Language of Disease Flashcards
(32 cards)
Homeostasis
A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level
Diagnosis
Identification of a disease
Prognosis
A prediction of the course of a disease
Disease
An abnormal state in which the body is not functioning normally
Signs
Objectively observed indicators of a disorder
Symptoms
Subjective characteristics of disease felt only by the patient
Syndromes
A group of symptoms and signs combined together
Metabolism
All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism
Anabolism
Constructive metabolism; the process of building up larger molecules from smaller ones
Catabolism
Metabolic pathways that break down molecules, releasing energy
Negative Feedback Loop
A feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring
Positive Feedback Loop
A feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified or magnified
Pandemic
A widespread disease that passes many countries; worldwide
Epidemic
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
Endemic
Native or confined to a particular region of people
Mortality
Death rate
Morbidity
Refers to the disabling characteristics that occur as a result of a disease
Remission
Improvement or absence of signs of disease
Relapses
Illnesses that return after being treated and almost cured
Acute conditions
Rapid onset, develop quickly, usually of short duration
Chronic Condition
any disease or condition that lasts a long time (usually longer than six months). It usually can’t be cured and therefore requires ongoing treatment and management. Examples include arthritis and asthma.
Vital Signs
Temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure
Fever
sign
Nausea
symptom
