Diseases/Conditions

Hyperglycemia

High levels of blood glucose

Hypoglycemia

Low levels of blood glucose

Glycosuria

Presence of glucose in the urine

Polyuria

Excessive urine volume/production, caused by inadequate or abnormal insulin or defective insulin receptors

Polydipsia

Excessive thirst

Polyphagia

Excessive eating

Type 1 Diabetes (insulin-dependent)

- Inadequate insulin production by pancreatic beta cells.

- Patients require daily injections or continuous infusion of insulin.

- Usually develops in children and young adults (under 20 y/o)

Type 2 Diabetes (insulin-independent)

- Most common form; Usually, normal amounts of insulin are produced, at least initially, but tissues do not respond properly because of faulty receptors (insulin resistance)

- Associated with obesity; Adult onset

- Treatment consists of weight loss and medication 

- Drug stimulates secretion of insulin by beta cells

Addison’s disease

Hyposecretion of glucocorticoids & aldosterone

- Hypoglycemia, muscle weakness, low BP, dehydration due to decreased Na+ in blood 

- Mimics skin darkening effects of MSH 

- Potential cardiac arrest

Cushing’s Syndrome

Hypersecretion of glucocorticoids

- Redistribution of fat, spindly arms & legs due to muscle loss 

- Wound healing is poor, bruise easily, fragile skin (purple striae)

- Rapid weight gain & High BP

Cretinism

Hyposecretion of thyroid hormones during infancy

- Dwarfism (poor physical growth) & retardation (impaired brain development)

Hypothyroidism (in adult)

Produces sensitivity to cold, low body temp, weight gain & mental dullness

Hyperthyroidism caused by Grave’s disease (autoimmune disease)

- Weight loss, nervousness, tremor & exophthalmos (edema behind eyes → protruding eyes) 

- High metabolic rate & body temperature

Goiter

Enlarged thyroid (due to iodine deficiency)

Hyposecretion (during childhood) of growth hormone

Pituitary dwarfism

  + Body remains proportional

  + Childlike body

Hypersecretion (during childhood) of growth hormone

Giantism: Very tall & normal proportions

Hypersecretion (as adult) of growth hormone

Acromegaly → Enlarged hands, feet, facial features & thickening of skin 

Anemia

- Blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen, due to low Hct and Hb content in RBC

- Fatigue, cold intolerance & paleness because lack of O2 for ATP & heat production

Hemoglobinuria

Red or brown urine due to high Hb content (abnormally high hemolysis)

Hematuria

RBCs in urine due to kidney or blood vessel damage

Leukopenia

Abnormally low WBC count

Leukocytosis

Abnormally high WBC count

Leukemia

Extremely high WBC count

Acute leukemia

Uncontrolled production of immature leukocytes

Chronic leukemia

Accumulation of mature WBC in bloodstream because they do not die.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)

Condition when mother is Rh- and baby is Rh+, where the mother’s antibodies attack and destroy the baby’s red blood cells.

Hemophilia A

Most common; Lacks factor VIII; Males only

Hemophilia B

Lacks factor IX; Males only

Hemophilia C

Lacks factor XI; Males and Females

Iron-deficiency anemia

Lack of absorption or loss of iron → less hemoglobin made

Pernicious anemia

Lack of intrinsic factor → poor vitamin B12 absorption

Hemorrhagic anemia

Blood loss (bleeding/ulcer) → RBC loss

Hemolytic anemia

Defects in cell membranes → RBCs are destroyed/rupture too quickly

Thalassemia

- Hereditary deficiency of Hb

- Deficiency of alpha or beta, or both chains of Hb (whole chain missed) 

- RBCs are fragile & short-lived

Sickle cell anemia

- Mutation on β-chain of Hb (Glutamic acid → Valine)

- Creates abnormal hemoglobin (HbS)

- At low O2 levels, RBCs can become sickle-shaped, rigid, and fragile → anemia & clots (blood vessel blockage & cause pain) 

- Found among populations in malaria belt: Mediterranean Europe, sub-Saharan Africa & Asia 

- Person with only 1 sickle cell gene (recessive carrier) → increased resistance to malaria because RBC membranes leak K+ and lowered levels of K+ kill parasite infecting RBC

Aplastic anemia

Destruction of bone marrow (radiation/toxins) → fails to produce enough blood cells

Diabetes insipidus

Characterized by excessive thirst, urination and dehydration due to low ADH level

Pericarditis

Inflammation of pericardium caused by infection with pathogens (streptococcus)

Inflamed pericardial surfaces become rough, thicker → rub against each other → produce distinctive scratching sound as heart beats (friction rub)

May cause cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade

A dangerous condition where too much fluid or blood builds up in the pericardial cavity and compresses the heart → restricts heart movement & pain

Valvular Heart Disease (VHD)

- Deterioration of valve function (cannot be closed completely) due to

   + Substance abuse, lack of exercise, genetic or hereditary reasons

   + Damages of papillary muscles, chordae tendineae or valves.

   + Major reason: Heart inflammation (carditis) which is resulted from rheumatic fever–inflammatory autoimmune response to streptococcal bacteria (gram-positive spherical bacteria–streptococcus)

- Mitral/bicuspid valve is most commonly affected

- Symptoms

   + Backflow (regurgitation) of blood from ventricle to atrium, or aorta to LV, or pulmonary trunk to RV. 

   + Abnormal heart sound (murmur) when blood leaks through a damaged valve 

   + Shortness of breath (insufficient blood pumped by LV → ↓ O2).