Unit 1 Flashcards
Concepts of health/disease (20 cards)
Etiology
- Can be bacteria, viruses, trauma, poison or alcohol, environmental trigger, nutritional, congenital.
- Can be nonspecific
- Can be idiopathic
- Most diseases have multiple etiologies
Morpholgy
Fundamental structure of cells or tissues
Pathogenesis:
How the disease process evolves.
Sequence of events which occur from the time of contact with an “etiologic agent” until there is expression of disease
Clinical Course
The evolution of the disease
Epidemiology
Study of the causes of health and disease states with the goal of improving the health of the population
Looks at:
Incidence: #of new cases occuring in a population at risk during a specific time
Prevalence: Measurement of exisitng disease in a population at a given point in time
The factors or “determinants”/ risk factors involved
Levels of Prevention
Relationship between these levels are the basis of community health
Levels of prevention are meant to protect from disease
Primary prevention
- Interventions aimed at preventing disease, injury or disability
- Aimed at those who might be susceptible but show no signs of disease. Strengthen the host
- Health Promotion, specific protection
*
Ex: sun screen, healthy eating, exercise, etc
Secondary prevention
- Interventions that increase the probability of a person with disease will be diagnosed at time when treatment for cure is likely/possible
- Interventions which increase early detection
- STOP the process
Ex. Mammograms, colonoscopies, paps, annual exams
Tertiary prevention
- Interventions to limit disability
- Interventions which occur when changes are irreversible
- Focus on rehabilitation
- Restore to highest level/optimal level of function possible for the individual
- Only if condition results in permanent disability
- Medical and Surgical
Ex. PT, cardiac rehab, chemo, dialysis
What does exacerbation refer to in chronic illness?
Aggravation of symptoms in chronic illness
Exacerbation can lead to increased healthcare needs and changes in treatment plans.
Define remission in the context of disease.
Decrease in severity of symptoms and disease
Remission can be partial or complete, impacting treatment strategies.
What is meant by the carrier state?
Someone who harbors an organism but is asymptomatic but can infect others
Carriers play a critical role in the transmission of infectious diseases.
What does infectivity refer to?
The proportion of exposed persons who become infected
Infectivity is a key measure in understanding the spread of infectious diseases.
Define pathogenicity.
The proportion of infected individuals who develop clinically apparent disease
Pathogenicity helps in assessing the potential impact of a pathogen.
What is virulence?
The proportion of clinically apparent cases that are severe or fatal
Virulence can vary widely among different pathogens.
What is morbidity?
Effects an illness has on a person’s life
Morbidity refers to the condition of being diseased or the prevalence of disease within a population.
What does mortality refer to?
Cause of death
Mortality is often used to measure the number of deaths in a specific population during a certain time frame.
What is diagnosis in the context of health?
Nature or cause of a health problem, considering clinical manifestations and likelihood of disease
Diagnosis involves evaluating symptoms and medical history to identify health issues.
What is prognosis?
Likely outcome and chance of recovery from a disease
Prognosis helps in understanding the expected course of a disease and potential complications.
Define risk factor.
Conditions suspect to contributing to disease
When link is associated with but not an etiology
Risk factors can include lifestyle choices, genetic predispositions, and environmental exposures.
