vii: health

• Disease is a particular abnormal condition and a disorder of a structure or function, that affects part or al lof an organism. It is often interpreted as a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs.
• Non-communicable diseases are not caused by pathogensor disease-causing organisms such as bacteria or viruses, but rather, by how people live, by the conditions withwhich they are born or by the hazards around them. It also includes diseases caused by a breakdown of the body tissues (degenerative diseases), poor diet, environmental and occupational hazards, stress and tension.
• Allergy - A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system. The substances that trigger allergyare called allergen. Examples include pollens, dust mite, molds,danders and certain foods. People prone to allergies are said to be allergic.
• Most common Allergic Diseases

  • Hay Fever
  • Allergic Conjunctivitis
  • Allergic Eczema
  • Hives (Urticaria)
  • Allergic Shock
• Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis) - The most common of the allergic diseases and is characterized by seasonal nasal symptoms that are due to pollens. A year or perennial allergic rhinitis is usually due to indoor allergens, such as dust mites or molds.
• Signs and Symptoms of Hay Fever:

  • Runny nose

  • Stuffy nose

  • Sneezing

  • Nasal itching(rubbing)

  • Itchy ears and throat

  • Post nasal drip(throat clearing)
• Allergic Conjunctivitis - An inflammation of the tissue layers (membranes)that cover the surface of the eyeball and the undersurface of the eyelid. The inflammation occurs as a result of allergic reaction.
• Signs and Symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis:

  • Redness under the lids and the eyes

  • Watery, itchy eyes

  • Swelling of the membranes
• Allergic Eczema - an allergic rash that is usually caused by skin contact with an allergen and features the following signs.
• Signs and Symptoms of Allergic Eczema:

  • Itching, redness, and or dryness of the skin

  • Rash on the face,especially among children

  • Rash around the eyes,in the elbow creases,and behind the knees,especially in adults
• Hives (Urticaria) - This are skin reactions that appear as itchy swellings and can occur on any part of the body. Hives can be caused by an allergic reaction, such as to a food or medication,but they also may occur in non-allergic people
• Signs and Symptoms of Hives:

  • Raised red welts or swollen mark

  • Intense itching
• Allergic Shock (Anaphylactic Shock) - It typically occurs when the allergen is eaten (for example, foods) or injected (for example, a bee sting). Allergic shock is caused by dilated and leaky blood vessels, which result in a drop in blood pressure.
• Signs and Symptoms of Allergic Shock:

  • Hives or reddish discoloration of the skin

  • Nasal congestion

  • Swelling of the throat

  • Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

  • Shortness of breath, wheezing

  • Low blood pressure
• Avoiding known allergens, steroids that modify the immune system in general, and medications such as antihistamines and decongestants which reduce the symptoms. Treatment and management of allergies consist simply of avoiding the allergen in question or otherwise reducing exposure.
• Asthma - A chronic lung disorder that causes airways to become inflamed, which means that they swell and produce lots of thick mucus. The muscles surrounding the airways also tend to tighten, which makes the already clogged airway even narrower.
• Signs and Symptoms of Asthma:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Wheezing

  • Coughing Chest tightness
• Cardiovascular Disease - A disease of the heart and bloodvessels. These include heart (cardio) disease and vascular (blood vessel) diseases.
• Congenital heart disease - an abnormality in the heart structure that you're born with.
• Congenital heart failure - failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency.
• Arrhythmia - condition in which the heart beats with abnormal rhythm
• Rheumatic heart disease - active or inactive disease of the heart that results from rheumatic fever and that is characterized by reduced functional capacity of the heart caused by inflammatory changes in the myocardium orscarring of the valves.
• Heart Attack - occurs when the heart muscle tissue dies from lack of oxygen because of reduced blood flow.
• Arteriosclerosis - group of vascular diseases characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls.
• Atherosclerosis - a form or arteriosclerosis. It occurs when a fatty substance such as cholesterol is deposited on the wall of the arteries, making the vessels hard, narrow, and less elastic.
• Hypertension - or high blood pressure, occurs when blood pressure is higher than normal.
• Stroke - occurs when a clot blocks a small bloodvessel in the brain, thus brain cells die from lack of oxygen.
• Aneurysm - an excessive localized enlargement of artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.
• Two kinds of disease a Cardiovascular Disease have:

  • Heart Disease
  • Vascular Disease
• Cancer -A disease caused by abnormal cells growing without control. As these abnormal cells grow, they form in masses called tumors. Tumors can either be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
• Fill in the blanks:

  A) men

  B) cervix

  C) children

  D) 60%

  
• Surgery - involves removal of tumor and repair of the affected organ.
• Radiation Therapy or radiotherapy - involves attacking the cancer cells with X-rays from radioactive substances.
• Drug Therapy or Chemotherapy - this has become an increasingly important method of cancer treatment.
• Diabetes - A disease that prevents the body from converting food into energy. Carbohydrates are normally changed into a simple sugar called glucose (a source of energy). Insulin, the hormone produced in the pancreas, regulates the level of glucose in the blood.
• Type 1 Diabetes - The result of little insulin produced by the pancreas.This kind of diabetes begins before the age of 40.
• Type 2 Diabetes - The failure of the insulin to function normally. Most often it begins in overweight adults.
• Gestational Diabetes - A type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy in women who don't already have diabetes.
• Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes:

  Excessive urination (polyuria), thirst (polydipsia), hunger (polyphagia)
• Arthritis - Refers to the inflammation of joints. It usually occurs during old age.