Health and disease Flashcards
What is health?
This is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and the absence of disease.
what is a disease?
A condition that impairs the normal functioning of part or all of an organism.
Types of diseases
- Communicable - These are caused by pathogens and egs. would be infectious diseases and std’s.
- Non-communicable diseases - Not caused by pathogens, not infectious. It is a long term medical condition eg. inherited or llifestyle diseases.
Signs vs symptoms
Signs can be detected by someone else than the person with the disease vs symptoms which are only experienced by the person with the disease.
Asthma
This is a raspatory disease in which the lining of the tube carrying air into the lungs becomes inflamed. the muscles in the bronchi and bronchios contract making them narrower. The bronchi lining is inflamed resulting in the increase of mucus secretion causing it to be difficult for the person to breathe,
Causes of asthma.
Air pollutants such as dust or smoke environmental irritants such as pollen grains or a mother who smoked during pregnancy triggers symptoms of an asthma attack. Exercise, anxiety or stress may be triggers, wheezing, coughing and chest pains are symptoms.
Treatment for asthma.
THERE IS NO CURE
- Quick relief medication which is an inhaler which gives immediate relief. It causes the muscles in the bronchi and bronchios to relax,
- Long term medication - steroids taken daily for relief of inflamation.
Lifestyle related disease
These are due to bad habits such as smoking eating habits or inactivity eg. Obesity, diabetes and cvd.
Obesity
when a person consumes more food than the body needs and the excess is converted and stored as fat.
Signs and symptoms of obesity
- Increased sweating
- Breathing difficulties
- Joint or back pain
- Inability to cope with exercise
Diabetes
A condition where blood sugar levels are constantly high for long periods of time.
Type 1
Insulation dependant diabetes is a severe disease which usually starts early in life by the destruction of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
Type 2
None insulin dependent, usually starts later in life and is usually the result of a person being over weight.
Signs and symptoms
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Blurred vision
Higher than normal blood glucose levels
Cardiovascular disease
This refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.
- Hypertension
Blood pressure is constantly high above 140/90 mmHg. Caused by being overweight, smoking and alcohol use and can result in heart attack, treatment would be prescription drugs and weight management
2. Coronary Heart Disease
buildup of fatty material inside the coronary artery reduces its diameter , this may lead to a blood clot and heart attacks . Treatments would be surgery , tablets
Importance of diet and exercise
Eating healthy ensures excess carbs and fats which contribute to these diseases are not consumed.
Regular aerobic exercise reduces weight gain and promotes the higher metabolic rate. It boosts self esteem.
Communicable diseases
- Influenza
This is caused by a virus. It is an airborne disease.
Signs: Shivering, coughing, stuffy nose
Symptoms: Headaches, soar throat, muscle pain.
Treatments and preventions: Vaccination, good ventilation, pain killers.
- Tuberculosis
This is caused by a bacteria and is an airborne disease.
Signs: Chronic cough, fever, lung tubercles.
Symptoms: loss of appetite, fatigue
Treatment and preventions: BGC vaccination and antibiotics.
- Ring worm
This is caused by a fungus. It is transmitted by spores on surfaces and animals.
Signs: Red patches on the body
Symptoms: Itching
Treatment and preventions: fungicides ointment
- Cholera
This is caused by bacteria. it is transmitted by contaminated water.
Signs: sever diahorea , vomiting, dark urine.
Symptoms: stomach pain and thirst
Treatment and preventions: vaccination, antibiotics and lots of fluids
- Bronchitis
This is caused by a virus. It is airborne
Signs: cough with mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath and fever
Symptoms: Chest discomfort
Treatment and prevention: Bedrest and plenty fluids and good ventilation
STD’s / STI’s
Definition - These are transmitted via unprotected intercourse.
- Gonorrhoea - this is caused by a bacteria and its transmitted from a mother to the eyes of her baby during birth.
Signs: blindness in babies and pus discharge from both female and male reproductive organs.
Symptoms: Itching and burning during urination.
Treatment and preventions: antibiotics and condoms
- Syphillis - caused by a bacteria and its transmitted from a mother to the fetus during pregnancy via the placenta.
Signs: soars on the genitals and brain damage
Symptoms: muscle aches, loss of appetite
Treatment and preventions: anitbiotics and condoms
- Genetal herpes - caused by a virus. its transmitted from a mother to a fetus via placenta
Signs: Blisters on the genitals
Symptoms: genital itching
Treatment and preventions: antiviral drugs, condoms, and test for HIV
- Aids - this is caused by a virus (HIV). it is transmitted by transfusion of infected blood.
signs: rapid weight loss, night sweats, swelling of lymph glands, soars around the mouth, anus and genitals.
Prevention and treatmet: condoms, test for HIV
Mode of action of HIV and AIDS
HIV enters the blood which binds with lymphocytes and makes copies of itself and destroys the lymphocytes. It then attacks other lymphocytes which weaken the immune system due to this the immune system becomes to weak and the person becomes ill which result in aids.
Significance of Aids
It was founded in 1983. In 2016 the WHO estimated 36.7 million persons had HIV and 35 million had died from AIDS. The Caribbean is the most infected region in the world. Difficulties controlling the spread. There is no vaccine or cure for aids. the incubation period is 10 years or more meaning could pass the disease on without knowing it. anti retrovial drugs are expensive and are needed to be taken daily.
Vectors and Vector borne diseases
- Malaria
This is caused by a protozoan and is transmitted by a mosquito.
Signs and symptoms: high fever, weakness and even death
Treatment and prevention: drugs and medicine, protect yourself against mosquito bites.
- Dengue
This is caused by a virus and is transmitted by a mosquito.
Signs and symptoms: high fever, headaches, rash, joint and muscle pain.
Treatment and prevention: pain killers, bed rest, lots of fluid and protect againt bites.
- Leptospirosis
This is caused by a bacterium and transmitted by rat urine.
Signs and symptoms: headache, red eye, muscle pain
Treatment and prevention: antibiotics, rodent control and vaccination.
