BTEC 112 Study of Disease
Study Guide Unit 8
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES & PAIN MANAGEMENT
1. Describe the following alternative systems of medicinal practice:
Ayurveda – 8,000 yrs old from India The system stresses mid-body practices such as yoga and
meditation. Proper nutrition, herbal medicines, and massage are also involved.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Refers to the 5 elements of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.
Feminine aspect (Yin) and male aspect (Yang) are considered. Our Qi (pronounced ―chee‖) are
the life force or energy that flows in channels or meridians to all parts of the body to nourish,
protect, and heal.
Homeopathy – The system believes that low doses of certain substances, prescribed in miniscule
doses, could bring about a cure. The idea is that highly diluted substances leave an ―energy
imprint‖ in the body and stimulate the immune system, thereby helping to cure an illness.
Naturopathy – The system stresses prevention and the use of nontoxic, natural therapies. Naturopathy
treats the whole person and stresses a positive mental attitude and a healthy lifestyle that
includes exercise, sleep, and a healthy diet. Nutritional supplements, vitamins, and minerals,
and physical modification in breathing and posture may be emphasized.
2. Discuss some internal environmental factors effecting health.
Genetic traits, familial tendencies, physical and psychological characteristics
3. Discuss some external environmental factors effecting health.
Air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the surroundings in which we live.
4. Contrast stress and distress.
Stress Distress
Always present Not always present
Good stress Bad stress
Keeps us functioning everyday Makes it hard to function in daily life
Without it, people would not be able to High quantities of stress cause distress – not
respond to any stimuli good for us
May produce pathological changes – amount of
stress depends on how an individual responds to
stressors
Good stress helps us to respond to needs of Stressors may include children, spouses, bosses,
family members in crises or keeps us alert in weather, traffic, noise, death, disease – any
instances the we need to be alert. change that occurs in our lives can cause it
Manage stress to prevent distress with love, friendship, faith, laughter, and PLAY!
5. Discuss how positive and negative emotions can affect our bodies.
Positive emotions – Brain secretes encephalins and endophins that have a positive effect on our
bodies
Negative emotions – Causes rapid breathing, increased heart rate, headache, and tightened muscles.
May cause psychosomatic illnesses.
6. State a positive way you work out negative emotions.
You get to answer this one!!
7. State the dietary goals for Americans. Address how well you are meeting those goals stating what you are
doing well and where you need to improve.
A – Aim for fitness (healthy weight, do physical activity
B – Build a healthy base (food pyramid),
C – Choose sensibly (healthy food, moderation)
You get to answer this one too!!!!
8. Discuss the purpose of pain.
It is a warning that something is wrong in normal body functioning. It warns of inflammation, tissue
damage, infection, bodily injury, or trauma – physical or emotional – somewhere in the body.
9. Describe the gate control theory of pain.
Substances (neurotransmitter, i.e. histamine, acetycholine) that tend to propagate a pain impulse
across each ―gate‖ (neural receptor site at the site of injury to the cortex) in a nerve pathway
overpower the substances(neuromodulators, i.e. endorphins, etc.) that tend to block such an
impulse.
10. Name the four processes associated with the nociception pain process.
It describes how pain is transformed from stimuli the body receives into the actual pain sensation.
Transduction – How the pain is received by the body
Transmission – Movement of impulses from transduction sites to the brain
Perception of Pain – Pain comes into consciousness and is perceived by the person
Modulation – The brain changes or inhibits the pain impulses by releasing substances that inhibit the
transmission of noxious stimuli and produces analgesia
11. Describe the meaning associated with the letters P.A.I.N. in pain assessment.
P – Place (pointing to the location)
A – Amount (scale of 1 no pain -10 worst pain possible)
I – Interaction (what makes the pain worse)
N – Neutralizers (what makes the pain less)
12. Describe the common tool of assessing pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
The scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being little or no pain to 10 being intolerable pain has been found to be a
useful method of assessing pain.
13. Compare acute and chronic pain.
Acute Pain Chronic Pain
Experienced less than 6 months, recent in Experienced longer than 6 months, may be
onset continuous or intermittent
Result of damage, injury, or surgical pain Cannot be attributed to a specific injury or cause,
from traumatized skin, muscle, or visceral and when it lasts a long time, it becomes a problem
organs in its own right
May manifest as increased heart rate, blood
Depressed and preoccupied with self. Chronic pain
pressure, muscle tension, decrease salivary
is difficult to manage
flow and gut motility
Serves as a warning sign of a disturbance in Serves no useful purpose. It is frequently
some physiologic process and usually is debilitating, exhausting and individual’s physical
accompanied by anxiety and emotional resources
14. State the objective of pain treatment or management.
It is to remove the cause or to lessen the severity of the pain; however there may be a lag in time
between identifying the cause of the pain and providing relief. Treatment of pain is diverse and
can be difficult.
16. Define the following:
These are all surgical procedures to relieve pain!
Neurotomy – Dissection or division of a nerve
Cordotomy – Division of one or more of the lateral nerve pathways emerging from the spinal cord
Hypophysectomy – Remove of the pituitary gland as well as any causative factor
17. Discuss biofeedback as a method of controlling chronic pain.
It is aimed at helping an individual gain voluntary control over normally involuntary physiologic
functions.
It is done by monitoring physiologic events may promote blood flow and reduce muscle tension, which
in turn may reduce the concentration of neurotransmitters at the site of pain.
18. Briefly discuss relaxation, imagery, autohypnosis, massage, laughter, play, and music as methods of
treating pain.
Relaxation – Used to modify tension that is believed to cause or exacerbate pain. A series of
techniques for relaxation are taught to be used any time pain occurs.
Imagery – Used by a person experiencing pain to produce relaxation and increase the production of
endorphins and enkephalins.
Autohypnosis – Self-induced hypnosis, is most effective when a person is motivated—and pain is a
strong motivating force. It can be learned in a few hours
Massage – Manipulation, methodical pressure, friction, and kneading of the body
Laughter – Controls pain by distracting attention, reducing tension, changing expectations, and
increasing production of endorphins and enkephalins – body’s natural pain killer
Play – Same as laughter in reducing the attention on the pain
Music – Puts you in a more relaxed state helping to alleviate pain
19. Discuss Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) as a method of treating pain.
It is a therapeutic procedure in which an electrical impulse is induced in the large nerve fibers that carry
non-pain information, to block or reduce the transmission of painful impulses. The electrodes
are connected by lead wires to a TENS unit, and the frequency and intensity of the electric
current can be varied. The current produces a tingling, vibrating, or buzzing sensation in the
area of pain.
20. State the theory as to why acupuncture can affect pain.
It appears to stimulate release of the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins and enkephalins. It has
been suggested that acupuncture influences the production and distribution of neurotransmitters
and neuromodulators, which in turn modifies the person’s perception of pain.
THE QUIZ QUESTIONS ON MONDAY NIGHT WERE ON NUMBERS 9, 10, & 20.
ALONG WITH THE HIGHLIGHTED QUESTIONS, JOHN ASKED WHAT A PCA DEVICE WAS.
IT IS A PERSONAL CONTROL ANALGESIC DEVICE THAT THE PATIENT USES TO ADMINISTER
HIS/HER OWN MEDICATION, OFFERING THE PATIENT SOME SENSE OF CONTROL OF
THEIR PAIN, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFIT.
HE ALSO ASKED US TO CONTRAST ILLNESS AND DISEASE.
ILLNESS IS WHAT THE PATIENT FEELS AND DISEASE IS THE NOMENCLATURE THAT THE
DOCTOR RECOGNIZES IT BY.
*Presentation Questions not used yet – no idea as to which ones might be on the test*
Name the most common cause of osteomyelitis – Staphylococcus Aureus (not sure if this was on the test)
The main cause of melanoma is too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays – T or F
Acute pain results from local tissue damage and generally subsides in weeks – T or F
Besides needles, what are 2 other methods of acupuncture? Heat and electrical stimulation
What is the number one reason why people see doctors?
a. Cough
b. Pain
c. Allergies
d. Check-up