Medicine through time- Modern Flashcards
What were the early changes instated by the liberal government from 1905-1915?
old aged pension, national insurance, free school meals, fresh water, improved sewers, medical officers for each town
What do people believe causes disease in the modern period?
Lifestyle factors, genetic issues, pathogens
How do people prevent disease in the modern period?
Vaccination, balanced diet and avoiding drugs and alcohol, regular exercise, sanitation
What was the human genome project?
a project made up of scientists from 18 different countries lasting 15 years, aiming to identify the purpose of each gene in the human body in order to map human DNA
How was technology useful in the human genome project?
Microscopes helped scientists view DNA, computers allowed scientists to store, order and send each other information, X-rays first photographed human DNA, crystallography used to photograph DNA
Who were Crick and Watson?
Scientists who discovered the structure of DNA
Who was Rosalind Franklin?
First scientist to take X-ray photographs of DNA
How were the government involved in the human genome project?
They funded the equipment and scientists’ research
Why was the human genome project significant?
Helped people understand genetic diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and Down’s syndrome
Which lifestyle factors can cause disease?
Drugs, alcohol, lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, tanning
What technologies are used in the modern period to make a diagnosis?
Blood tests, blood pressure monitors, endoscopes, ECGs, ultrasound scans, CT scans, MRI scans, X-rays and blood sugar monitoring
How has new technology developed treatment?
As illnesses are now easier to diagnose, especially earlier on, it is ensured that the correct treatment is delivered and more promptly
What are magic bullet drugs?
A chemical cure that attacks pathogens in the body causing disease
What was the first magic bullet drug and how was it discovered?
A Japanese scientist retested 600 arsenic compounds and found that arsenic 606 cured syphilis which became known as Salvarsan
What was penicillin and how was it discovered?
The first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections was discovered by Alexander Fleming as he realised that it killed mould
What new technology has made administering drugs easier?
mass production of pills, dissolvable capsules, hypodermic needles, insulin pumps
What was thalidomide?
A drug marketed to pregnant women to reduce the effects of morning sickness that ended up causing birth defects, leading to laws around drug testing
How was penicillin developed for popular use?
Discovered by alexander Fleming in 1928, Florey and Chain realised its potential in 1938, demand increased for the war and the government funded 2.3 million doses for soldiers, post war, penicillin became widely available
what led to the introduction of the NHS?
In 1928, the voting age was 21, meaning that working people could put pressure on the govt for change, children evacuated to middle class families during the war had lice and malnutrition, free health care during the war proved its importance
What was the Beveridge report?
A report theorising the NHS, where people paid for free healthcare from their taxes and pensions and unemployment benefits from their national health insurance
When was the NHS set up and who by?
Aneurin Bevan established the NHS in 1948
When was the measles vaccine introduced?
1968
What other medical developments happened after the development of the NHS?
test tube babies, heart and lung transplants, organ donor register established
what were the advantages of the early NHS?
smaller procedures could be carried out, new medical developments like hip replacements and new surgical techniques, increases standards of care
what were the disadvantages of the early NHS?
Buildings and infrastructure was crumbling, waiting lists increased, appointment times decreased, more hospitals in the South East
What new surgical and medical techniques and technology were developed?
keyhole surgery, microsurgery, robotic surgery, cheaper dialysis, advanced X-rays, radiotherapy, robotics and prosthetics
What were the three main things done by the government to prevent disease?
compulsory vaccinations, legislation, lifestyle campaigns
When were vaccinations for different illnesses made compulsory?
diphteria-1942, whooping cough-1950, Tetanus-1961, Measles-1968, Rubella-1970
What legislation passed by the government was created in the interests of public health?
clean air acts of 1956 and 1968, car emission legislation, health act 2006 (illegal to smoke in enclosed workplaces)
What are 4 public health campaigns?
change 4 life, “no alcohol during pregnancy is the safest choice”, Stoptober, 5 a day
How much of lung cancer is caused by smoking?
85%
How many deaths were there in 1973 due to lung cancer?
26000
What technology was used to help diagnose lung cancer?
bronchoscopies, pet-CT scans, CT scans
Why is lung cancer hard to treat?
usually advanced when detected, symptoms are mistaken for other diseases, no routine testing
What treatments are available for cancer?
chemotherapy and radiotherapy
What laws were put in place to prevent lung cancer?
2007 smoking ban in workplaces, pubs, cafes and restaurants, 2007 raised the buying age of tobacco, 2015, smoking ban extended to cars
How did the government try to influence people into smoking less?
anti-smoking campaigns, bans on tobacco advertisements, cigarettes removed from display, education in schools, increased taxes
