Common Diseases: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Mental Health
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and are some of the leading causes of death in developed countries.
Common Cardiovascular Issues:
- Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): Occurs when the coronary arteries, which provide nutrients and oxygen to the heart, become blocked, often by atherosclerotic plaques (cholesterol). This blockage causes cells to die.
- Stroke: Happens when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, typically by a blood clot.
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease:
- Non-Modifiable: Older age, sex, family history.
- Modifiable: Alcohol and tobacco use, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, diet, stress, sedentary lifestyle, hormonal factors.
Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases primarily fall into two categories:
- Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Decreases the amount of air entering the airways due to blockage, such as in asthma and emphysema.
- Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: The lungs lose elasticity, reducing the volume of air they can hold.
- Lung Cancer: A leading cause of death and disease, often linked to tobacco use.
Mental Health Diseases
These include changes in thinking, mood, and behavior:
- Schizophrenia: Patients experience distorted reasoning and perceptions, including hallucinations and delusions.
- Anxiety Disorders: A group of disorders characterized by intense fear or worry.
- Depression: Characterized by sadness and disinterest in activities.
- Eating Disorders:
- Anorexia Nervosa: Individuals perceive themselves as overweight even when underweight, leading to severe calorie restriction.
- Bulimia Nervosa: Episodes of excessive eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Occurs in children and is characterized by difficulties in controlling energy and attention.
- Personality Disorders: Involve inappropriate behavior patterns.
- Dementia: A progressive loss of mental abilities, particularly memory.
Treatment of Mental Health Diseases:
Effective psychological and pharmacological treatments, along with societal support, can help individuals manage or improve their mental health. The attitude of family, friends, and colleagues is also crucial.
Addictive Behaviors
Addictive behaviors are considered mental health issues because they involve mood alterations and behavioral changes. Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is defined as a condition where substance use interferes with normal life. Dependency occurs when a person spends significant time obtaining and using the drug. Withdrawal symptoms appear when the drug is stopped and are specific to each substance.
Other addictive behaviors, not involving drugs, include gambling, work, sports, and video games.
Drugs
A drug is any substance introduced into the body that causes changes in the brain, leading to behavioral changes, abuse, and dependence. This results in an uncontrollable urge to take the substance to experience its effects or prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Drugs are classified as:
- Depressants: Depress the nervous system, producing drowsiness and slowing down reactions, heart rate, and respiration. In low doses, they can produce short-term stimulation (e.g., alcohol).
- Stimulants: Increase attention, reduce sleep and appetite, and create a feeling of increased performance (e.g., amphetamines).
- Hallucinogens: Disrupt the nervous system, hindering concentration, attention, reasoning, and memory, and altering spatial and temporal perceptions (e.g., hallucinogens).