Three Common Physiological Disorders in Developing Countries - Coursework Example

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries The people in developing countries are fascinated with the lifestyle and culture prevailing in developed countries. Indeed, a great shift towards Western style diet, the use of modern technologies and decreased in energy consuming physical exercises has led to increase in the intensity and magnitude of many physiological disorders in the people of developing. Obesity due to increased cholesterol in the body is a major issue persisting in developing countries because it has potential to virtually harmful to all aspects of health. Many diseases of heart and brain are rising sharply at an alarming rate and causing damage to other organs of the body as well. The most common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and Alzheimer’s disease. High blood pressure is often regarded as silent killer due to its significant risk for causing heart attacks. Similarly, diabetes caused by increased content of sugars in blood and Alzheimer’s disease caused by mental disorders such as loss of memory affect human health on a wide scale. The rapid rise of casualties due to these chronic or so-called non-communicable diseases has surpassed casualties due to other diseases in the people of developing countries and has been listed by Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in their report on global health, to be cured properly and on urgent basis. Discussion: The detailed description for three common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries is as follows: 1. Diabetes: Diabetes, one of the prominent metabolic syndrome, occurs when level of glucose (sugars) in blood gets increased (Haslam and James, 2005) either due to inadequate production of insulin or inability of body to respond to insulin and even sometimes, due to combination of both factors. The common treatments available to cure for this disease include treatment with insulin in order to control blood sugars along with increased physical activities and stringent control on diet and weight. The intake of a balanced and nutritious diet that is low in fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars may be quite helpful in regulating levels of blood sugars. Diabetes can be monitored by checking blood glucose levels on daily basis. It can be screened in patient due to its easy recognizable symptoms such as frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, injuries that do not heal, tingling in hands and feet, male sexual dysfunction and fatigue. Diabetes is closely linked to increase in obesity which may further lead to several cardiovascular diseases. During diabetes, the glycosylation (addition of sugars) of some advanced proteins may occur with providing the end product called as AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) which accumulates in tissues. With the passage of time and increased content of sugars, the accumulation of these AGEs also increases leading to permanent abnormalities in the extracellular components. They further enhance the production of cytokines and reactive oxygen species with the help of receptors specific for these AGEs and thus alter further intercellular proteins (Brownlee, 1995). Coping strategies then include to normalize the levels of sugars in blood (to treat with insulin immediately) and scavenging of these reactive oxygen species by activating the content or activity of ROS scavengers as a slow but permanent coping strategy. Obesity should be controlled in order to control diabetes as fat cells secrete hormones which cause inflammation. Such inappropriate inflammation reduces the response of body to insulin, thereby disturbing the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, eventually leading to increased levels of sugars in blood and ultimately to diabetes (Rocha and Libby, 2009). Diabetes is also known to increase risks for dementia (the mental incapability). Diabetes can be easily prognosticated with the help of monitoring the sugar levels in blood. In addition, sudden gain of weight, obesity, the gradual loss of eyesight may indicate the starting of this disease. The very long prevalence of diabetes in patients led to its unfavorable prognosis such as eminent chances of more pronounced left ventricular dysfunction (Jaffe et al., 1984; Granger et al., 1993; Singer et al., 1989) and a high probability of re-infarction, which are usually fatal (Malmberg and Ryden, 1988). Several other factors also contribute to this unfavorable outcome, such as abnormal thrombotic and fibrinolytic function, altered tone of autonomic nervous system, CAD of varying severity, metabolic abnormalities that result in enhanced consumption of oxygen and cardiomyopathy related to diabetes (Jacoby and Nesto, 1992). 2. Alzheimers Disease: Alzheimer’s disease is known to contribute major fraction of dementia which is the decline in mental abilities of a person. Forgetting recent events due to the loss of memory represents Alzheimer’s disease. It is an example of neurodegenerative disease (mental disorder). Alzheimer’s disease is well related with dementia (Ott et al., 1996). Excessive oxidative stress due to accumulation of reactive oxygen species during onset of this disease lead to damage of brain membranes and thereby affect nervous system. The disease is not as such harmful in the beginning but gets worse with the passage of time. Treatments available to treat this disease are based on Cholinergic or Amyloid hypothesis. According to cholinergic hypothesis, the basic cause for Alzheimer’s disease is decreased amount of neurotransmitter acetylcholine, however, treatment using this acetylcholine neurotransmitters have not been proved useful in past (Francis et al., 1995). In amyloid hypothesis of treating Alzheimer’s disease, accumulation of amyloids present outside the cell is considered the cause of this disease and therefore, treatments depend upon using proteins (apoliproteins) which are capable of breaking these amyloids in extracellular matrix (Polvikoski et al., 1995; Haan, 2006). This disease can be monitored through some well-known systems such as confusion, short-term memory loss, wandering in familiar places, moving with rapid, shuffling steps, laughing or crying inappropriately and problems associated with handling money. Alzheimers disease may be adapted to a catabolic state with low blood pressure and low total cholesterol and low blood glucose concentrations. This catabolic state then interferes insulin resistance strategy of body and enhances it, thereby making it more resistance to insulin. Cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome such as hypertension and hyperglycemia are considered to play a role in causing of Alzheimer disease as well as in development of vascular dementia (Launer, 2002; Kalmijn et al., 1995). To cope with this disease patient must be looked after properly. Juices of fruits and vegetables should be given on daily basis. Coping strategy for Alzheimer’s patient include being supportive with him and special look-after, particularly in public places. A strict control on levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and heart diseases may help patient to tolerate this disease. The disease can be prognosticated through detailed evaluation, including the collection of symptoms from both past and present and through physical and neurological exam, including cognitive tests, determining patient’s ability to recall details about self, place, and time, working memory, and mood and personality. Brain imaging and blood tests may prove the loss of memory due to Alzheimer’s disease. Long term outcome of this disease may ultimately lead to death of the patient as the disease gets worse with time. The mental disorder may further lead to cardiovascular disorders affecting many organs of body. 3. Hypertension: Hypertension or high blood pressure is an example of cardiovascular disorder. It is a serious disease in which the pressure with which blood gets pumped to all parts of body increases to such an extent that it may even cause rupture of blood vessels. Hypertension is a risk for vision loss, kidney disease and stroke. The units used for blood pressure measurement is millimeters of mercury which is written as mmHg. A systolic reading of 140 mmHg and diastolic reading above 90 mmHg is commonly termed as the initial or mild hypertension. The most obvious treatment to control hypertension is the change in lifestyle and taking medication such as olmesartan and thiazide diuretics (Chobanian et al., 2003). Strict control on diet is also of great help for controlling blood pressure. Weight loss, regular exercise and reduce content of sodium in daily food are the treatments with efficient results. Obesity should be controlled in particular as body weight is directly related to risks for cardio vascular diseases as with increase in body weight, an increase in cholesterol, blood sugars, blood pressure and triglycerides become visible. Hypertension can be monitored by measuring both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for as maximum part of the day as possible. Common manifestations of hypertension include headache, visual disturbances, nausea, difficulty in respiration, confusion and in some cases drowsiness. Continuous hypertension leads to serious damage to heart particularly to the left ventricular part which may be changed in size as well as geometry (Devereux et al., 1992). Patients suffering from hypertension are susceptible to dementia. Hypertension, which is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disorders may also contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) as well as vascular dementia (Launer, 2002; Kalmijn et al., 1995). Coping strategies to deal with hypertension patient involve to take him to rest immediately and then to medication. Keeping blood pressure low and thus the risks of strokes, should be emphasis while dealing hypertension. Diet rich of fruits and vegetables and less in cholesterol and fats in addition to daily exercise may significantly reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Maintenance of healthy weight and control on diabetes are as much necessary. To prognosticate hypertension, repeated measurements for blood pressure in 24 hours should be taken instead of old basal method of measurements which take reading of blood pressure only at night. The more measurements of blood pressure will help to identify hypertension with more confidence (Mann et al., 1985). Although, hypertension can go on for several months or even years, a long time suffering with hypertension causes hypertrophy and geometric alteration in left ventricle (Devereux et al., 1992). References Brownlee, M. Advanced protein glycosylation in diabetes and aging. Annual Review of Medicine, 1995; 46: 223-234. Chobanian, A.V., Bakris, G. L., Black, H. R., Cushman, W. C., Green, L.A., Izzo Jr.J.L., Jones, D.W., Materson, B. J., Oparil, S., Wright Jr, J.T., Roccella, E.J. the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee. Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. 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