Exam 1 Flashcards
Is Sally an idiot?
Yes
Acute illnesses
Generally has a rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a relatively short time. Examples: appendicitis pneumonia diarrhea common cold
Sub-acute
Does not meet criteria for acute nor chronic
Chronic illnessess
A broad term that encompasses many different physical and mental alterations in health. Usually has a slow onset and may have periods of remission and exacerbation. Examples: Diabetes mellitus Lung disease Arthritis Lupus
Characteristics of Chronic Illness
- It is a permanent change
- It causes, or is caused by, irreversible alterations in normal anatomy and physiology
- It requires a special patient education for rehabilitation
- It requires a long period of care or support
Stages of illness behavior
Stage 1: Experiencing symptoms
Stage 2: Assuming the sick role
Stage 3: Assuming a dependent role
Stage 4: Achieving recovery and rehabilitation
Primary illness prevention
Directed toward promoting health and preventing the development of disease processes or injury. (REMOVING RISK FACTORS)
Examples:
immunization clinics, family planning services, poising-control information, and accident-prevention education.
Secondary illness prevention
Focus on screening for early detection of disease with prompt diagnosis and treatment of any found (EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT)
Examples: assessing children for normal growth and development and encouraging regular medical, dental, and vision examinations
Tertiary illness prevention
Begins after an illness is diagnosed and treated, with the goal of reducing disability and helping rehabilitate patients to a maximum level of functioning (REDUCE COMPLICATIONS)
Example: Teaching a patient with diabetes how to recognize and prevent contractures in a patient who has had a stroke or spinal cord injury, and referring a woman to a support group after removal of breast because of cancer.
Agent-Host-Environment Model (Leavell and Clark)
- Views the interaction between an external agent, a susceptible host, and the environment as causes of disease in a person.
- It is a traditional model that explains how certain factors place some people at risk for an infectious disease
- This model is limited when dealing with noninfectious diseases.
- These three factors are constantly interacting, and a combination of factors may increase the risk of illness
The Health-Illness Continuum
- Conceptualizes a person’s level of health
- Views health as a constantly changing state with high-level wellness and death on opposite sides of a continuum
- Illustrates the dynamic (ever-changing) state of heath
The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock)
- Concerned with what people perceive to be true about themselves in relation to their health
- Modifying factors for health include demographic, sociopsychological, and structural variables
- Based on 3 components of individual perceptions of threat of disease
1. perceived susceptibility to a disease
2. Perceived seriousness of a disease
3. Perceived benefits of action
The Health Promotion Model (Pender)
-Developed to illustrate how people interact with their environment as they pursue health
- Incorporates individual characteristics and experiences and behavior-specific knowledge and beliefs, to motivate
health-promoting behavior
- Personal, biologic, psychological, and sociocultural factors are predictive of a certain health-related habit
Risk Factors for Illness
- Age
- Genetic Factors
- Physiologic factors
- Health habits
- Lifestyle
- Environment
Pathophysiology
- Physiology of altered health states
- Structural and functional changes that either cause or are caused by diseases
- Can be alterations at the cell, tissue and organ
Geriatric
Branch of medicine and social sciences dealing with the health and care of older people
Gerontology
Study of the process of aging and especially the issues of aging
Ten signs of aging
- Skin is less elastic and more wrinkles
- Hair turns white and gets thinner
- Loss of height (inches)
- High frequency sounds are harder to hear
- Visual acuity decreases
- Bones are less dense and strong
- Metabolism and body composition changes
- Mental acuity changes
- Heart is less efficient
- Lungs become less efficient
Cognitive Changes with Aging
- Degree to cognitive changes varies with people
- Some cognitive areas remain stable
- May include changes in attention, working memory, long term memory, perception, language/verbal ability, problem solving, spatial orientation
Attention with Aging
Capacity to attend has decreased for all age group by 9 seconds due to the digital age
Selective attention
Spotting relevant information within information listed ( This type decreases with age)
Divided attention
Multitasking ( gets worse with age)
Sustained attention
Remain focused for extended period of time ( stays the same with aging )
Language with Aging
Language production declines they spend more time finding words
- spelling familiar words may become more difficult
- After age 70 the ability to name a common object declines
Visual impairment in Older Adults
- About 65% of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 and older ( 20% of the population)
- Anticipate a rise in chronic eye conditions as the population ages
- Cost of care is significant to the individuals and society at large
Glaucoma
Group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve
Symptoms:
Slowly lose peripheral or side vision first & then central vision may decrease
Macular Degeneration
- Leading cause of severe vision loss in people over 60
- Small central portion of the retina deteriorates
Symptom: Dark, blurry areas in the center of vision
Cataracts
- Painless, cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the passage of light to the retina
Symptom: Cloudy, fuzzy, or foggy vision
Diabetic Retinopathy
- Disease of the retina which is the most common diabetes-related eye condition
Symptom: poor vision and or blindness
Retinal detachment
Part of the retina comes off the back of the eye
Symptom: Floater and flashes of light can be warning signs as well as sudden loss of peripheral vision
Retinitis pigmentosa
Progressive degeneration of the retina
Symptom: Peripheral vision gradually decreases and eventually is lost in most cases
- central vision is usually preserved until late in these conditions *
Leading cause of death in Middle Adulthood
- Malignant neoplasms
- Cardiovascular disease
- Unintentional injury (poisoning, MVA & falls)
- Liver disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Suicide
- Chronic lower respiratory disease
- Cerebrovascular causes ( septicemia(infection) & nephritis(kidney disease))
- other major health problems include rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, alcoholism, and depression *
Roles of the Nurse promoting health for older adults
By teaching, serving as a role model, encouraging self-care responsibilities.
Myths about older adults
- Old age begins at 65 years of age
- Most older adults live in a long-term care facility
- Most older adults are sick
- Old age means mental deterioration
- Older adults are not interested in sex
- Older adults don’t care how they look
- Most older adults are isolated and lonely
- Bladder problems are a problem of aging
- Older adults do not deserve aggressive treatment for serious illnesses
- Older adults cannot learn new things
Assessment tool: SPICES
S- Sleep disorders P- Problems with eating or feeding I- Incontinence C- Confusion E- Evidence of falls S- Skin breakdown
