Assignment 1: Causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease
Introduction:
I am a student nurse at North Manchester General Hospital in the first year of my general
adult nursing degree. I have been asked by my Anatomy and Physiology lecturer to
produce a report on two different physiological disor...
diagnosis and treatment of disease introduction i am a student nurse at north manchester general hospital in the first year of my genera
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SAMENVATTING HC DUITSLAND IN EUROPA 2022
Unit 14: Physiological Disorders and their Care
Assignment 1: Causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease
Introduction:
I am a student nurse at North Manchester General Hospital in the first year of my general
adult nursing degree. I have been asked by my Anatomy and Physiology lecturer to
produce a report on two different physiological disorders. I have chosen bowel cancer and
asthma. My mother (Margaret, 74) recently recovered from bowel cancer and my father
(John, also 74) suffers from asthma.
A physiological disorder is an illness that interferes with the correct functioning of the body.
This causes a range of symptoms and effects in the body. A disorder affecting the
functioning of one system of the body will also have several effects on other body systems
as they all interrelate.
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,P1: Explain the causes, signs and symptoms of different types of physiological
disorders in service users and
M1: Analyse the changes in body systems and functions resulting from different
types of physiological disorder on service users.
DISORDER 1: Respiratory system disorders
The respiratory system is made up of the trachea, lungs, diaphragm and chest wall.
The purpose of the Respiratory System is to take in oxygen and eliminate waste gases
such as carbon dioxide and water. This enables every cell in the body to respire. The
respiratory system works very closely with the cardiovascular system and in particular the
blood supply of the body.
Correct functioning of the Respiratory System
The primary organs of the respiratory system are the lungs, which work to take in oxygen
and expel carbon dioxide as we breathe.
The gas exchange process is performed by the lungs and respiratory system. Air, a mix of
oxygen and other gases, is inhaled. In the throat, the trachea, or windpipe, filters the air.
The trachea branches into two bronchi, tubes that lead to the lungs. Once in the lungs,
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,oxygen is moved into the bloodstream. Blood carries the oxygen through the body to where
it is needed. Red blood cells collect carbon dioxide from the body’s cells and transports it
back to the lungs. An exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the alveoli,
small structures within the lungs. The carbon dioxide, a waste gas, is exhaled and the cycle
begins again with the next breath. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle below the
lungs that controls breathing. The diaphragm flattens out and pulls forward, drawing air into
the lungs for inhalation. During exhalation the diaphragm expands to force air out of the
lungs. Adults normally take 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Strenuous exercise drives the
breath rate up to an average of 45 breaths per minute.
Asthma
Service users who suffer from asthma have very over-sensitive airways whose lining can
become inflamed and swollen. The inflammation causes the muscles surrounding the
airways to contract, which narrow the airways and make a person wheeze and cough. They
can become very breathless and their chest feels very tight. In particular it is the bronchi
which narrow. Any substance which causes these effects is called a trigger. The most
common triggers for people with asthma are dust, fur, pollen, and smoke. Exercise can also
cause an asthma attack, as can very cold or very warm air. Asthma can occur in service
users of any age and asthma attacks can be life-threatening. 5.4 million people in the UK
are currently receiving treatment for asthma and 1 in 11 children are sufferers. In 2016
(most recent data) 1410 people died from asthma. The NHS spends around £1 billion a
year treating people with asthma.
Signs and symptoms of asthma
The signs of a disorder are observable by someone else e.g. the GP. This could be a raised
temperature or a rash. The symptoms of a disorder are experienced by the individual. In
asthma, all patients will experience difficulty breathing at some point. The signs and
symptoms of asthma include a tight chest, difficulty breathing, wheeze and a cough. Other
conditions can also cause these symptoms, but in asthma they keep returning, are worse at
night or early in the morning or seem to happen in response to a certain trigger such as
pollen.
An asthma attack can occur suddenly or build up slowly over a few hours or days.
Signs of a severe asthma attack include:
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, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness becoming severe and constant
being too breathless to eat, speak or sleep
breathing faster
a fast heartbeat
drowsiness, confusion, exhaustion or dizziness
blue lips or fingers
fainting
Causes of asthma
The exact causes are unknown. People with asthma have swollen (inflamed) and
"sensitive" airways that become narrow and clogged with sticky mucus in response to
certain triggers. Each individual has their own triggers.
Genetics, pollution and modern hygiene standards have been suggested as causes, but
there's not currently enough evidence to know if any of these do cause asthma.
There is however, good evidence to show who is a greater risk of asthma. Environmental,
inherited and lifestyle factors all play a part.
Allergies tend to run in families. If there is a history of asthma, eczema, hay fever or other
allergies in the family, the patient is more likely to develop asthma. There is slightly more
chance of asthma being passed on from the mother than from the father.
A child who suffers from allergies is said to be “atopic”. If they have one allergy, they are
more likely to develop another, including asthma.
Smoking during pregnancy and around babies and young children significantly increases
their risk of developing asthma and other respiratory problems.
If a child was born early (before 37 weeks) and especially of they needed a ventilator they
are more likely to develop asthma. A low birth weight can also be a risk factor for asthma.
Bronchiolitis is caused by a virus and effects children under the age of two. It leads to
swelling in the lungs and airways. They will find it harder to breathe and will cough and
wheeze. Having repeated bouts of bronchiolitis as a young child will increase the risk of
developing asthma.
Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by certain things found in the workplace,
such as chemicals or dust from flour or wood. If a service user has not had asthma before
and if their symptoms improve when not at work, they probably have occupational asthma.
Hormones can increase the risk of developing asthma – some women first develop
symptoms during or after the menopause.
Pollution can also increase the risk of developing asthma. Children who live near very busy
roads, with high levels of traffic fumes and chemicals, are more likely to develop asthma.
Other systems affected by having Asthma: Cardiovascular system
There is a link between having asthma and an increased risk of coronary heart disease or
stroke. The link has not been fully researched and explained, but it is thought to be due to
the inflammation of the airways and the inflammation of the heart and blood vessels. This
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