Read Me First - University of Phoenix



Read Me First HCA/240

Weeks Five and Six

INTRODUCTION

The readings for Week Five and Six introduce you to the causes, symptoms, and treatments of gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive diseases. Read the assigned chapters as well as the supplemental multimedia information.

Gastrointestinal or digestive system diseases often present with varied symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or hemorrhoids. These symptoms represent a number of different diseases. Vomiting is a protective mechanism for responding to the presence of infection, an irritant, a distention, or a blockage. Diarrhea is frequent passage of watery stools. Rapid movement of the contents of the small intestine through the large intestine does not allow water reabsorption through the large intestine. Constipation, the inability to eliminate feces from the colon, results when stool becomes hard and dry. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins in the lining of the rectum. The remainder of the chapter on the gastrointestinal system provides you with information on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of a variety of diseases.

As you explore the urinary system, you will learn the primary functions of the kidney and bladder. Next, you will learn about diseases of the kidney, including glomerulonephritis, renal failure, pyelonephritis, and kidney stones. If you are interested in history, explore the story of the invention of the hemodialysis machine. Other topics in the urinary system include diseases of the urinary bladder and urethra.

Review the normal anatomy and physiology of the female and male reproductive system. Diseases of the female reproductive system include pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, and menstrual disorders. Male reproductive diseases include prostatitis, epididymitis, and testicular cancer. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases spread by sexual contact. STIs are considered preventable and yet, there are new cases of infections occur every day throughout the world. Some STIs have minor symptoms, but other infections can cause serious problems, such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical cancer.

IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE COURSE AND THE PROGRAM

In Weeks Three and Four, you learned about the normal and abnormal functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, blood, and musculoskeletal systems. While completing this course, it is important to recognize the interdependence of the major body systems. Exploring the gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive systems, you begin to identify lifestyle as well as hereditary influences on disease.

You focus on the gastrointestinal system, beginning with a review of the normal digestive process. This knowledge of the basic processes related to digestion helps you understand the significance of diseases of organs such as the liver, stomach, intestines, and gallbladder. You also identify common urinary system diseases. It is important to clarify the differences between acute and chronic disease. Your understanding of the causes, symptoms, and treatments of diseases of the urinary system include age-specific susceptibilities.

Subsequently, you explore the diseases of the female and male reproductive system. First, you review the normal anatomy and physiology. Next, you learn about diseases and disorders specific to women and men. Finally, you review sexually transmitted infections along with treatment and prevention options.

Continue to build on your knowledge of the causes and treatments of diseases by exploring new major body systems each week and their related diseases. Thus, recognizing the impact of gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive diseases on different populations prepares you for the learning objectives in Weeks Seven and Eight. In these following weeks, you build on your knowledge of diseases related to the endocrine and nervous systems, as well as factors associated with mental illness.

HINTS FOR A READING STRATEGY OF THE ASSIGNED MATERIALS

Human Diseases: A Systemic Approach provides you with information related to the manifestations and treatment of common diseases. Once again, the references at the end of the chapters in Human Diseases: A Systemic Approach are a good source for further information on the topics. You are encouraged to review the literature as it relates to alternative treatments and to traditional medicine’s advanced technology in treatment modalities. Readings should also explore community efforts to educate and control disease awareness.

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK AS YOU HONE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING

As you read the material, create the why, what, and how questions to critically analyze the manifestations and treatment of common gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive diseases and how they affect different populations. Critically analyze the cultural influence, the impact of disease, and the spread of respiratory related diseases. Questions that may help guide your critical analysis if the disease may include the following:

• What are the possible causes of constipation?

• Why is the pancreas so important?

• How can urinary tract infection transmission be reduced or prevented?

• Why is dialysis necessary for renal failure?

• What is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer?

• How can STIs be prevented?

SUMMARY

Lifestyle choices and genetic factors influence healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive systems. Recognition of the importance of these concepts is essential to health care providers. In preparing for your potential roles in the future, you must understand the disease processes, be able to provide an integrated approach to alternative and traditional therapies, and have a clear focus on prevention, education, and early detection of these diseases. This course initiates a first level understanding of some of the major disease types.

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