Anorexia

Question 1

How does anorexia affect psychological health?

Answer 1

It can lead to stress and depression due to hormonal imbalance and nutrient deficiencies.

Question 2

How can lifestyle contribute to anorexia-related health risks?

Answer 2

Poor diet, excessive exercise, unstable housing, and social stressors can worsen nutrient deficiencies and physiological issues.

Question 3

Why might family therapy be offered for anorexia patients?

Answer 3

To create a supportive home environment, helping with meal plan adherence and emotional safety.

Question 4

Why is anorexia described as a ‘competitive condition’?

Answer 4

Individuals may compare body image and weight loss with others, fueling disordered behaviours.

Question 5

What are common nutrient deficiencies in anorexia and their effects?

Answer 5

• Scurvy: vitamin C deficiency
• Rickets: vitamin D/calcium deficiency
• Anaemia: iron deficiency
  (all cause weakness and poor growth)

Question 6

How does a lack of nutrition affect body temperature?

Answer 6

The body becomes cold due to decreased fat insulation and reduced metabolic activity.

Question 7

What are the risks of taking oral medication in someone with severe anorexia?

Answer 7

Poor absorption due to low fat and muscle mass can reduce drug efficacy.

Question 8

Why might periods stop in someone with anorexia?

Answer 8

The body shuts down non-essential functions (like reproduction) to preserve energy and organ function.

Question 9

How does anorexia affect fertility and bone health?

Answer 9

Reduced oestrogen hormone (steroid) leads to infertility because it prepares uterus for pregnancy & stimulates egg development and increased risk of osteoporosis as it slowly reduces natural bone breakdown.

Question 10

What is leptin and how is it affected in anorexia?

Answer 10

Leptin, hormone, is produced by fat cells to regulate hunger and metabolism (signaling molecule for hunger to brain)

Question 11

How is insulin production affected in anorexia?

Answer 11

Reduced food intake lowers glucose levels, reducing insulin production from the pancreas.

Question 12

How does anorexia affect the heart and blood vessels?

Answer 12

Weakened heart muscle, bradycardia (slow heart rate | >60 bpm), low blood pressure (hypotension), and increased risk of heart failure.

Question 13

What blood vessel problem occur in regards to ow BP?

Answer 13

Loss of reflex to constrict blood vessels to raise BP

Question 14

How does anorexia impact brain and nerve function?

Answer 14

Reduced oxygen from low heart rate starves brain and impairs memory, concentration, and may cause seizures.

Question 15

What structural features of nerves are relevant in anorexia?

Answer 15

Myelin sheaths help signal transmission; EEG may detect brain function changes in eating disorders.

Question 16

How does anorexia affect kidney function?

Answer 16

Low blood pressure reduces glomerular filtration, risking kidney failure.

Question 17

How is anaemia diagnosed and caused in anorexia?

Answer 17

Caused by iron deficiency; diagnosed by blood tests like haemoglobin count, full blood count (FBC) & Hematocrit

Question 18

Why is the immune system weakened in anorexia?

Answer 18

Protein and nutrient deficiencies reduce antibody production and immune function.

Question 19

What substance is key for producing steroids?

Answer 19

Cholesterol makes the four ring steroids (hormones)

Question 20

What does current data say about anorexia prevalence?

Answer 20

2–4% lifetime prevalence in women, most common in 15–19 years, low in men (1 per 100,000).

Question 21

What ethical considerations must be made when researching anorexia?

Answer 21

• Informed consent
• Confidentiality
• Right to withdraw
• Scientific value
• Protection of vulnerable individuals (Children)

Question 22

State which nutrient deficiency causes anemia?

Answer 22

Iron

Question 23

What part of the Haemoglobin molecule does iron fit into?

Answer 23

Haem group

Question 24

Outline and identify the tests you would carry out to identify if an individual ha anemia.

Answer 24

• Full blood count - Number of erythrocytes per ml
• Hematocrit - Centrifuge a sample of blood, measure the proportion of the total blood volume occupied erythrocytes.
• Haemoglobin concentration - Use a spectrophotometer to measure a specific wavelength corresponding to Haemoglobin molecule

Question 25

What type of molecule is cholesterol?

Answer 25

Steroid

Question 26

Where is cholesterol normally found in the body?

Answer 26

Fat cells; membranes; phospholipid bylayer

Question 27

Suggest why anorexia reduces fertility and cause loss of period?

Answer 27

- Hormones required for fertility (oestrogen) are no made - Extreme loss of fats cells slows steroid production

Question 28

What type of molecule is leptin?

Answer 28

protein

Question 29

As a hormone what would leptin interact with in the brain to signal level of fat stores and energy

Answer 29

A receptor

Question 30

Suggest a molecular mechanism by which an appetite suppressant could affect leptins signaling to the brain

Answer 30

Antagonist; 1. Action on transmitter substance - binding to leptin irreversibly; Competitive inhibition of receptor sites for leptin. 2. Action on membrane transport systems - stopping leptin entering cells / blood stream 3. Action on enzymes - breaking down leptin / reducing bioavailability of leptin. Agonist; 1. Suppressant is similar shape to Leptin 2. Stimulates receptors in the brain 3. Causes signal to be sent to brain indicating fullness

Question 31

Outline the role of the pancreas in producing insulin and in regulating blood sugar.

Answer 31

1. Pancreas is an endocrine gland, secreting hormones directly into bloodstream. 2. Islets of langerhans are specific region responsible for endocrine function. 3. Beta cells within langerhans produce insulin. 4. Stimulus for insulin release is high blood glucose levels above normal ranges 5. They lower blood glucose levels via glycogenesis. 5. Insulin is a protein hormone. 6. Insulin acts a signal molecule targeting cells in body. 7. Role is to regulate blood sugar levels

Question 32

How to calculate heart rate on graph?

Answer 32

1. R to R count how many little squares. 2. 1 second+ 25 squares according to key 3. 25 / little squares between R intervals = beats per second 4. Beats per second x 60

Question 33

Describe and explain the pressure changes in the heart in a normal cardiac cycle.

Answer 33

1. Atrial systole; Atria contract increasing pressure in atria. Pressure exceeds ventricular pressure forcing blood through the open AV valves into ventricles. Semilunar valves remain closed as ventricular pressure is lower than atrial pressure. 2. Ventricular systole; Ventricles contract increasing ventricular pressure; once pressure exceeds atrial pressure, the AV valves close. When Ventricular pressure surpasses aortic pressure semilunar valves open and blood moves into the arteries. 3. Diastole; Heart muscle relaxes, when ventricular pressure falls below aortic and pulmonary artery pressure, the semilunar valves close as ventricular pressure drops below atrial pressure, the AV valves open causing blood flow passively from the atrial into the ventricles.

Question 34

Suggest how loss of muscle mass could affect the blood pressure during the cardiac cycle and suggest how this could lead t heart failure.

Answer 34

1. Loss of cardiac muscle weakens heart pumping. 2. Reduced contraction leads to lower stroke volume and potentially lower systolic blood pressure. 3. The body compensates with increased heart rate and vasoconstriction. 4. The weakened heart leads to reduced cardiac output thus insufficient blood supply to body. 5. Chronic strain and compensatory efforts lead to heart failure.

Question 35

Describe how you would use an ECG to measure HR to identify which condition a patient has?

Answer 35

Placing wet electrodes directly on skin; electrodes detect tiny electrical changes on the skin that arise from electrical activity of the heart during each heart beat; Picked up by a recording device; Wave patterns indicate frequency of waves

Question 36

Explain how low blood pressure could affect the ultrafiltration process in kidneys.

Answer 36

1.Blood enters afferent arteriole at lower pressure. 2. Little difference between pressure in afferent and efferent arterioles 3. Little of no pressure generated in glomerulus 4. Less ultrafiltration 5. Lower urine volume 6. Less urea removed.

Question 37

What do Osmotic laxatives do?

Answer 37

Create osmotic gradient drawing water from tissues of the gut into the stool

Question 38

What do Stimulant laxatives do?

Answer 38

Increases peristalsis

Question 39

What do stool softeners do?

Answer 39

Hydrates the stool resulting in softer stool that is more easily passable.

Question 40

What body systems does Scurvy affect (Vitamin C Deficiency)?

Answer 40

1. Skin - Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis providing structural support. 2. Muscular skeletal - Collagen also important for joint & muscle health. 3. Oral cavity - Gums are vulnerable, the deficiency weakens the connective tissues leading to swollen, bleeding gums and even tooth loss. 4. Nervous system - Symptoms like tiredness.

Question 41

What body systems does Rickets affect (Vitamin D & C deficiency) ?

Answer 41

1. Skeletal system - Vitamin D essential for calcium absorption which is vital for bone mineralization. Lack of vitamin D or calcium prevents proper bone formation. 2. Dental system - Rickets can lead to weak tooth enamel and delayed tooth eruption.

Question 42

What body system does Anemia affect (Iron deficiency)?

Answer 42

1. CV system - The protein in RBC that carries oxygen, hemoglobin has trails of Iron. Reduction in oxygen carrying capacity of blood, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and heart palpitations. 2. Skin - Becomes paler due to reduced amount of oxygenated blood circulating. 3. Nervous system - Tiredness, and headaches; common symptoms, indicating the impact of reduced O2 delivery to the brain.

Question 43

Explain homeostasis of blood glucose level

Answer 43

1. Blood glucose levels rise 2. The pancreas releases insulin via beta cells. 3. In response to insulin target cells take up glucose and the liver coverts glucose into glycogen 4. (Glycogenesis) blood glucose level fall 5. The pancreas releases glucagon via alpha cells. 6. In response to glucagon the liver breaks down glycogen and releases glucose into the blood (glycogenolysis)