you in contact with blood-your own and others, if you share needles and “works”. needles / drugs that are contaminated with HIV-infected blood can deliver the virus directly into your body.
- as a result of occupational exposure: healthcare workers have greatest risk for this type of HIV transmission. if you work in a healthcare setting, you can come into contact with infected blood or other fluids through needle sticks / cuts. a few healthcare workers have been infected when body fluids splashed into their eyes, mouth, / into an open sore / cut.
- as a result of a blood transfusion with infected blood or an organ transplant from an infected donor: screening requirements make both of these forms of HIV transmission very rare.
- during sexual contact: if your partners has HIV, those body fluids can deliver the virus into your bloodstream through microscopic breaks / rips in the delicate linings of your private areas and mouth. rips in these areas are very common and mostly unnoticeable. HIV can also enter through open sores, like those caused by herpes / syphilis, if infected body fluids get in them.
you need to know that it is much easier to get HIV (or to give it to someone else), if you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
name 16 strategies for dealing with HIV
- take charge of your situation
- be positive
- educate yourself about your condition
- find a doctor you trust
- follow the doctor’s instructions carefully
- take your medicines as instructed
- surround yourself with people you care about
- eat healthily
- exercise
- find things to do that you enjoy
- avoid stress situations
- get enough rest
- join a support group
- avoid habits such as smoking and abusing alcohol
- set yourself goals
- respect yourself - you deserve to lead a high quality life.
