Module 1: Intro to Pathophysiology

Remissions and exacerbations

A remission is a period or condition in which the manifestations of the disease subside, either permanently or temporarily. Ex: Rheumatoid arthritis has periods of remission when pain and swelling are minimal, alternating with acute periods when swelling and pain are severe. An exacerbation is a worsening in the severity of the disease or in its signs/symptoms. Ex: Asthma -- might include excessive pollen or air pollution leading to serious breathing problems.

Acute disease

A short-term illness that develops quickly with marked signs such as high fever or severe pain Ex: Acute appendicitis

Convalescence

AKA rehabilitation The period of recovery and return to the normal healthy state; it may last for several days or months.

Notifiable

AKA reportable diseases, must be reported by the physician to designated authorities

Phagocytosis

Cell eating

Etiology

Concerns the causative factors in a particular disease

Lysis

Destruction of a cell releasing destructive lysosomal enzymes into the tissue, which cause inflammation (swelling, redness, and pain) as well as damage to nearby cells and reduced function

Autopsy

Examination after death

Biopsy

Excision of very small amounts of living tissue

Exogenous

From the environment

Endogenous

From within the body

Diagnostic tests

Laboratory tests that assist in the diagnosis of a specific disease.

Ischemia

Lack of blood supply

A disease or abnormal condition usually involves changes at the organ or system (gross) level as well as at the cellular, or _____, level

Microscopic

Complications

New secondary or additional problems that arise after the original disease begins. Ex: Following a heart attack, a person may develop congestive heart failure

Signs

Objective indicators of disease that are obvious to someone other than the affected individual. Signs can be either local, found at the site of the problem (such as a skin rash) or systemic, which are general indicators (such as a fever).

Subclinical

Pathologic changes occur but the patient exhibits no obvious manifestations Ex: Kidney damage leading to renal failure

Sequelae

Potential unwanted outcomes of the primary condition Ex: Paralysis following recovery from a stroke.

________ of disease has become a primary focus in health care.

Prevention

Diagnosis

Refers to the identification of a specific disease through evaluation of signs and symptoms, laboratory tests or other tools. More than one factor is usually required.

Latent

"Silent" stage, in which no clinical signs are evident, characterizes some diseases. In infectious diseases this stage may be referred to as the incubation period.

Neoplasia

"new growth," and a neoplasm is commonly called a tumor

Many injuries may be prevented by implementing:

(1) improved safety measures involving the operation of machinery and automobiles; (2) protective labeling and packaging of food, drugs, and toxic products; (3) general public safety education.

Prophylaxis

- A measure designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease. - Ex: Taking low dose aspirin to prevent MI in high risk patients.

Chronic disease

- A milder condition developing gradually but it persists for a long time and usually causes more permanent tissue damage - Often marked by intermittent acute episodes - Ex: Rheumatoid arthritis

Key Physical Guidelines for Adults

- Avoid inactivity - Should do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours)/week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes (1.25 hours)/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or a combo of both - Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes lasting at least 10 minutes and should be spread throughout the week - Increase their aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes (5 hours)/week of moderate-intensity or 150 minutes (2.5 hours)/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. - Muscle strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups on two or more days/week, because these activities provide additional health benefits.

Prevention

- Closely linked to etiology and predisposing factors for a specific disease - Measures include vaccinations, dietary or lifestyle modifications, removal of harmful materials in the environment, and cessation of potentially harmful activities such as smoking

Predisposing factors

- Tendencies that promote development of a disease in an individual - Indicates a high risk for the disease but not certain development - Includes age, gender, lifestyle, environment, heredity, and immunodeficiency

Onset

- how a disease presents and starts - may be sudden or acute

Seven Steps to Health

1) Be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke 2) Eat 5-10 servings of vegetables/fruit a day. Choose high-fiber, lower-fat foods. If you drink ETOH, limit your intake to 1-2 drinks per day. 3) Be physically active on a regular basis: This will help you maintain a healthy body weight 4) Protect yourself and family members from the sun 5) Follow cancer screening guidelines 6) Visit your doctor/dentist if you notice any change in your normal state of health. 7) Follow health and safety instructions at home and at work when using, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials.

Characteristics of Disease

1. Pathogenesis 2. Onset 3. Acute vs chronic 4. Subclinical state 5. Latent stage 6. Prodromal period 7. Manifestations: signs & symptoms 8. Lesion 9. Syndrome 10. Diagnostic tests 11. Remissions & exacerbations 12. Precipitating factor 13. Complications 14. Therapy 15. Sequelae 16. Convalescence or rehabilitation period

Syndrome

A collection of signs and symptoms, often affecting more than one organ, that usually occur together in response to a certain condition.

Precipitating factor

A condition that triggers an acute episode Ex: An angina attack can be precipitated by shoveling snow on a very cold day. Ex: Seizure in an individual with a seizure disorder.

Manifestations

A disease are the clinical evidence or effects, the signs and symptoms, of disease. These manifestations, such as redness and swelling, may be local, or found at the site of the problem.

Of particular concern is scientific evidence that ______ and _____ is the single greatest avoidable cause of death and disease.

Smoking tobacco; exposure to secondhand smoke

morphologic

Structural changes occur in the nucleus and the cell

Symptoms

Subjective feelings, such as pain or nausea. Both signs and symptoms are significant in diagnosing a particular problem.

Lesion

Term used to describe a specific local change in the tissue. Such a change may be microscopic, as when liver cells are examined for pathologic change, or highly visible, such as a blister or pimple observed on the skin.

Pathogenesis

The development of the disease or the sequence of events involved in the tissue changes related to the specific disease process

Prodromal

The early development of a disease when one is aware of a change in the body, but the signs are nonspecific Ex: Fatigue, loss of appetite, or headache

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment regardless of external changes

Prognosis

The probability or likelihood for recovery or other outcomes

Secondary Prevention

These interventions happen after an illness or serious risk factors have already been diagnosed. The goal is to halt or slow the progress of disease (if possible) in its earliest stages; in the case of injury, goals include limiting long-term disability and preventing reinjury. • Telling people to take daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent a first or second heart attack or stroke • Recommending regular exams and screening tests in people with known risk factors for illness • Providing suitably modified work for injured workers

Tertiary Prevention

This phase focuses on helping people manage complicated, long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The goals include preventing further physical deterioration and maximizing quality of life. For example: • Cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs • Chronic pain management programs • Patient support groups

Occurrence

Tracked by recording two factors, the incidence and the prevalence.

Therapy

Treatment measures used to promote recovery or slow the progress of a disease. May include surgery, drugs, physiotherapy, alternative therapies, or behavior modification.

Iatrogenic

When a treatment, procedure, or error may cause a disease

Idiopathic

When the cause of a disease is unknown

Atrophy

a decrease in the size of cells, resulting in a reduced tissue mass

Ischemia

a decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a tissue or organ, due to circulatory obstruction

Infarction

an area of dead cells resulting from lack of oxygen

Gangrene

an area of necrotic tissue, usually associated with a lack or loss of blood supply that is followed by invasion of bacteria

Hypertrophy

an increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in an enlarged tissue mass

Hyperplasia

an increased number of cells resulting in an enlarged tissue mass

Anaplasia

cells that are undifferentiated with variable nuclear and cell structures and numerous mitotic figures

Dysplasia

cells vary in size and shape, large nuclei are frequently present, and the rate of mitosis is increased

Communicable

infections that can be spread from one person to another

Pyroptosis

intracellular microorganisms induce a type of cell death

Microorganisms

living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye

Anaerobic metabolism

metabolism in the absence of oxygen

Apoptosis

programmed cell death, a normal occurrence in the body, which may increase when cell development is abnormal, cell numbers are excessive, or cells are injured or aged

Hypoxia

reduced oxygen in the tissue

Necrosis

the death of one or more cells or a portion of tissue or organ

Morbidity

the disease rates within a group

Prevalence

the number of new and old or existing cases within a specific population and time period

Incidence

the number of new cases in a given population noted within a stated time period

Mortality

the relative number of deaths resulting from a particular disease.

Epidemiology

the science of tracking the pattern or occurrence of disease.

Pathology/ Pathophysiology

the study of functional or physiologic changes in the body that result from disease processes

Necrosis

when a group of cells die and cause further damage due to cellular disintegration

Metaplasia

when one mature cell type is replaced by a different mature cell type

Epidemics

when there are a higher than expected number of cases of an infectious disease within a given area

Primary Prevention

• The goal is to protect healthy people from developing a disease or experiencing an injury in the first place. For example: • Education about good nutrition, the importance of regular exercise, and the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs • Education and legislation about proper seat belt and helmet use • Regular exams and screening tests to monitor risk factors for illness • Immunization against infectious disease • Controlling potential hazards at home and in the workplace