Common Health Problems

Common Health Problems: Chapter 40

Cancer

  • Definition:

    • Benign Tumors:

    • Do not spread to other body parts.

    • Can grow to a large size, but rarely threaten life.

    • Malignant Tumors (Cancer):

    • Invade and destroy nearby tissue.

    • Can spread to other body parts.

    • May be life-threatening.

    • Metastasis:

    • The spread of cancer to other body parts.

    • Cancer cells break off the tumor and travel to other body parts.

    • New tumors grow in other body parts.

  • Key Risk Factors:

    • Age: The most important unavoidable risk factor for cancer.

Musculo-Skeletal Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Disorders that affect movement.

  • Types of Musculo-Skeletal Disorders:

    • Arthritis: Joint inflammation.

    • Osteoarthritis:

      • Most common type of arthritis, degenerative joint disease.

    • Leads to pain and decreased mobility.

    • Often associated with aging.

    • Cartilage breakdown occurs.

    • Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness.

    • Treatments may include medications and physical therapy.

    • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):

      • Chronic inflammatory disease.

      • Affects joints and other organs.

    • Fracture:

    • Definition: A broken bone.

    • Osteoporosis:

    • The bone becomes porous and brittle leading to increased fracture risk.

    • Often asymptomatic until a fracture occurs.

    • Risk factors include age, gender, and lifestyle.

    • Amputation:

    • Removal of all or part of an extremity.

    • Monitor for phantom pain in the remaining extremity.

    • Weather Impact:

    • Pain and stiffness may worsen in cold or damp weather.

Nervous System Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Disorders that can affect mental and physical function.

  • Types of Nervous System Disorders:

    • Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident [CVA]):

    • Can lead to impaired mobility and speech.

    • Immediate assistance is necessary for ambulation.

    • Parkinson’s Disease:

    • Patients exhibit a shuffling gait.

    • Involves motor control due to neuron loss.

    • Symptoms include tremors and rigidity.

    • Multiple Sclerosis (MS):

    • Chronic disease affecting the central nervous system.

    • Symptoms can vary widely, including fatigue and coordination issues.

    • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS):

    • Affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness.

    • Can result in paralysis over time.

    • Head Injuries (Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI]):

    • Can lead to cognitive and physical impairments.

    • Spinal Cord Injuries:

    • Can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia based on the injury site.

    • Impact on lower extremity function includes paraplegia (loss of lower limb function).

Cardiovascular Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Problems that occur in the heart or blood vessels.

  • Common Cardiovascular Disorders:

    • Hypertension:

    • Definition: Elevated blood pressure.

    • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):

    • Reduced blood flow to the heart.

    • Angina Pectoris:

    • Medical term for chest pain, pressure, or discomfort.

    • If symptoms are experienced, call for a nurse immediately.

    • Myocardial Infarction (MI):

    • Also known as a heart attack.

    • Symptoms can include chest pain and difficulty breathing.

    • Heart Failure:

    • Condition where the heart muscle loses its strength and can't pump effectively.

Respiratory Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Disorders that interfere with the respiratory system's function of bringing oxygen (O2) into the lungs and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body.

  • Types of Respiratory Disorders:

    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):

    • Symptoms include shortness of breath.

    • Patients should be positioned upright.

    • Chronic Bronchitis:

    • Inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

    • Asthma:

    • Patients should avoid smoking.

    • Characterized by episodes of airway constriction.

    • Sleep Apnea:

    • Interrupted breathing during sleep.

    • Influenza:

    • Viral illness impacting the respiratory system.

    • Pneumonia:

    • Infection causing inflammation in the lungs.

    • Tuberculosis (TB):

    • Serious infectious disease affecting lungs and other parts of the body.

Digestive Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Disorders that affect the digestive system's ability to break down food into nutrients for the body to absorb.

  • Common Digestive Disorders:

    • Vomiting:

    • Ejection of stomach contents through the mouth.

    • Diverticular Disease:

    • Pockets that form in the colon wall.

    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):

    • Includes Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.

    • Hepatitis:

    • Inflammation of the liver, caused by viral infection.

    • Cirrhosis:

    • Chronic liver damage leading to scarring and liver failure.

Urinary System Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Disorders affecting urinary system structures: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

  • Common Urinary Disorders:

    • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):

    • Women are more prone due to shorter urethra.

    • Prostate Enlargement:

    • May obstruct urinary flow in men.

    • Kidney Stones (Calculi):

    • Patients may have an order to strain the urine to collect stones.

    • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):

    • May lead to the need for kidney dialysis, where a machine cleans impurities from blood.

Reproductive System Disorders

  • Definition:

    • Aging and other factors (injury, disease, surgeries) affect reproductive structures and function.

  • Common Issues:

    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):

    • Passed from person to person through sexual contact.

    • Also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

    • Infection sites include genitals, rectum, mouth, and throat.

Endocrine System Disorders

  • Definition:

    • The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones affecting other organs and glands.

  • Common Endocrine Disorder:

    • Diabetes:

    • The most common endocrine disorder.

    • The body cannot produce or use insulin properly, leading to high blood glucose levels.

    • Insufficient insulin results in sugar buildup in the blood, potentially causing a coma.

    • Low blood glucose can lead to symptoms such as drowsiness and sweating due to energy deficiency.

    • Foot Care for Diabetic Patients:

    • Important to maintain daily foot care to prevent complications.

    • Ensure no lotion between the toes and that they are kept dry, especially between the toes.

Immune System Disorders

  • Definition:

    • The immune system protects the body from harmful microbes and substances, including cancer cells.

  • Types of Autoimmune Disorders:

    • When the immune system attacks the body’s own normal cells, tissues, or organs.

    • Celiac Disease:

      • Immune reaction to gluten.

    • Symptoms can include bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue.

    • Treatment involves a strict gluten-free diet.

    • Graves’ Disease:

      • Causes overactivity of the thyroid gland.

    • Symptoms can include anxiety, weight loss, and heat intolerance.

    • Treatment may require medications, radioactive iodine, or surgery.

    • Hashimoto’s Disease:

      • Causes underactivity of the thyroid gland.

      • Symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance.

    • Treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

    • Lupus:

      • Systemic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs.

    • Symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue.

    • Treatment aims at symptom control and managing flares.

    • Rheumatoid Arthritis:

      • Inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting joints.

      • Treatment options include medications, physical therapies, and lifestyle modifications.

    • Multiple Sclerosis:

      • Affects the nervous system.

      • Treatment can include corticosteroids and medications to manage symptoms.

    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

      • Includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

      • Treatments may involve dietary changes and medications.

    • Type 1 Diabetes:

      • Body does not produce insulin.

      • Requires insulin therapy for management.

Skin Disorders

  • Shingles (Herpes Zoster):

    • Caused by the same virus as chickenpox.

    • The virus can lie dormant in nerve tissue and reactivate later in life.

    • Risk Factors for Shingles:

    • Age over 50.

    • History of chickenpox.

    • Weakened immune system.

    • Treatment:

    • The doctor may prescribe anti-viral drugs and pain relief medications.

    • A vaccine is available to prevent shingles.