FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES OF DISEASE

J.J. NELSON RN,CMA

PATHOLOGY

• The study of changes caused by disease.

• The branch of medicine concerned with the structural and functional changes caused by disease

• Homeostasis is measurably disturbed

Definitions:

HYPERTROPHY

ATROPHY

Definitions

• CYTOLOGY

• HISTOLOGY

DISEASE• SIGNS: objective• SYMPTOMS: subjective• SYNDROME: both• ASYMPTOMATIC: without S&S

POSION IVY ALLERGYWhat are the signs? Symptoms?

Merck Manual

•Description of disease•Etiology•Signs and symptoms•Diagnosis•Treatment•Prognosis

PROGNOSIS

• ACUTE

• CHRONIC

• TERMINAL

PREDISPOSING CAUSES OF DISEASE

• GENETICS: Family history of Coronary Artery Disease, cancer, diabetes and renal disease are known hereditary risk factors .

• ENVIRONMENT: interacts with heredity. Where a person lives/works can increase the changes of disease. e.g. black lung disease, lead poisoning.

• AGE: Some disease definitely increase as the age increases. e.g. breast cancer

• SEX: Certain diseases are more common in women (e.g. breast cancer, Osteoporosis, Lupus) and others in men (e.g. gout, Parkinson's disease , color blindness, hemophilia)

Predisposing Factors cont. LIFESTYLE: Occupations, habits & life styles can have negative cumulative effects that impose threats to health. e.g smoking alcohol, stress, lack of exercise)

DIET: Important to mention separate from lifestyle. The improper diet may be quantity or quality.

PREDISPOSING FACTORS OF DISEASE CONT.

• INADEQUATE PROTECTION: inadequate clothing, improper sanitation, auto accidents, power tools.

• INFORMATION GAP: Knowing the wrong information is often more dangerous then lack of information. Can you think of examples?

• EMOTIONAL STATE:

• There is empirical evidence that • unhappy people are unusually• disease and accident prone. • =STRESS

DIRECT CAUSES OF DISEASE

• Obviously some things directly cause disease.

• Treatment of disease is directed toward the etiology. What if the etiology is unknown?

• Then the treatment is PALLIATIVE in nature. Palliative means the treatment is directed towards the syndrome as the etiology is unkown.

DIRECT CAUSES:

• LACK OF OXYGEN• DYSPNEA:labored or difficult breathing

• ANOXIA: lack of oxygen

• ISCHEMIA: lack of adequate amounts of oxygen to the tissues cells.

• POISON: Ingested or inhaled. Includes insect and snake bites•

Direct Causes cont.

• IMMUNE DISORDERS: Due to a breakdown in the body's defense system

• ALLERGY: hypersensitivity to a substance ordinarily harmless.

• AUTOIMMUNE: Inappropriate or excessive response of the body’s defense system that allows the immune system to be destructive. e.g rheumatoid arthritis.

• IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDERS: results from a depressed or absent immune system. E.g following radiation, or with AIDs.

OTHER DIRECT CAUSES

• NEOPLASM: “new growth”

– BENIGN: not cancerous

– MALIGNANT: cancerous

– METASASIS: capacity to spread

–BY DIRECT EXTENSION

–BY BLOOD STREAM

–BY LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

DIRECT CAUSES CONT.

•INFECTION•NORMAL FLORA•COMMUNICABLE DISEASE•LOCAL INFECTION•SYSTEMIC INFECTION

S&S OF INFECTION: RED, SWOLLEN, WARM PAIN , FEVER, DRAINAGE, ENLARGED LYMPH GLANDS

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

• A disease that can be transmitted from one person to another.

• VECTOR: a carrier of disease; an insect, rodent, or small animal that transmits disease

COLD TRAUMA

• FROSTBITE

• HYPOTHERMIA

• CELL DAMAGE DEPENDS ON: moisture, pre-existing condition, age.

HEAT EXPOSURE

• HEAT CRAMPS

• HEAT EXHAUSTION

• HEAT STROKE

• BURNS– Degrees– Desquamation

BURNS

FRACTURES

WOUNDS

• Can be classified as open or closed.– LACERATION– PUNCTURE– INCISION

WOUND Cont.

• AMPUTATION

• AVULSION

• ABRASION

• CONTUSION

• HEMATOMA

NORMAL BODY DEFENSES

• What can the body do to try and maintain body homeostasis?– Species resistance– Mechanical/Chemical barriers

Skin HairSweat MembraneSebaceous secretions CiliaCerumen Saliva & TearsHair Acid

Other Body Defenses

• Fever…vasodilation

• Cold….vasoconstriction

• Inflammation

• Phagocytosis

• Active Immunity

• Passive Immunity

SHOCK

• TYPES:– Hypovolemic– Surgical– Cardiogenic– Neurogenic– Septic– Psychogenic

S&S Shock

• Vasoconstriction

• Skin color

• Vital Signs

• Decrease urine

PAIN

• Pain threshold vs. Pain tolerance

• ANESTHESIA– General– Nerve Block– Local – Analgesic– Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulator– Neurosurgical

IMMOBILITYIs not a body defense, rather has a

catastrophic effect on the human body…muscle weakness anorexia

contractures urinary stasis

decubitus ulcers psychological effects

thrombus/embolus

edema

Respirations decrease

CONTRACTURES

DECUBITUS ULCER OF SACRUM

EDEMA

FUNDAMENTAL PROCESS OF DISEASE

• The human body isamzing. The process of homeostasis and disease balances on a fine line

• As a HCW our job is teach patients to prevent a disturbances of homeostasis and/or treat the disease/injury.