Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Medicine & Health

Oral Drug Bioavailability: Unpredictable Factors

The bioavailability of oral drugs can be unpredictable because drug absorption depends on many factors, including:

• Gastrointestinal functional status: How well the digestive system is working.
• Food intake: Presence or absence of food can affect absorption rates.
• pH level: The acidity or alkalinity within the gastrointestinal tract.

Sublingual Drug Administration: Key Benefits

The sublingual route is particularly useful for certain drugs, such as nitroglycerin, for two main reasons:

• It allows for rapid administration in emergency situations.
• It bypasses first-pass metabolism in the liver. Drugs that are extensively metabolized in the liver may not reach therapeutic plasma levels if administered orally.

Risk Evaluation and Assessment

Risk assessment is a process to detect and estimate the magnitude of all enterprise risks, identify those that can be removed, and act on those that cannot be avoided. The assessment provides information to make appropriate decisions, identifying the need for preventive measures and selecting the most suitable ones. To perform a risk assessment, a systematic analysis of all aspects of the workplace is needed, taking into account:

• The nature of the company's activity.
• The characteristics and number of exposed workers.

The risk assessment includes the analysis and evaluation of risk.

Risk Analysis

Risk analysis consists of the following phases:

1. Identifying the Hazard: A hazard is understood as any source of injury, damage

Hygiene: Cleaning and Care of Body, Homes, and Cities

Hygiene refers to the practices involved in cleaning and caring for the body, homes, cities, and towns.

Personal Hygiene

Personal hygiene involves the cleaning and care of the body through the use of:

• Soaps
• Colognes
• Deodorants
• Creams
• Haircuts and washes
• Washing clothes
• Consuming clean food
• Fresh air intake

Home Hygiene

Home hygiene includes:

• Sweeping and dusting
• Washing and disinfecting bathrooms and kitchens
• Painting walls
• Replacing flooring, materials, and furniture

Public Health

Public health involves:

• Cleaning and maintaining streets
• Picking up garbage
• Managing sewage systems to remove waste from cities and purify it

Medicine: Study and Treatment of Human Diseases

Medicine is the science responsible for studying... Continue reading "Hygiene, Medicine, and Disease Prevention: A Comprehensive Look" »

Injuries in Children in Developed Societies

In developed societies, infectious diseases are no longer the primary cause of high infant mortality. Instead, accidents have become a leading cause of death.

Blooper Children: Definition and Types

An accident is an event independent of human will, caused by an outside force, acting quickly and resulting in physical or mental damage. Accidental injuries in children can be caused by falls, traffic accidents, poisoning, etc. Infants are particularly vulnerable. Accidents are the leading cause of death in children over one year old.

Accidents and Health

Accidents are a major public health problem in developed countries. Childhood accidents are a priority due to their frequency and serious consequences.

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Antiepileptic Treatment: Mouth Care

There is a risk of bleeding and gingival hyperplasia with antiepileptic treatment. It is recommended to use a soft toothbrush, avoid mouthwashes with alcohol, and have regular dental checkups.

Specific Mouth Care

• Use a soft toothbrush
• Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes
• Regular dental checkups

Vitamin K and Folic Acid Supplementation

A diet rich in vitamin K and folic acid is recommended to help prevent excessive bleeding in patients undergoing antiepileptic treatment.

Risks of Injury in Antiepileptic Treatment

Patients should avoid activities that pose a physical risk. It's important to understand the effects of medications on daily life.

Antiparkinsonian Treatment Goals

The overall goal of antiparkinsonian pharmacology... Continue reading "Antiepileptic and Antiparkinsonian Treatment: Patient Care and Safety" »

Key Concepts in Occupational Health and Safety

Health

The perfect balance of an individual's physical, psychological, and social well-being.

Security

The guarantee of freedom from risk, harm, and danger.

Occupational Risks

Work situations that can upset the physical, mental, and social balance of a worker.

Factors Contributing to Occupational Risks

• Mechanical Factors

  Risks caused by crashes, improper handling, or electrical contacts due to faulty installation.

• Physical Factors

  Risks from noise, vibration, heat stress, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

• Chemical Factors

  Risks from chemical substances.

• Biological Factors

  Risks from biological agents.

Routes of Pollutant Input

• Respiratory via
• Skin absorption
• Digestive mucosa absorption
• Parenteral (injection)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Short-Acting and Long-Acting Benzodiazepines

Short-acting benzodiazepines present a lower risk of causing excessive sleepiness but cause more problems with insomnia and anxiety when discontinued. Long-acting benzodiazepines increase the risk of sedation because they accumulate in the body but cause fewer withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.

Respiratory Monitoring in Patients Treated with Benzodiazepines

You should always monitor SpO2 continuously, as well as the risk of aspiration. It is necessary to have a suction unit ready.

Preventive Technique for Pain Control

It is based on maintaining constant therapeutic levels of analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Medication should be administered at the scheduled interval,... Continue reading "Benzodiazepines and Opioids: Uses, Effects, and Safety" »

Understanding Surgical Procedures

Surgical treatment, or surgery, can be classified into major surgery and minor surgery. Major surgery involves complex interventions, such as cardiac procedures, while minor surgery typically involves interventions on the surface of the skin.

Types of Surgical Procedures

• Major Surgical Operations

  When we refer to a surgical intervention, we are often talking about a major surgical operation. Due to their importance and complexity, these procedures could lead to serious complications after surgery. Therefore, the patient should remain in the hospital for some time to be controlled and treated by medical personnel. An example is the removal of the appendix.

• Minor Surgical Interventions

  In contrast, minor surgical interventions

Defining Health and Well-being

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Factors Influencing Health

Health depends on several factors:

• Physical and psychological characteristics of a person
• Lifestyle choices
• The healthcare system
• The social environment

Understanding Diseases

A disease is a serious or minor alteration of the body's normal functioning.

Infectious Diseases

These are health changes caused by transmissible agents, such as viruses.

Key Concepts in Infectious Disease

• Virus: Biological structures that require a host (like humans) to replicate and often cause disease.
• Microorganisms: Microscopic creatures capable of causing disease. Classes include:
  • Bacteria: Examples