Understanding Diseases Flashcards
Pathophysiology
-bodily processes associated w/ diseases or injuries
Associated symptoms
= pertinent positives
-symptoms associated w/ chief complaint / CC
Pertinent negativs
- symptoms a patient doesn’t have
- helps rule out illnesses
Chronic
-long-lasting symptoms
> 3 months
Comorbidities
-simultaneous presence of 2 chronic diseases or conditions in a patient
- don’t want contradicting treatments
- if both diseases affect same organ, increased risk of organ failure
- Compounding symptoms can lead to poor compliance w/ treatment plan
Big 4
HTN / hypertension / high BP
-thins and weakens arteries
DM / diabetes mellitus
HLD / hyperlipidemia / high cholesterol
HTN
Etiology = increased BP = excess force on arterial walls
Risk factors = FHx of HTN = family history; obesity; DM; high Na+ diet; smoking; ETOH / alcohol
CC- often asymptomatic; HTN measured at home; headache/chest pain/palpitations = a noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation, exertion, or illness, blurred vision, epistaxis = nose bleed when HTN begins to affect other organs
PE = physical examination
-lower extremity edema, carotid bruit, CHF/congestive heart failure, JVD / jugular venous distention/enlargement, abnormal heart sounds
carotid bruit - a vascular murmur sound (bruit) heard over the carotid artery area on auscultation during systole - b/c of obstruction such as plaque = blood flow turbulent = CAD/carotid artery disease
-can cause CVA / cerebrovascular accident/stroke or TIA / transient ischemic attack / mini-stroke
auscultation = the action of listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically with a stethoscope, as a part of medical diagnosis
Hypotensive = <90/60 Normal/normotensive = 90-120/60-80 Prehypertensive = 121-140/80-90 Hypertensive = >140/90
Treated w/ weight loss, regular exercise, smoking cessation, low Na+ diet
DM
insulin / glucagon
pancreatic B and a islet cells- islet of Langerhans
Type 1 DM = only IDDM
- insulin insufficiency- can’t make insulin
- only 5% DM patients
- only treated w/ insulin / injections
- diagnosed early in life
- strong FHx component / family history
- immune cells destroy pancreatic B-islet cells
- too high blood sugar
Type 2 DM = insulin resistance b/c consistently high blood glucose
- 95% of today’s DM patients
- treated w/ diet/lifestyle changes, non-insulin pills/meds, and insulin
- may be IDDM or NIDDM (insulin dependent or not)
Symptoms = frequent thirst, frequent urination (kidneys trying to get rid of excess sugar)
- poor healing
- blurred vision b/c poor circulation
- chronic diabetes affects nerves = neuropathy
- –causes burning pain in extremities and paresthesia = numbness/tingling
Diagnose by getting fasting blood sugar levels in morning / pre-prandium
HLD
hyperlipidemia / high cholesterol
-fat from food deposits into arteries = block blood flow
HDL = good and LDL = bad
Risk factors- obesity, high lipid diet, physical diet, FHx, DM, EtOH use
Dx (Diagnosis): Bloodwork- measure cholesterol and TAG- look for elevated LDL
Blood test is called total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL
Elevated blood lipids = plaque buildup in arteries
HDL- good- takes fat deposits and puts in liver and out of arteries
Statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis
CAD = coronary artery disease
- heart disease
- coronary arteries harden and get narrow b/c of cholesterol and fatty deposits
Risk factors/comorbidities: HTN, DM, HLD, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and FHx
Main symptom = chest pain - b/c of decreased blood flow to heart
-diagnosed w/ cardiac catheterization- inserted into peripheral vein to heart, then dye injected- reveals blockages/narrowing
medicine = blood thinners, vasodilators, lifestyle changes
Myocardial infarction
-heart attack
blockage = heart disease = lack of blood + muscle injury = death
-not enough oxygen to heart
-if you have an MI, you also have CAD
Acute vs chronic cutoff
3 months
Strep Pharyngitis
- antibiotics
- big symptom - fever
- if untreated, spreads to ear, sinuses, blood = bad
Otitis media
ear infection - middle ear
Eardrum affected = fluid buildup/effusion occurs
-too much pressure = eardrum ruptures
Back pain
- Bulging Discs and DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease)
- Bulging: herniated = protruding (organ/structure)- pinch nerve, chronic pain
- DDD = degeneration of cushion b/w discs- feel more shock w/ movements, spine gets stiff
Extremities
X-rays for broken bones
MRI for joints/nerves
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection
- when urethra exposed to bacteria, which travels to bladder
- if spreads to kidneys, it’s called pyelonephritis
dysuria, hematuria
- women are more likely to get it b/c they have a shorter urethra
- treat with Abx (antibiotics)
Ectopic pregnancy
- egg implants outside uterus, ie fallopian tube
- inviable
- vaginal bleeding, abdominal/pelvic pain
- egg must be removed or it can rupture the fallopian tube = massive bleeding
Torsions
twisting
- if ovary twists, cut off blood supply to ovary and fallopian tube
- if testicle twists around spermatic cord (blood vessels, nerves, ducts)
- painful
- happen by chance
- usually surgery corrects it
Cellulitis
-skin cell inflammation "cellu" = skin cells -characteristic finding = induration / localized hardening -if spread to blood, bad -Abx
Abscess
- bacterial infection of skin w/ underlying pus accumulation
- abscess is fluctuant (unlike cellulitis)- palpable fluid collection, usually w/ pus
-treat w/ Abx, incision and drainage (I&D)
Rash
- sign of true allergic rxn (treat w/ antihistamines)
- color, marking, shape, area helps find cause
Abdominal pain causes
- appendicitis
- cholecystitis
- abdominal aortic aneurysm (artery enlargement b/c weakened wall)
- C. Diff Colitis- opportunistic bacteria, persistent diarrhea (FMT/stool therapy)
- gastroenteritis- vomiting, diarrhea, viral or bacterial
- Crohn’s Disease- immune disorder; diarrhea and abdominal pain
- IBS/irritable bowel syndrome- chronically sensitive bowels prone to diarrhea
- Gastritis- irritated stomach, vomiting
Chest pain
- coronary artery disease / heart disease
- myocardial infarction / heart attack
- pericarditis = inflammation of pericardium (surrounds heart)
- Pleurisy = inflammation of pleura (surrounds lungs)
- costochondritis = irritation of ribs; worsened if press on sternum
- chest wall pain- when palpation of chest (checking/pressing w/ hand)
- pleural effusion = fluid collecting around lungs causing SOB/shortness of breath or CP/chest pain
