The Genetic Pedigree - Assignment Example

Genetic Pedigree 304889 Introduction The representation of family medical history and family relationships in a pictorial manner is commonly referred to as a genogram. The concept was introduced by Monica Mc Goldrick and Randy Gerson in 1985, genogram are currently used in various fields which include medicine, psychology, social work, education, genetic research, genealogy and psychiatry. To do this, a set of standard symbols for representing various aspects in the family lineage are used. Genogram are advantageous as the help in the defining and determination of family, social and emotional relationship. Different color coded lines are drawn to depict a family, relationship or emotional bondage. From the genogram, one can determine if a couple is married, divorced or engaged. Genograms records family history and allow the genealogist represent complex family trees. Genograms are also very important in portraying that a given person is susceptible to a given disease. Psychologist's use genograms to gather information about their clients. This helps them in counseling. In social work they help in determining the emotional relationship between individuals and the level of cohesiveness of the family members. Symbols used The following symbols are used in the construction of the genogram (Potter & Perry, 2006) Table 1; list of symbols used in drawing the genogram THE SYMBOLS IN MEDICINE Table 2 showing set of genogram medical symbols Representation Symbol Carrier Affected Affected by hear say Possibly affected Heart disease Breast cancer Diabetes Aizheimer's disease Down syndrome Depression Smoking Substance abuse Constructing a genogram for a family with an individual suffering from diabetes; Fig 1 showing the genogram (Gotler, et al. 2001). THE LESSON PLAN FOR GENOGRAM STUDY Table 3; teaching plan COMMENTS AND EXTRA READING SUBJECT TO BE COVERED WEEK NUMBER Introduction to the concept of family health Study of families Introduction to theories of family health Determinants of family health Trends in family health Hereditary diseases (introduction) 1 Extensive study of the concept of family health Detailed study of families theories of family health Determinants of family health Trends in family health Hereditary diseases 2 Preparation of family assessment model Structural dimension 3 Family assessment model Functional dimension 4 Study of the genogram Practical development of genograms 5 Construction of a genogram( select a given family and extensively studies the family traits and constructs a genogram) Assignment(genogram assignment ) 6 Select a patient and study his/her genogram Patient education (introduction) 7 Select a patient and study his/her genogram Patient education (detailed study) 8 Study of family economics and how it affects the health of members. Study of violence and wants leads to family violence. Study of divorce and factors leading to divorce and separation. Study of major influences family health Economics Violence on family members Divorce and separation 9 Study of the relation of mental illness, depression, stress and how they are affect family members. Study of how these diseases are hereditary. Study of major influences family health ( Continuation) Drug and abuse of other substances Mental illness Depression Low esteem 10 Study of the relation of the major acute and chronic illness and how these diseases are hereditary.( Wright, 2005) Study of major influences of family health Acute illness Chronic illness Stress Loss of a loved one leading to depression 11 Look at ways of promoting different safe and medically sound techniques of preventing the occurrence of the hereditable diseases especially where the genogram shows the possibility of these diseases occurring Ways of preventing occurrence of diseases affecting the family 12 Ways of combating all highlighted diseases when they occur.( Redman, 1988) Ways of curing hereditary diseases 13 Students present the practical work, conducted As assignment on genogram Presentations 14 Students present the practical work, conducted As assignment on genogram Presentations 15 Diabetes Diabetes is a disease characterized by the disordered metabolism resulting from a combination of environment and hereditary causes. Due to these factors, the patient suffers from an abnormally high blood sugar. This is referred to as hyperglycemia. The control of blood sugar in the body is controlled by the insulin hormone and other chemicals. Diabetes results when the body produces less insulin. The common symptoms of diabetes include excessive production of urine, excessive fluid intake, weight loss, blurred vision and lethargy. One common treatment of diabetes is the administration of insulin to the patient; this method has been used since 1921 when insulin was made available. However, this treatment results to very many and acute complication such as ketoacidosis, coma, hypoglycemia, cardiovascular disease, renal and retinal failure. Due to these complication alternative methods of curing and suppressing the effects of diabetes have been developed; these include; 1) Removing carbohydrates from the diet Carbohydrates when digested are converted into sugars, excessive sugar resulting from these carbohydrates will require insulin to regulate the blood sugar, elimination of blood sugars thus reduce the effects of insulin lack for a diabetic person. 2) Exercises Performing physical exercises such as walking reduces the effects of diabetes on the patient. 3) Increasing water intake and eliminating the sugars Eliminating of foods containing sugars and sweeteners also reduce the effects of diabetes on the patient. Taking non sugary foods and beverages reduces the demand for insulin to regulate the blood sugar. This helps the patient health improve dramatically as insulin medication leads to severe and chronic effects. References Wright, L. M. & Leahey, M. (2005). Nurses and families: A guide to family assessment and intervention (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. Redman, B.K. (1988). The process of patient education (6th ed.). St.Louis: Mosby. Potter A. P. & Perry A. G., (2006). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (3rd ed.). Toronto: Elsevier Canada Gotler, R., Medalie, J., Zyzanski, S., Kikano, G., Acheson, L., Stange, K. (2001). Focus on the family: Part 1. What is your family focus style? Family Practice Medicine. Accessed on June 11, 2009 from, http://www.aafp.org/fpm//FPMprinter/20010300/49focu.html Read More