Personal Health Ch 13

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is known as a(n)

oncologist

The small blood vessels that deliver blood to and pick blood up from tissues are

capillaries

The two large veins through which oxygen-poor blood travels into the right atrium are called the

vena cava

Weight gain in early adulthood increases a woman's risk for which two forms of cancer in particular?

endometrial and breast cancers

contributes to one-third of all cancer deaths

tobacco use

Techniques for early detection of prostate cancer include a digital rectal exam and

a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

In some cases, cervical dysplasia develops into

cervical cancer.

risk factors for prostate cancer

diet high in animal fat, older age, insulin resistance

When a coronary artery becomes blocked, the result is

a heart attack

The test that measures the electrical activity of the heart is called a(n)

electrocardiogram

common effects of a stroke

speech impairment, paralysis, memory loss

arrhythmia

irregular heartbeat

Factors that may contribute to the higher-than-average rate of cardiovascular disease among African Americans include

high rates of hypertension, lower blood vessel dilation during the stress response, heightened sensitivity to sodium

Besides various dietary sources, which organ in the body produces enough natural cholesterol to be considered a primary source?

the liver

High blood pressure is also known as

hypertension

When a malignant tumor spreads to sites distant from the primary tumor, the process is known as

metastasis

The most common form of cancer in women is ________ cancer; the most common cause of cancer death in women is ________

breast; lung

cardiovascular system (CVS)

The system that circulates blood through the body; consists of the heart and blood vessels.

pulmonary circulation

The part of the circulatory system controlled by the right side of the heart: the circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs.

systemic circulation

The part of the circulatory system controlled by the left side of the heart: the circulation of blood between the heart and the rest of the body.

vena cava

Either of two large veins (superior vena cava and inferior vena cava) through which blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart (plural, venae cavae).

ventricle

Either of the two lower chambers of the heart (left or right) that pump blood to the lungs and other parts of the body.

atrium

Either of the two upper chambers of the heart (left or right) in which blood collects before passing to the ventricles (plural, atria).

aorta

The largest artery in the body; receives blood from the left ventricle and distributes it to the body.

systole

The contraction phase of the heart.

diastole

The relaxation phase of the heart.

blood pressure

The force exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels; created by the pumping of the heart and the resistance of the blood vessels.

vein

A vessel that carries blood to the heart.

artery

A vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

capillary

A small blood vessel that exchanges oxygen and nutrients between the blood and the tissues.

venules

small vessels that gather blood from the capillaries into the veins

coronary artery

A blood vessel branching from the aorta that provides blood to the heart muscle.

What is atherosclerosis?

narrowing of the arteries by deposits of fat, cholesterol, and other substances

plaque

A deposit of fatty (and other) substances on the inner wall of an artery.

coronary heart disease (CHD)

Heart disease caused by atherosclerosis in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle; also called coronary artery disease (CAD).

peripheral artery disease

A form of peripheral vascular disease in which there is partial or total blockage of an artery, usually one leading to a leg or arm.

coronary artery disease

atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle

heart attack

Damage to, or death of, heart muscle, resulting from a failure of the coronary arteries to deliver enough blood to the heart; also known as myocardial infarction (MI).

myocardial infractions are

a significant cause of death in the US, especially among people aged 65 and over. The average age for the first one is 66 for men and 72 for women.

angina pectoris

Pain in the chest, and often in the left arm and shoulder, caused by the heart muscle not receiving enough oxygenated blood. The pain is usually brought on by exercise or stress.

how to control angina

drugs and medical procedures

sudden cardiac death (cardiac arrest)

A nontraumatic, unexpected death from sudden cardiac arrest, most often due to arrhythmia; in most instances, victims have underlying heart disease.

heart attacks tend to happen

within two hours of first onset symptoms

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

A technique involving mouth-to-mouth breathing and/or chest compressions to keep oxygen flowing to the brain.

many experts suggest that heart attack victims should

chew and swallow one adult aspirin tablet (325 mg)

heart attack warning signs or symptoms

chest pain or discomfort, upper body discomfort, shortness of breath.

They can start slowly and only cause mild pain. People with high blood sugar may have low or mild ones. Women are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, unusual tiredness (sometimes for days), and pain in the back, shoulders, and upper jaw.

Other symptoms include breaking out in cold sweats, lightheadedness, or sudden dizziness, or a change in the pattern of symptoms

stroke warning signs and symptoms

sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body

sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding

sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance and coordination

sudden severe headaches with no known cause

t-PA

short for tissue plasminogen activator; one of the first genetically engineered products to be sold; a naturally occurring enzyme that breaks down blood clots and clears blocked blood vessels

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Minor stroke; where neurological function is regained quickly with time. Have the same warning signs as strokes, though they usually last from 1-2 hours.

sudden cardiac arrest signs

the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly, so blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. The person usually becomes unresponsive and stops breathing, and if they do not receive treatment within minutes, death occurs. Usually its first sign is fainting and a lack of a pulse. Some may have a racing heartbeat or feel dizzy or lightheaded just before they faint. Within an hour before it, some people experience chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting

electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

A recording of the changes in electrical activity of the heart.

angiogram

A picture of the arterial system taken after injecting a dye that is opaque to X-rays.

balloon angioplasty

A technique in which a catheter with a deflated balloon on the tip is inserted into an artery; the balloon is then inflated at the point of obstruction in the artery, pressing the plaque against the artery wall to improve blood supply.

coronary bypass surgery

Surgery in which a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to a point below an obstruction in a coronary artery, improving the blood supply to the heart.

stroke

Impeded blood supply to some part of the brain, resulting in the destruction of brain cells; also called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

hemorrhagic stroke

occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures; also known as a bleed

ischemic stroke

a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked

subarachnoid hemorrhage

Bleeding into the subarachnoid space, where the cerebrospinal fluid circulates.

embolic stroke

a type of ischemic stroke that causes a clot to travel to the brain, mostly from the left side of the heart

intracerebral hemorrhage

bleeding into the brain as a result of a ruptured blood vessel within the brain

thrombotic stroke

type of stroke caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain

ischemic stroke

Impeded blood supply to the brain caused by a clot obstructing a blood vessel.

thrombus

A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel that has already been damaged by plaque buildup; the clot may lead to stroke.

embolus

A blood clot that breaks off from its place of origin in a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream.

aneurysm

A sac or outpouching formed by a distention or dilation of the artery wall.

effects of a stroke

paralysis, walking disability, speech impairment, memory loss, changes in behavior

detecting and treating a stroke

- detecting a stroke: CT and MRI scans, asking the person to smile, ask them to hold their arms and legs out, ask them to repeat a short sentence, ask if they feel a numbness or reduced sensation

- treating a stroke: clot-dissolving drugs, rehabilitations

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A small stroke; usually a temporary interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing numbness or difficulty with speech.

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Atherosclerosis in the arteries in the legs (or less commonly, the arms) that can impede blood flow and lead to pain, infection, and loss of the affected limb.

congestive heart failure

A condition resulting from the heart's inability to pump enough blood to keep up with the body's metabolic needs; blood backs up in the veins leading to the heart, causing an accumulation of fluid in various parts of the body.

pulmonary edema

The accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

congenital heart defect

A defect or malformation of the heart or its major blood vessels, present at birth.

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

An inherited condition in which there is an enlargement of the heart muscle, especially the muscle between the two ventricles.

rheumatic fever

A disease, mainly of children, characterized by fever, inflammation, and pain in the joints. It often damages the heart valves and muscle, a condition called rheumatic heart disease.

rheumatic heart disease

damage to the heart muscle or heart valves caused by one or more episodes of rheumatic fever

protection against cardiovascular disease

eat heart-healthy, limit consumption of trans fats and saturated fats, eat fiber, limit sugar, avoid tobacco, exercise regularly, manage blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and stress/anger

cancer

The abnormal, uncontrolled multiplication of cells.

benign tumor

A tumor that is not cancerous.

malignant tumor

A tumor that is capable of spreading and thus is cancerous.

lymphatic system

A system of vessels that returns proteins, lipids, and other substances from fluid in the tissues to the circulatory system.

biopsy

The removal of a small piece of body tissue to allow for microscopic examination; a needle biopsy uses a needle to remove a small sample of tissue, but some biopsies require surgery.

metastasis

The spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another.

primary tumor

original tumor; the source of metastasis

metastasize

the process by which cancer spreads from one place to another

secondary tumors/metastases

new types of tumors, originating at a site separate from the primary tumor

cancer stages

0: early cancer, present only where cells originated

1: tumor present, no perceived spread of disease; lesion operable, prog. good

2: localized spread of tumor; lesion operable, spread limited, usually responds well to tx

3: extensive evidence of a primary tumor that has spread to other organs; tumor can be surgically debulked but some cells may remain behind, deeper spread of tumor cells in lymphatics

4: inoperable primary lesion, multiple metastases, spread to another organs

remission

A period during the course of cancer in which there are no symptoms or other evidence of disease.

five-year survival rate

The percentage of patients diagnosed with a certain disease who will be alive five years after the date of diagnosis; used to estimate the prognosis of a particular disease.

Each year, how many Americans are diagnosed with cancer?

a little over 2 million

mutagen

Any environmental factor that can cause mutation, such as radiation and atmospheric chemicals.

Smoking is responsible for

1/3 of all cancer deaths, including 80-90% of lung cancer deaths.

phytochemical

A naturally occurring substance found in plant foods that may help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease; phyto means "plant."

carotenoid

Any of a group of yellow-to-red plant pigments that can be converted to vitamin A by the liver; many act as antioxidants or have other anticancer effects. The carotenoids include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin.

5% of cancer in men and 10% of cancer in women can be attributed to

excess body weight

Carcinogens in the Environment

Ingested chemicals

Environmental and industrial pollutants

Radiation

Microbes

15-20% of cancer in the world is caused by

microbes

Hepatitis B and C is linked to

80% of liver cancer

nitrates/nitrites

chemicals that make meat more appealing-looking, but should be consumed sparingly

particulate matter

Source: burning fossil fuels and diesel exhaust

Effect: reduces visibility & respiratory irritation

Reduction: filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy

Pap and HPV cytology test

can find abnormal cells