CH 9.5 Disease Factors, and Stress Responses

What are some potential benefits of therapy for immunodeficiencies?

Therapeutic benefits may exist, but prolonged use can lead to other diseases.

What is a common idiosyncratic reaction to antibiotics?

Bone marrow suppression.

What factors can decrease white blood cell and lymphocyte function?

Physical or mental stress.

What is one treatment option for immunodeficiencies?

Intravenous gamma globulin.

What is bone marrow transplantation used for?

It is used in persons with acquired causes of immunodeficiency.

What are the four main factors that can cause disease?

Genetic, environmental, age-related, and sex-associated factors.

What are genetic factors?

Factors present at birth that are passed through genes to future generations.

What are some examples of environmental factors that can contribute to disease?

Microorganisms, personal habits, exposure to chemicals, and psychosocial environment.

What is an example of an anatomic cause of disease?

Malrotation of the colon.

What is a causal risk factor?

Factors that can directly cause a disease to develop.

What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?

Incidence is the number of new cases in a population; prevalence is the total number of cases in a population at a given time.

What does morbidity refer to?

The presence of disease or the incidence/prevalence of a disease.

What is the definition of mortality in a medical context?

The number of deaths from a disease in a given population, expressed as a proportion.

What is an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance?

A pattern where a person needs to inherit two copies of a particular gene to show that trait.

What is an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance?

A pattern where a person needs to inherit only one copy of a particular gene to show that trait.

What are immunologic disorders characterized by?

Either hyperactivity or hypoactivity of the immune system.

What is asthma?

A chronic inflammatory condition resulting in intermittent wheezing and excess mucus production.

What is the major risk factor for lung cancer?

Cigarette smoking.

What are the early symptoms of breast cancer?

Small painless lump, thick or dimpled skin, change in nipple.

What is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women?

Colorectal cancer.

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Excessive thirst and urination, weight abnormalities, and excessive glucose in urine and blood.

What is hemophilia?

An inherited disorder characterized by excessive bleeding, predominantly occurring in males.

What is hemochromatosis?

An inherited disease where the body absorbs more iron than it needs, leading to various health issues.

What is Long QT syndrome?

A cardiac conduction system abnormality resulting in a prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG.

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

A condition characterized by excessive thickening of the heart muscle, which can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and syncope.

What are common symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, or syncope.

What is the treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Treatment may include beta blockers, surgery, or an implantable cardiac defibrillator.

What is mitral valve prolapse (MVP)?

A condition where the mitral valve leaflets balloon into the left atrium during systole, often benign and asymptomatic.

What is a potential complication of mitral valve prolapse?

It may lead to mitral regurgitation, where blood leaks backward through the defective valve.

What are the symptoms of mitral regurgitation?

Patients may feel tired or short of breath.

What is coronary heart disease?

A condition typically caused by occluded coronary arteries due to atherosclerotic plaque buildup.

What are common risk factors for coronary heart disease?

Risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, hypertension, age, and diabetes.

What is hypertension and its associated risks?

Hypertension is high blood pressure associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.

What are common risk factors for hypertension?

Risk factors include age, race, sex, family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, diet, and stress.

What is gout?

A condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of uric acid, leading to pain and swelling in joints.

What are kidney stones?

Small masses of uric acid or calcium salts that form in the urinary system, often causing severe pain.

What are the four main types of kidney stones?

Calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine.

What are malabsorption disorders?

Conditions caused by defects in the bowel wall that prevent normal absorption of nutrients.

What is lactose intolerance?

A defect or deficiency in the enzyme lactase, leading to inability to digest lactose.

What is ulcerative colitis?

A chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine and rectum, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea.

What is Crohn disease?

A chronic inflammatory condition affecting one or more areas of the GI tract, often the terminal part of the small intestine.

What is peptic ulcer disease?

Circumscribed erosions in the mucous membrane lining of the gastrointestinal tract, often associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

What are gallstones?

Stonelike masses in the gallbladder or its ducts caused by precipitation of substances in bile.

What is obesity?

An unhealthy accumulation of body fat, defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater.

What are the health risks associated with obesity?

Health risks include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

What is Huntington disease?

A hereditary condition characterized by progressive chorea and mental deterioration, leading to dementia.

What is muscular dystrophy?

A group of hereditary diseases characterized by weakness and wasting of skeletal muscles, leading to increasing disability.

What is characterized by weakness and wasting of skeletal muscles?

Muscular dystrophy

What type of muscular dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive disease affecting only males?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

What is the nature of multiple sclerosis?

A progressive disease where the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers becomes damaged.

What are common symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

Abnormal sensations, weakness, visual disturbances, ataxia, abnormal reflexes, tremors, difficulty urinating, and walking.

Is multiple sclerosis directly inherited?

No, but there may be familial predisposition.

What causes Alzheimer's disease?

The cause is unknown, but it results in cortical atrophy and neuron loss.

What are early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Memory loss, lack of spontaneity, subtle personality changes, and disorientation.

What are advanced symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Indifference to food, inability to communicate, urinary and fecal incontinence, and seizures.

What is schizophrenia?

A group of mental disorders characterized by distortions of reality and withdrawal from social contacts.

What characterizes bipolar disorder?

Episodes of mania and depression.

What is stress in medical terms?

A wide range of strong external stimuli that can cause a physiological response.

What are the three concepts related to physiological stress?

The stressor, its effects on the body, and the body's response to the stress.

What is the general adaptation syndrome?

A three-stage reaction to stressors identified by Hans Selye.

What happens during the alarm stage of stress response?

The body releases catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine.

What is the role of cortisol during the resistance stage of stress?

It increases energy production, serum glucose levels, and reduces inflammation.

What occurs during the exhaustion stage of stress?

Adrenal glands become depleted, leading to decreased stress tolerance and illness.

What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?

A major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress.

What are some effects of chronic stress on the immune system?

Suppression of the immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to disease.

What are some conditions related to chronic stress?

Depression, headaches, insomnia, ulcers, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

What coping mechanisms can help manage stress?

Psychotherapy, medication, and positive influences that restore hope and self-esteem.

What is the impact of ineffective coping mechanisms on stress?

They can lead to deleterious effects on immune status.

What is the role of endorphins in stress response?

They reduce pain and stress.

How does stress affect testosterone levels?

High cortisol levels lead to low testosterone levels.

What is the effect of stress on the body's ability to fight disease?

It causes the body to lose its ability to fight disease.

What is the significance of the anterior pituitary gland in stress response?

It releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) that targets the adrenal cortex.

What are glucocorticoids?

Corticosteroid hormones that increase blood glucose levels and maintain blood pressure.