Health, Disease, Defence Mechanisms And Treatments Flashcards
Communicable Disease
A disease that can be passed from one organism (person) to another
What are the most popular types of communicable diseases
Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi
Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies
Antigen
A distinctive marker on a microorganism that leads to the body producing specific antibodies
Antibody
A structure produced by lymphocytes that has a complementary shape to antigens on a particular microorganism
Memory lymphocyte
A special type of lymphocyte that can remain in the body for many years and produce antibodies quickly when required
Phagocyte
A type of white blood cell that destroys microorganisms by engulfing them and then digesting then (phagocytosis)
Primary Vs Secondary response
•Individuals affected by a disease-causeing bacterium or virus or usually ill for a few days before the antibody numbers are high enough to provide immunity (Primary Response)
•Memory lymphocytes can produce antibodies really quickly if the same disease occurs twice, stopping the individual from catching that same disease again (secondary response)
Immunity
Freedom from disease
Active immunity
The type of immunity produced when the body produces antibodies
Passive immunity
The type of immunity produced by injecting antibodies
What does passive immunity allow for?
It allows for the rapid (medical) treatment of very serious infections
Vaccination
The injection of dead or modified pathogens (disease causing microorganisms) with the purpose of raising antibody and memory lymphocyte levels in the blood
Antibiotic
A chemical produced by fungi that kills bacteria
Antibiotic resistance
Sometimes bacteria can evolve and mutate. Making themselves resistant to antibiotics and effectively becoming Superbugs (such as MRSA)
Procedures to reduce the incidence of Superbugs in hospitals
1) Not overusing Antibiotics
2) Increased hygiene measures in hospitals
3) Isolating Patients
What are aseptic techniques?
Techniques used to avoid the growth of unwanted, pathogenic microorganisms
Pathogenic bacteria
Bacteria that can cause disease
Non-Communcable diseases
Diseases that are not passed from one person to another (not infectious). Usually caused by inheriting a combination of genes or due to a lifestyle.
Effect of Tar/ Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide on the body
1) Emphysema (damage to alveoli reducing surface area for gas exchange)
2) Addictive and affects heart rate
3) combines with red blood cells to reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
How Lifestyle can affect health- Diet/Overexposure to Sun/ Alcohol
1) Poor diet leads to obesity
2) UV can cause mutations leading to skin cancer
3) Damage the liver or affect foetal development
Cardiovascular Diseases
Heart Disease - caused by the build up of cholesterol that consequently blocks the passage of bloodto coronary arteries, resulting in the inability of the heart to respire/ produce energy causing a heart attack
Stroke - same idea but in the brain.
Treating Cardiovascular Diseases
Angioplasty and Stents - a medical technique involving the use of balloon like structures to hold open diseased arteries so that stents (small mesh like structures) can be inserted into the blood vessels to keep them open.
Drugs (Station - help reduce blood cholesterol) (Aspirin - helps ‘thin’ the blood and makes it less ‘sticky’
Cancer
A range of diseases caused by uncontrolled cell division
