Transcript Health Matters of the Circulatory System

Health Occ
Allergy
 Etiology: hypersensitive response by
the immune system to an outside
substance which becomes an
allergen.
 Allergens cause antibodies to be
produced. EX: pollen, dog/cat fur,
feathers.
 S/S: inflammation of the
respiratory, GI and integumentary
systems, may become life
threatening.
 TX: drugs
Anemia – most common blood disorder
 Etiology:
 Inadequate amount of hemoglobin, RBC or both
 S/S: shortness of breath, pallor (pale), rapid heart
rate.
 TX: dietary supplements, blood replacement.
Autoimmune
Diseases
 Etiology: conditions in which the immune system of the
body turns against itself.
 EX:
 Systemic lupus erythematosus: affects connective tissue, kidneys,
lungs and heart
 Hashimoto’s disease: destruction of the thyroid
 Myasthenia gravis: affects the nerves and causes paralysis
TX: immunosuppressive drugs and steroids to relieve inflammation.
Acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS)
 Etiology: dysfunction of the immune system caused by
a virus. Virus will cause DNA to become infected
damaging WBC.
 HIV is transmitted through exchange of body fluids.
 S/S: may not show for 6-10 years: fatigue, weakness,
painful joints, diarrhea.
 TX: no cure, experimental medicines.
Elephantitis
 massive accumulation of lymphatic
fluid in body tissues, causing
abnormally large growth of tissue.
 Etiology: caused by obstruction of
the lymph vessels by tiny worms
(filariae) that are common in tropic
and subtropic areas.
 S/S: fever, chills and ulcer
formation
 TX: no cure, oral medications and
mosquito control measures.
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
 Etiology: Antibodies from an Rh negative mother
may enter the blood stream of her unborn Rh
positive infant, damaging the red blood cells
(RBCs). The infant responds by increasing RBC
production and sending out immature RBCs that
still have nuclei.
 S/S: baby may have brain damage
 TX: intrauterine blood transfusion
Hemophilia
 Etiology: rare sex linked genetic blood disease in
which the blood is missing a clotting factor.
 S/S: prolonged or uncontrolled bleeding
 TX: giving plasma that contains the missing clotting
factor, no cure
Hodgkin’s disease
 Etiology: cancer of the lymph system that usually
appears in people between the ages of 15-30.
 S/S: painless enlargements of the lymph nodes,
itching, weight loss, fever, difficulty swallowing.
 TX: chemotherapy or radiation of the lymph nodes.
Leukemia
(blood cancer)
 Etiology: abnormal
malignant increase in the
number and longevity of
WBC. WBC are immature
and less effective in
fighting disease
 S/S: bleeding gums,
anemia
 TX: radiation,
chemotherapy, bone
marrow transplantation
Sickle cell anemia
 Etiology: genetic condition that
results in malformed RBC
 The “sickled” cells are more
fragile and cause pain as vessels
are blocked and less oxygen is
delivered.
 S/S: sometimes no symptoms,
may cause death
 TX: no cure
Splenomegaly
 Etiology: enlargement of
the spleen caused by an
acute infection such as
scarlet fever
 S/S: symptoms are similar
to leukemia and anemia.
 TX: may require removal
of spleen
Thrombosis
 Etiology: condition in which a blood clot (thrombosis)
forms in the vessels. Clot slows the flow of blood to tissues
 Embolus: when the clot breaks away, it could lodge in a
blood vessels and cause tissue death
 S/S: pain in the area of the clot because of lack of oxygen
 TX: elevation, anticoagulants, may have surgery to remove
clot.