Question

Chronic Health Briefly describe following chronic health conditions and list 3 (three) signs and symptoms for each. Description? Signs and Symptoms? 1) 1) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 11.2) Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) 11.3) Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) 11.4) Eczema 11.5) Motor Neurone Disease 11.6) Spinal Injury 11.7) Coma 11.8) Osteoarthritis 11.9) Parkinson's disease 11.10) Rheumatoid arthritis 11.11) Cerebro-Vascular Accident (CVA) / Stroke 11.12) Chronic back pain

Answer 1

1. COPD- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. symptoms does not show up until significant damage has been done.main symptoms are-

Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities

Wheezing, Chest tightness, Frequent respiratory infections

A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish

Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)

Lack of energy & Unintended weight loss

2. CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE- its the gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from blood, which are then excreted in urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in body. the signs & symptoms are non specific.

Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of appetite,Fatigue and weakness, Sleep problems

Changes in urine output

Decreased mental sharpness, Muscle twitches and cramps,Swelling of feet and ankles

Persistent itching

Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart

Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs

High blood pressure (hypertension) that's difficult to control

3. CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE-  occurs when heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Certain conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently. Lifestyle changes — such as exercising, reducing sodium indiet, managing stress and losing weight — can improve quality of life. it can be both ongoing; chronic or sudden; acute. symptoms are-

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down, Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm

Chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack

Fatigue and weakness, Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet

Rapid or irregular heartbeat, urination at night.

4. ECZEMA-Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a condition that makes skin red and itchy. It's common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long lasting (chronic) and tends to flare periodically. It may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. SYMPTOMATOLOGY IS-

Dry skin, Thickened, cracked, scaly skin

Itching, which may be severe, especially at night, Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp

Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched

5. motor neuron disease- are a group of neuro-degenerative disorders that selectively affect motor neurons, the cells which control voluntary muscles of the body. Symptoms of motor neuron diseases can be first seen at birth or can come on slowly later in life. Most diseases worsen over time.

the patterns of muscle weakness are seen, and muscle cramps and spasms may occur. One can have difficulty breathing with climbing stairs (exertion), difficulty breathing when lying down (orthopnea), or even respiratory failure if breathing muscles become involved. Bulbar symptoms, including difficulty speaking (dysarthria), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and excessive saliva production (sialorrhea), can also occur.

6. SPINAL INJURY-damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. it can be either completeor incomplete.

Tetraplegia. Also known as quadriplegia, this means your arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected by your spinal cord injury.Paraplegia. This paralysis affects all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs. movement is affected.

• Loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
• Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
• Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your spinal cord
• Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs.

7. coma-  is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened; fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound; lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle; and does not initiate voluntary actions. general symptoms are-

• Inability to voluntarily open the eyes
• A non-existent sleep-wake cycle
• Lack of response to physical (painful) or verbal stimuli
• Depressed brainstem reflexes, such as pupils not responding to light
• Irregular breathing

8. OSTEOARTHRITIS- Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints, often affecting, knees, back, hip,neck etc. In normal joints, Cartilage provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion and acts as a cushion between the bones. In OA, the cartilage breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. As OA worsens over time, bones may break down and develop growths called spurs. symptoms are-

• Limited range of motion or stiffness that goes away after movement
• Clicking or cracking sound when a joint bends
• Mild swelling around a joint
• Pain that is worse after activity or toward the end of the day

9. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-  is a long-term, progressive, and disabling autoimmune disease. It occurs when a person's immune system mistakes the body's healthy tissues for foreign invaders. As the immune system responds, inflammation occurs in the target tissue or organ.

• pain, swelling, and stiffness in more than one joint
• symmetrical joint involvement, joint deformity
• unsteadiness when walking
• a general feeling of being unwell, fever
• loss of function and mobility
• weight loss, weakness

10. parkinsons disease- certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

tremor, rigid muscles, Slowed movement (bradykinesia), , Loss of automatic movements, speech changes, writing changes, impaired posture& balance.

11. CARDIOVASCULAR INJURY- A stroke is when blood flow to a part of your brain is stopped either by a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel. An ischemic stroke is the most common and occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel and prevents blood and oxygen from getting to a part of the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, or hemorrhages, and then prevents blood from getting to part of the brain.

• difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance and coordination
• difficulty speaking or understanding others who are speaking
• numbness or paralysis in the face, leg, or arm, most likely on just one side of the body
• blurred or darkened vision
• a sudden headache, especially when accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or dizziness

12. CHRONIC BACKACHE- Back pain that lasts more than three months is chronic back pain. conditions often associated with chronic back pain are muscle ligament strain, bulging/ ruptured disks, osteoporosis, arthritis, Skeletal irregularities like scoliosis. symptoms are

• Muscle ache, Shooting or stabbing pain
• Pain that radiates down your leg
• Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
• Pain that improves with reclining