health final Flashcards
What is pain?
An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
What is chronic pain?
Pain lasting longer than 3-6 months, often linked to conditions like arthritis, migraines, and back pain.
Why is pain important for survival?
Pain provides feedback about the functioning of our bodies and helps us avoid harm.
What is congenital insensitivity to pain?
A disorder where individuals cannot feel pain, leading to constant injury and early death.
Why is pain difficult to study?
Pain is a psychological experience influenced by context, culture, gender, and coping mechanisms.
What is the Gate Control Theory of Pain?
A neural mechanism that can open or close to modulate pain signals to the brain.
What is the Neuromatrix Theory of Pain?
The brain generates a characteristic pattern of nerve impulses (neurosignature) to create pain experiences.
What are the two types of peripheral nerve fibers involved in pain?
A-delta fibers (sharp pain) and C-fibers (dull, aching pain).
What is phantom limb pain?
Pain perceived in a limb that has been amputated.
What are common psychological effects of chronic pain?
Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
What are non-pharmacological pain management techniques?
Biofeedback, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, acupuncture, distraction, cognitive-behavioral therapy.
What is quality of life in chronic illness?
Physical functioning, psychological status, social functioning, and impact on daily activities.
What are common responses to chronic illness?
Denial, anxiety, depression, hope, and optimism.
How does chronic illness affect self-concept?
It can lower self-esteem and body image, impacting identity and social interactions.
What coping strategies help with chronic illness?
Active coping, social support, cognitive reframing, and problem-solving.
What are vocational issues in chronic illness?
Job discrimination, financial burden, and insurance limitations.
What are psychological interventions for chronic illness?
Individual therapy, social support, relaxation training, mindfulness-based stress reduction.
What is palliative care?
Care focused on comfort and quality of life rather than curing the disease.
What is hospice care?
A service providing emotional and physical support to terminally ill patients and their families.
What are advance care directives?
Legal documents stating a person’s medical treatment preferences in case they become unable to decide.
How does chronic pain impact mental health?
It increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
What are the economic costs of chronic pain?
Around $10 billion per year in healthcare and lost productivity.
What are the three types of pain perception?
Mechanical nociception, thermal damage, and polymodal nociception.
What is the role of the brain in pain perception?
The brain processes pain signals and modulates their intensity.
What is the McGill Pain Questionnaire?
A tool used to measure and categorize pain based on verbal reports.
What are endogenous opioids?
Natural painkillers in the body, such as beta-endorphins and enkephalins.
What is stimulation-produced analgesia (SPA)?
Pain relief caused by stimulating specific brain areas.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for pain?
A therapy focusing on changing thoughts and behaviors to manage pain.
How does relaxation therapy help with pain?
It reduces stress, anxiety, and muscle tension, improving pain tolerance.
What is the placebo effect in pain management?
Pain relief caused by belief in a treatment rather than the treatment itself.
What is the role of emotions in pain perception?
Negative emotions can amplify pain, while positive emotions can reduce it.
What are maladaptive coping strategies for chronic pain?
Social withdrawal, wishful thinking, and avoidance behaviors.
What are active coping strategies for chronic pain?
Problem-solving, seeking social support, and physical activity.
What is distraction therapy?
Shifting attention away from pain to reduce its perception.
What is guided imagery?
Visualizing positive scenes to reduce pain and stress.
How does acupuncture relieve pain?
It may work through counterirritation, endorphin release, or placebo effects.
What is biofeedback therapy?
A method that helps individuals gain control over physiological functions to reduce pain.
What is a pain-prone personality?
A set of traits that predispose individuals to experience chronic pain.
What are the key components of quality of life in chronic illness?
Physical function, psychological well-being, social function, and independence.
What are some common misconceptions about pain?
That pain levels always correspond to tissue damage or that it’s purely physical.
How does social support impact chronic pain?
Strong social support networks can improve coping and reduce pain severity.
What is anticipatory grief?
Grieving the loss of health or function before it fully occurs.
How does chronic illness affect families?
It can cause stress, financial burdens, and changes in family roles.
What is terminal illness?
A disease with no cure that is expected to lead to death.
What is euthanasia?
Intentionally ending a person’s life to relieve suffering from a terminal illness.
What is physician-assisted dying?
A doctor provides the means for a patient to end their own life.
What is an advance directive?
A legal document stating a person’s healthcare wishes if they become incapacitated.
culture and pain
-some cultures report pain sooner and react intensely compared to others
- Chinese report lower pain tolerance
coping styles and pain
- catastrophize about pain tend to engage in preservative thinking
- magnification of pain increases feelings of helplessness linked to negative functional outcomes
pain verbalizations
- associated with age
- older children less likely to make verbalizations
- children’s memory of pain intensity lead to expectancies
4 basic types of pain behaviour
facial, audible expressions of distress, distortion in posture, negative effect and avoidance of activity
nociceptors
- sense injury in response release messengers conducted to spinal cord where passed directly to reticular formation
- identify site of injury and send message down spinal cord
nociception
- a-delta fibres: respond to mechanical or thermal pain, small myelinated, 1st sharp pain, affects sensory aspects opens gate
- c-fibres: transmit dull, aching pain, unmyelinated, motivational and affective elements of pain, opens gate
- a-beta fibres: respond to position and vibration, large myelinated suppress pain by transmitted c-fibres, close gate
factors that open or close pain gate
- physical: open (inappropriate activity level) close (meds, counter stimulation)
- emotional: open (anxiety, depression) close (relaxation)
- cognitive: open (boredom) close (distraction)
What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)?
CHD is a disease caused by atherosclerosis, narrowing coronary arteries, reducing blood supply to the heart.
What are the major risk factors for CHD?
High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, inactivity, and family history.
How does stress contribute to CHD?
Chronic and acute stress are linked to CHD, especially in low socioeconomic status individuals.
How does job stress affect CHD risk?
Job factors, such as high demand and low control, increase CHD risk.
What role does estrogen play in CHD for women?
Estrogen provides protective effects by increasing HDL and reducing SNS arousal.
Why does CHD risk increase after menopause?
After menopause, estrogen levels drop, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How are anger and hostility related to CHD?
Hostile individuals are at higher risk of CHD due to increased cardiovascular reactivity.
What psychosocial factors contribute to CHD?
Vigilant coping, anxiety, pessimism, rumination, and loneliness increase CHD risk.
How can CHD risk be modified?
Dietary changes, quitting smoking, aerobic exercise, relaxation training, and speech interventions.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
A program helping CHD patients optimize physical, medical, psychological, and social well-being.
What medications are used to treat CHD?
Beta-blockers reduce nervous system activation, aspirin prevents clotting, and statins lower cholesterol.
How does diet affect CHD management?
Healthy diets, exercise, and stress management improve heart health and reduce CHD risk.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when blood pressure remains elevated for extended periods.
How is hypertension measured?
Using a sphygmomanometer to assess systolic (heart contraction) and diastolic (heart relaxation) pressure.
What are the blood pressure ranges for hypertension?
Mild: 140-159, Moderate: 160-179, Severe: 180+ (systolic values).
What causes hypertension?
90% of cases are essential (unknown cause); other causes include kidney failure, genetics, and lifestyle factors.
How does stress contribute to hypertension?
Chronic stress, high-demand/low-control jobs, and social conflict increase hypertension risk.
How is stress-related hypertension studied?
By monitoring individuals in labs under stressful tasks and evaluating high-pressure job effects.
What role does personality play in hypertension?
Suppressed anger and frequent conflict-ridden interactions can contribute to hypertension.
How is hypertension treated?
Lifestyle changes (low sodium, weight loss, exercise, caffeine restriction) and medications (diuretics, beta-blockers).
What cognitive-behavioral treatments help hypertension?
Relaxation techniques, stress management, exercise, and anger control.
Why is hypertension called ‘the hidden disease’?
It is often symptomless and diagnosed only during routine medical exams.
What are the risks of untreated hypertension?
Lowered quality of life, cognitive decline, fewer social activities, and increased mortality.
What is a stroke?
A disturbance in blood flow to the brain, often due to arteriosclerosis or hypertension.
What are the risk factors for stroke?
High blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, high red blood cell count, and psychological distress.
What are the consequences of a stroke?
Stroke can cause motor, cognitive, emotional, and relationship problems.
How is stroke rehabilitation managed?
Therapies include psychotherapy, cognitive training, movement therapy, and structured environments.
What is diabetes?
A chronic condition where carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism is impaired due to insulin issues.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
An insulin-dependent condition where pancreatic beta cells fail to produce insulin, often autoimmune-related.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
A non-insulin-dependent condition linked to obesity and lifestyle factors, commonly diagnosed in middle-age.
What health complications arise from diabetes?
Blindness, kidney failure, foot ulcers, eating disorders, and nervous system damage.
How does stress affect diabetes?
Stress increases sympathetic nervous system reactivity, worsening diabetes management.
What are key strategies for diabetes management?
Reducing sugar intake, maintaining healthy weight, exercising, and behavioral interventions.
How does diet contribute to diabetes?
High sugar and refined carbohydrate intake lead to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
What is insulin resistance?
A condition where cells fail to respond to insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Why are carbohydrates criticized in modern diets?
Excess carbohydrate intake contributes to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
What role does metabolic syndrome play in health?
It links obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and heart disease to increased mortality risk.
What is gut microbiome science?
The study of microorganisms in the gut and their impact on digestion, immunity, and overall health.
What modern dietary factors harm gut health?
Processed foods, sugar, artificial additives, pesticides, and certain medications.
What is leaky gut syndrome?
A condition where gut lining integrity is compromised, leading to inflammation and autoimmune responses.
How do autoimmune disorders relate to gut health?
Modern diets and gut dysfunction contribute to increasing rates of autoimmune diseases.
What foods are eliminated in gut-healing diets?
Grains, dairy, legumes, sugar, soy, nuts, seeds, and processed foods.
What foods support gut health?
Animal proteins, vegetables (excluding nightshades), healthy fats, and non-seed spices.
Why is gut science controversial?
There is debate between natural dietary solutions and medical interventions for gut health issues.
How can diet improve gut-related health issues?
By removing inflammatory foods, increasing nutrient-dense whole foods, and balancing gut bacteria.
What is Occam’s Razor in gut science?
The simplest explanation—one biological process might account for multiple autoimmune disorders.
How does gut microbiome impact mental health?
Gut bacteria influence neurotransmitters and inflammation, linking digestion to mood disorders.
Why is gut health research ongoing?
Despite evidence, mechanisms between diet, microbiome, and chronic disease are not fully understood.
What is the future of gut-related health interventions?
Combining dietary approaches with medical treatments to mitigate modern chronic diseases.
how does brain respond to pain (TED)
- endorphins and enkephalins are natural painkillers released during pain or extreme exercise
- pains dual nature: sensory alert and subjective experience shaped by brains wiring and response mechanism
- treatments target individual pain experiences through imaging and brain mapping
Mysterious science of pain (TED)
- pain perception influenced by psychological, social and biological factors
- target glial cells to genetic approaches for pain disorders
Pain relievers (TED)
- signals harm and triggers protective actions, painkillers inhibit this modifying chemical processes
- aspirin and ibuprofen block enzymes preventing production of chemicals that lower pain thresholds in body
Dying (TED)
- discussing end of life choices reduces stress and trauma for loved ones
What can we do until death (TED)
- focusing on human and not just disease improves quality of life, reducing health costs by 70%
- palliative care enhances experience and prolongs life
What happens during heart attack (TED)
- blocked arteries starve heart of oxygen
- prevention includes lifestyle changes, healthy eating, exercise, managing risk factors with medication
- angioplasty and lifestyle changes significantly reduce risk
