Health Psych Exam 3

basic biology/physiology of the eye

basic biology/physiology of the ear

glaucoma

• results from improper drainage of aqueous humor

• high intraocular pressure

• pressure issues with age are insidious (gradual way, but with harmful effects)

presbyopia

• farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, occurring typically in old age

• will need reading glasses

cataracts

• an opacity of the normally clear lens which may develop as a result of aging, metabolic disorders, trauma or heredity

• 65 million people are blind due to uncorrected cataracts

• intraocular implants used to replace a cataractous lens

refractive conditions

myopia - nearsightedness

hyperopia - farsightedness

astigmatism - distorted vision

presbyopia - age related vision loss

macular degeneration

most common cause of blindness in USA

diabetic retinopathy

• high blood sugar weakening vessels

• increasing incidence, common bad side effect of diabetes

tinnitus

ringing in one or both ears (15-20% relevance)

masking

often brain based

otitis media

middle ear infection

presbycusis

slow, progressive loss of hearing in both ears

occurs with aging

sensorineural hearing loss

damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve

prevents sound signals from reaching the brain

irreversible, damage to hair cells in inner ear

conduction hearing loss

sound is blocked from reaching inner ear, due to outer or middle ear issues

common cause: earwax buildup, fluid, infections

ototoxicity

some drugs elevate sensitivity to hair cell damage

cochlear implants

electronic transduction replaces hair cells

epidermis

1st degree of skin

melanocytes cells that make melanin - in the bottom layer of epidermis

dermis

2nd degree of skin

Mechanical stimulation is coded based on receptor type and placement

subcutaneous fat

bacteria that target hypodermis

influenced by age

cellulite is clumps of fat

necrotizing fasciitis eats this

dermatome

peripheral nervous system

fibral myalgia

muscle pain

contact dermatitis

common, non contagious skin rash caused by direct contact with irritants or allergens

alopecia

hair loss

rickets

disease caused by lack of vitamin D

shingles

manifest in area of a dermatome caused by herpes zoster infection of a dorsal root

bed sores

pressure ulcer arising from hypodermis

cafe au lait spots

neurofibromatosis - birth marks

vitiligo

1% autoimmune, melanocytes

gate control mechanism

mechanism in the spinal cord’s substantia gelatinosa that acts as a gate, increasing or reducing pain signals traveling to the brain

nociceptors

another type of sensory receptor that signal pain and temperature

signal temperature

acupuncture

works by closing gate though overstimulation

referred pain

Pain from internal viscera is referred to the surface of the skin

phantom limb sensations

often experienced as pain

this is due to cortical reorganization

mirror therapy to prevent cortical restructuring

Approx. 60-80% of individuals with an amputation experience these in their amputated limb, and the majority of the sensations are painful  

hypertrophy

increase in muscle cell size

Substance P

= pain

functions as a key mediator of pain signaling

PAG-periaqueductal gray

descending central pain pathway

TENs

transcutaneous electrical nerve, stimulation uses a similar mechanism  

endorphins

brain makes its own pain relieving drug

internal opiates

alzheimer’s (type of dementia)

• 60% - 70%

• plaques and tangles (tau protein) are still the hallmark histological sign

• excessive senile plaque (beta-amyloid)

• Amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene and presenilin can cause early onset of this

Two major types of drugs are used to treat this (often in combination):

1) cholinesterase inhibitors (interfere with the breakdown of AcH) 

• Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne 

2) NMDA receptor antagonist 

• Namenda 

Damaged brain cells release excess glutamate (excitotoxicity) 

frontotemporal dementia

• 10%

• Atrophy and reduced metabolism targets the frontal and temporal lobe 

vascular dementia

• multi-infarct (15% - 20%)

• Symptoms often appear suddenly after a stroke

• a decline in thinking skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain, robbing cells of oxygen

Lewy body dementia

• 5%

• abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein

dementia characteristics

dementia prevalence

dementia etiology

conditions that mimic dementia

• medications - 20-50% of Americans over 65 years take at least one anticholinergic medication

• normal pressure hydrocephalus - called "normal pressure" because despite the excess fluid, CSF pressure as measured during a spinal tap is often normal. 

• infections (eg. urinary tract infections) -Build up of bad bacteria in bladder, ureters/urethra, kidneys 

Present differently in older people (i.e., they often do not cause high fever and pain during urination) 

Older individuals have sudden memory problems, confusion, delirium, dizziness, agitation or even hallucination 

familial dysautonomia

genetic disorder characterized by lack of nociceptors