Mechanisms of Disease, Diagnosis, and Treatment

• Homeostasis is disrupted by fluid imbalance, electrolyte imbalance, and excessive acidity or alkalinity

Inflammation

Acute Inflammation: In response to destroyed body tissue (Phagocytic by WBC’s to prevent infection)

Infection

• Mode of transmission involves direct or indirect physical contact, inhalation or droplet nuclei, ingestion on contaminated foods, or inoculation by an insect or animal (Bacteria, viruses, fungi, Protozoa)

• Normally fought off by:

◦ Natural barriers (Skin/pH)

◦ Inflammatory response

◦ The immune response

Genetic Diseases

• Caused by

◦ Mutation in genetic code

◦ Polygenic diseases

◦ Abnormal absence/presence of a chromosome

◦ Alteration in structure

• Mutations in genes can be spotted through genetic counseling

Cancer

Carcinoma: Cancer of the epithelial cells

Sarcoma: Cancer of the supportive tissues

Lymphoma: Cancer in the lymph nodes and tissues of the immune system

Leukemia: Cancer of WBC’s

• Benign tumors slowly develop, are not invasive, can result in compression of tissue or obstruction of organs and also resemble tissue of origin.

• Malignant tumors are much more fatal, have rapid growth, lead to tumors carried by the blood such as “metastases” making it the cancer more difficult to remove, abnormal looking.

• Grade:

◦ Well-Differentiated - Low grade tumor cells still retain features of origin tissue cells

◦ Poorly differentiated - More abnormal in appearance do not represent tissue of origin

◦ High-Grade - Divide more and are associated with poorer survival (TELOMERES)

◦ Graded 1-5 (Well to Poor)

• Chemotherapy stops cell division attacking the rapidly dividing cells

Immune Disorders

• Breakdown in the body’s defenses that may generate hypersensitivity (allergy), autoimmune diseases or immunodeficiency disorders

• The allergen (Antigen) stimulates IgE antibodies and triggers an allergic response releasing histamine

Autoimmune Diseases: Body mistakes self-antigens as foreign and attacks itself

Immunodeficiency: Depressed or absent immune response (Damage to the immune system)

Diagnosis of Disease:

1. Patient’s Medical History is looked at to determine an individual treatment plan

2. Methodical physical examination (Signs of Disease)

3. Diagnostic tests and laboratory tests (Test blood and urine for imbalancesO

Treatment of Disease

1. When diagnosis is established, plan of treatment is implemented to directly be relegated to an identified expect outcome

2. Implement treatment plan and give patient choice in treatment

3. Holistic Medicine (Focus on the patient’s mental well-being in order for treatment for optimal health)

Pain

• The Result of tissue insult from noxious stimuli

◦ Temperature Extremes

◦ Mechanical Damage

◦ Dissolved Chemicals

• Cerebral Cortex interprets pain and can lead to psychological pain

Acute Pain: Sudden and severe intensity (Short) | Can lead to vascular collapse and shock due to severe pain

Chronic Pain: Less severe, greater than 6 months, pain from inflammatory conditions can lead to insomnia | Normally treated with NSAIDs

Nontraditional Medicine

Complementary Medicine: Normally used to lessen discomfort during surgery; paired with conventional medicine

Alternative Medicine: Used in place of conventional medicine; using a special diet to treat cancer instead of what has been recommended by a doctor

◦ Chiropractic Medicine

◦ Aromatherapy (Essential Oils😭)

◦ Herbs

◦ Diet/Nutrition

◦ Acupuncture

◦ Hypnosis

◦ Relaxation/Prayer

◦ Muscle Therapy