Coronary Heart Disease as One of the Leading Causes of Death in the United States - Essay Example

Subsequently, what advice and/or medications would you give to said patient to improve his chances of surviving?"  I would ask about his family history to establish whether there have been other members who have been victims of atherosclerosis. Apart from the apparent smoking, I would strive to establish other risk factors that are predisposing this patient to worsen his health by carrying out diagnostic tests e.g. ECG, exercising for a stress test, or CT scan. This will determine the extent of this condition to advise on treatment.

Treatment would include first discussing with the patient his symptoms and the dangers that they pose to him and those around him. He should begin by taking charge of his smoking and recommend that he should eventually quit the habit. Other lifestyle habits to avoid are getting rid of foods high in cholesterol and alternatively adopting low-fat and low-salt diets. Exercises should begin if he has not been active before as this helps to increase the flow of blood throughout his body system and burns out fats.

In addition to lifestyle changes, I would recommend certain medications that will aid the heart in working more effectively. This will depend on the condition of his heart at that moment. Aspirin can be taken as soon as he experiences shortness of breath to aid in breaking up any possible blood clot. If he experiences chest discomfort, due to shortness of breath, rapid heart palpitations, dizziness, loss of sight, nausea, or sweating, he should immediately call 911. 2. An important quality that makes organisms living things is their ability to maintain homeostasis.

Describe an example where animals or humans (again, you may or may not choose to use personal experiences) have gone through either a negative or positive feedback mechanism to maintain homeostasis. The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment despite external environmental changes is homeostasis. One example of a positive feedback mechanism in Homeostasis is seen in the sweating activity. The activity of the sweat glands in our bodies is an important process through which we strive to conserve or release body heat.

Just like the way we choose open or close the windows in our homes, the sweat glands work together in regulating the body temperature by opening or closing the size of the superficial arterial blood vessels. When temperatures are high, the body reacts by dilating the blood vessels that lie near the surface of the skin. The warm blood that was passing through the vessels at the time lost heat to the outside by way of radiation. As this perspiration process is happening, sweating occurs and the body continues to lose heat.

This happens when we are outside, especially on a hot day. When temperatures are low or when it is cold, vasoconstriction i.e. the tightening of the blood vessels near the skin occurs and nerve impulses are sent to the skeletal muscles and this causes shivering. This process prevents the loss of heat to the air and conserves the heat within the body to keep it warm. This is why we wear warm clothing or clothes that can trap and maintain insulation in the body as a way of contributing to the regulation of the body’s homeostatic system.

Animals on the other hand tend to grow more hair/fur that provides an insulation layer near the skin. “Goosebumps” is an effort by the human body to make the hair follicles rise above the surface in an attempt to trap an insulating layer of warm air naturally to mimic the way animals do.