common illnesses and key words

Question 1

Diabetes

Answer 1

a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

type 1 diabetes – where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.

Question 2

Hypoglycaemic

Answer 2

Hypoglycaemia (a hypo) happens when your blood glucose level is too low, usually below 3.5mmol/L.

Causes: -
o delay meals
o have not had enough carbohydrates in your last meal
o do lots of exercise without having the right amount of carbohydrates or reducing your insulin dose
o take too much insulin
o drink alcohol on an empty stomach

Question 3

Possible symptoms of Hypoglycaemia

Answer 3

o sweating
o being anxious or irritable
o feeling hungry
o difficulty concentrating
o blurred sight
o trembling and feeling shaky

Question 4

Hyperglycaemic

Answer 4

When your blood glucose levels are too high, it can cause hyperglycaemia (a hyper).
Causes: -

o stressed
o unwell
o less active
o not having enough insulin for the carbohydrates you have eaten

Question 5

Possible symptoms of hyperglycaemia

Answer 5

o feel very thirsty
o pee more than normal
o feel tired all the time
o lose weight without trying
o have blurred vision
o have fruity-smelling breath

Very high blood sugar levels can lead to a serious problem called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Question 6

Hypertension

Answer 6

High blood pressure

The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body.
The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.
They’re both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

As a general guide:
• high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you’re over the age of 80)
• ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg

Question 7

Pyrexia

Answer 7

pyrexia means to have an increased body temperature above normal body temperature.

Symptoms-

Some of the common signs and symptoms of pyrexia or fever include, but are not limited to:

increase in bodily warmth
dehydration
irritability
weakness or fatigue
chills
sweating
headaches
muscle aches and weakness
generalized loss of appetite

Question 8

COPD- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Answer 8

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

It includes:

emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

Symptoms of COPD:

increasing breathlessness, particularly when you’re active
a persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a “smoker’s cough”
frequent chest infections
persistent wheezing
Without treatment, the symptoms usually get progressively worse. There may also be periods when they get suddenly worse, known as a flare-up or exacerbation.