Chapter 12 Notes

Chapter 12 Managing Chronic Conditions

Principles of Personal Health

I. Genetic/Inherited Conditions

A. Introduction

1. Chronic conditions- develop slowly and persist for extended periods of time

2. Acute conditions- conditions with a sudden onset and a prompt resolution

B. Abnormal Number of Sex Chromosomes

1. At conception an ovum (23 chromosomes) is penetrated by a sperm (23 chromosomes) to make a human cell that contains 46 chromosomes

2. Two are sex chromosomes (X from mother, X or Y from father)

3. Klinefelter’s Syndrome

a. Condition in which an abnormal number of sex chromosomes is present

b. Cannot be cured

4. Turner’s Syndrome- Occurs in females when one of the two X chromosomes is missing

5. Supermasculinity- Males possess more than a single Y chromosome

C. Abnormal Number of Autosomes

1. Down Syndrome

a. Someone with Down syndrome has an additional chromosome

b. The functional abilities and life span of people with Down syndrome have increased

D. Inherited Genetic Mutations

1. Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

a. Disruption in the function of the exocrine glands

b. CF presents the following symptoms:

~ Poor growth

~ Frequent, foul-smelling stools

~ Chronic coughing and wheezing

~ Recurrent pneumonia

~ Nasal polyps

~ Enlarged fingertips

~ Skin that has a salty taste

c. CF is an incurable, life-shortening disease

2. Tay-Sachs Disease

a. A fatal disorder in which children show signs of neurological abnormality by 6 months of age

b. The child dies at about 5 years of age

3. Sickle-Cell Train/Disease

a. Hemoglobin helps combine oxygen to red blood cells

b. Two forms of hemoglobin associated with Sickle-Cell:

~ Trait form- The individual does not have the disease but can transmit it

~ Disease form- leads to a shortened life with pain and impairment

c. African-Americans can possess either form

E. Sex Chromosome-Linked Inherited Genetic Mutations

1. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

a. Genetic mutations located on a maternal (X) sex chromosome

b. Muscle fibers lack the ability to produce a protein necessary for muscular function

c. Skeletal muscles deteriorate

d. Most with this condition die in their twenties

f. Symptoms are usually not apparent until after age two

g. The course of this disease is irreversible

h. In rare cases, muscular dystrophy is seen in females

II. Congenital Abnormalities

A. Introduction

1. Abnormalities that are present at birth

2. Congenital Abnormalities do not involve abnormal genetic material

3. A condition caused by the inappropriate development of an embryonic structure

B. Clubfoot

1. Among the most common congenital abnormalities- Thefoot is turned so that the heel points inward and the rest of the foot points inward and downward

2. The specific causes are unknown

C. Clef Palate and Clef Lip

1. Failure of the upper lip to fuse results in a split or cleft lip

2. Failure of the roof of the mouth to fuse causes cleft palate

3. The cause of these conditions is unknown

4. Surgery is recommended to correct both conditions

D. Spina Bifida

1. Condition caused by incomplete closure of the neural tube

2. Screening for Spina Bifida is recommended when any of the following risk factors is present: Family history of condition, nutritional or environmental deprivation, use of drugs

3. Folic acid consumed daily before pregnancy and during the first trimester greatly reduces the risk of spina bifida

E. Patent Foramen Ovale

1. A hole divides the upper right chamber of the heart from the upper left chamber

2. At birth, the hole is normally closed by a small flap of tissue

3. A patent foramen ovale may leak and cause a heart murmur

F. Scoliosis (Abnormal lateral spinal curvatures)

1. Likely to become more severe without treatment

2. If not corrected, the spinal column may rotate

3. This causes noticeable postural problems

4. Treatment is the key to preventing problems:

a. Do nothing

b. Use a brace

c. Undergo surgery

III. Metabolic Disorders

A. Caused by the body’s inability to control chemical processes that regulate building and tearing down of tissue

B. Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

1. The body’s need for energy is met through the burning of glucose within the cells

2. After being absorbed from the digestive tract, glucose is carried to the cells by the blood

3. The hormone Insulin is required for the conversion of glucose into glycogen

4. The release of insulin corresponds to changing levels of glucose in the blood

5. Hyperglycemia- The condition of having an abnormally high blood glucose level

6. For many adults dietary modification and regular exercise is the only treatment required to main glucose levels

7. Weight loss Improves the condition

C. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

1. The body produces no insulin at all

2 Requires the use of insulin from an outside source (animals or genetically engineered)

3. The onset of this type diabetes usually occurs before age 35 (most often during childhood)

D. Hypoglycemia- The condition of having an abnormally low blood glucose level

E. Lactose Intolerance

1. People lose the ability to produce a digestive enzyme, lactase

2. lactase must be present to convert milk sugar into glucose

3. The result is gastric discomfort when dairy products are consumed

4. Can be treated with products that contain lactase

5. These are available in drug stores without a Prescription

F. PKU (Phenylketonuria)

1. An inherited inability to produce an enzyme needed to convert the amino acid phenylalanine into tyrosine

2. Phenylalanine accumulates in the body causing toxic effects on the nervous system

IV. Degenerative Disease

A. Asthma

1. Attacks of breathlessness and wheezing caused by narrowing of the bronchioles

2. Two main types of asthma:

a. Extrinsic asthma- Allergens produce sudden bronchoconstriction that narrows the airways

b. Intrinsic asthma- Caused by stress or respiratory tract infections

3. When an attack occurs people use an inhaler to deliver bronchodilator drugs which restore normal breathing

B. Crohn’s Disease

1. Deterioration of the inner surface and muscular layer of the intestinal wall

2. Crohn’s disease is treated with the drug Sulfasalazine

C. Lupus

1. Caused by an attack by the body’s immune system on its own tissues

2. Management involves the use of nonsterodial anti-inflammatory drugs

D. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

1. For proper nerve conduction to occur an insulating sheath of myelin must surround the neurons

2. Cells that produce myelin are destroyed for unknown causes

3. Movement is greatly impaired and mental deterioration may be present

E. Parkinson’s Disease

1. The chronic loss of dopamine production within the brain that is required to produce muscle activity

2. The primary signs of Parkinson’s Disease reflect the loss of muscular coordination

3. People with Parkinson’s disease become progressively less able to talk, walk, and perform simple tasks

4. Medications are used to delay the progression of the disease

F. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

1. A disease associated with longevity

2. A person with AD might have difficulty answering questions

3. people with this condition experience dementia

4. Dementia- The loss of cognitive abilities, including memory and reason

5. Effective drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease have not yet been developed

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