Hsb Project

JESSICA FRANK
FORM 4
HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY PROJECT
DISEASES AND ITS IMPACT ON HUMANS
BISHOP ANSTEY HIGH SHOOL EAST
MISS BACCUS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Define the terms ‘good health’ and ‘diseases’
The classification of the different types of diseases
Define communication/infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases/chronic/degenerative diseases.

1. Define the terms ‘good health’ and ‘diseases’.

GOOD HEALTH:
Good health is not only about not being ill, it is about being happy and feeling whole from a physical, mental and spiritual point of view. Being healthy means taking care of ourselves to prevent any illnesses and to change our attitude when we need to heal or get better after the illness. So basically it is the state of being vigorous and free from bodily or mental disease

DISEASES
A disorder of structure or function in a living organism, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. An unusual condition of an organism which interrupts the normal bodily functions that often leads to feeling of pain and weakness, and usually associated with symptoms and signs, resulting in extreme pain, dysfunction, distress, or death.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISEASES

DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ‘SIGNS’ AND ‘SYMPTOMS’. Definition of a sign
A sign is an objective evidence of disease especially as observed and understood by the doctor rather than by the patient

Definition of a Symptom
A symptom is a subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance observed by the patient. Example a headache is a symptom of many diseases.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

SIGNS
SYMPTOMS
Signs are what the doctor sees.
These are what a patient experiences.
Signs are the physical appearance of diseases.
Symptoms are what a patient experiences about the disease.
Signs are objective.
Symptoms are subjective

ASTHMA
First let us discuss what asthma is
Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by attacks of seizure in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It is usually connected to allergic reaction or other forms of sensitivity. People who suffer from this chronic condition are said to be asthmatic.
The Main Causes of Asthma
The inside walls of an asthmatic's airways are said to be swollen. This swelling makes the airways very sensitive to irritations and increases your weakness to an allergic reaction.

1. Allergies
Almost all asthma sufferers have allergies. Allergic reactions triggered in the blood often lead to the airway swelling that is related with asthma.

2. Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke has been linked to a higher risk of asthma as well as a higher risk of death due to asthma, wheezing, and respiratory infections.

3. Environmental Factors
Allergic reactions and asthma symptoms are often the result of indoor air pollution from toxic fumes from household cleaners and paints. Other indoor environmental factors associated with asthma include nitrogen oxide from gas stoves.

4. Pollution, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, cold temperatures, and high humidity have all been shown to trigger asthma in some individuals.

5. Obesity are being overweight adults are more likely to have asthma compared to adults who are not overweight. Obese adults have twice the risk of asthma.

6. Stress
People who endure stress have higher asthma rates. Part of this may be explained by increases in asthma-related behaviours such as smoking that are encouraged by stress.

THE PRIMARY SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA
Common asthma symptoms include:
Coughing, especially at night
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness, pain, or pressure

POSSIBLE TREATMENT OF ASTHMA
Early and aggressive asthma treatment is the key to relieving symptoms and preventing asthma attacks
Asthma Medications can work quickly to stop coughing and wheezing.
Asthma Inhalers contain medications that help control inflammation, which can help prevent flashes and keep symptoms from getting worse.
Steroids & Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Bronchodilators: Airway Openers
Asthma Nebulizer (Breathing Machine) can deliver medication to the youngest and oldest asthma patients.
Bronchial Thermoplastic for Asthma is a treatment for severe asthma. The procedure uses gentle heat to shrink the smooth muscles in your lungs.
Air Filters and Asthma work to reduce allergens that trigger your sneezing and wheezing.

HOW DOES ASTHMA AFFECT THE RESPIRATORY AREA?
Asthma causes a narrowing of the breathing airways, which interferes with the normal movement of air in and out of the lungs. Asthma involves only the bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs or the lung tissue. The narrowing that occurs in asthma is caused by three major factors: inflammation, bronchospasm, and hyperreactivity.

Inflammation The first and most important factor causing narrowing of the bronchial tubes is inflammation. The bronchial tubes become red, irritated, and swollen. This inflammation increases the thickness of the wall of the bronchial tubes and thus results in a smaller passageway for air to flow through. The inflammation occurs in response to an allergen or irritant and results from the action of chemical mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, and others). The inflamed tissues produce an excess amount of "sticky" mucus into the tubes. The mucus can clump together and form "plugs" that can clog the smaller airways. Specialized allergy and inflammation cells (eosinophils and white blood cells) accumulate at the site and cause tissue damage. These damaged cells are shed into the airways, thereby contributing to the narrowing.

Bronchospasm The muscles around the bronchial tubes tighten during an attack of asthma. This muscle constriction of the airways is called bronchospasm. Bronchospasm causes the airway to narrow further. Chemical mediators and nerves in the bronchial tubes cause the muscles to constrict. Bronchospasm can occur in all humans and can be brought on by inhaling cold or dry air.

Hyperreactivity (hypersensitivity) In patients with asthma, the chronically inflamed and constricted airways become highly sensitive, or reactive, to triggers such as allergens, irritants, and infections. Exposure to these triggers may result in progressively more inflammation and narrowing.

The combination of these three factors results in difficulty with breathing out, or exhaling. As a result, the air needs to be forcefully exhaled to overcome the narrowing, thereby causing the typical "wheezing" sound. People with asthma also frequently "cough" in an attempt to expel the thick mucus plugs. Reducing the flow of air may result in less oxygen passing into the bloodstream, and if very severe, carbon dioxide may dangerously accumulate in the blood.

https://www.google.tt/search?q=asthma&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=I9DbU9bwNtTtoASMtoGwDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=635#imgdii=_ http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/symptom http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/asthma/ http://www.onhealth.com/asthma/page4.htm