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

First Aid

Position the Injured: Place the wounded person on their side to prevent choking and ensure their tongue does not obstruct their airway.

Kit: Soothing agents, betadine, bandages, plasters, thermometer, ointments, syringes, chlorhexidine, tape.

Cardiac Massage

Place the heel of your right hand on the lower half of the sternum and your left hand on top. Perform 60-80 compressions per minute for adults and 100 for babies.

Rescue Breathing

Place the heel of your hand on the forehead of the wounded person, pinch their nose, and lift their jaw with your other hand. Breathe directly into their mouth at a rate of 10 breaths per minute for adults and 15-20 for babies.

Health Concepts

Health

A complete state in which a person normally develops all their... Continue reading "Essential First Aid and Occupational Health Practices" »

TAE Functions in the Surgical Area

• Cleaning of instruments, equipment, and surfaces according to protocol.
• Sending instruments to central sterilization (clean, dry, and in proper containers).
• Receiving instruments and textile equipment from central sterilization, verifying and controlling sealed sterilization containers (color indicator).
• Picking up disposables and discarding them in special containers.
• Replacing materials.
• Receiving the patient in the pre-operative area, identifying them, and reviewing their clinical history.
• Checking patient's hygiene and shaved areas.
• Providing psychological support.
• Transferring the patient to the recovery unit upon awakening and collaborating with the medical team.

Postoperative Patient Care

Postoperative care begins... Continue reading "Nursing Assistant's Role in Surgical and Postoperative Patient Care" »

Hominization: The Path to Humanity

Hominization is the process through which primates, our ancestors, gradually acquired the physical structure of humans. This involved a series of morphological changes affecting their bodies, changes observed in the fossil record. Significant morphological changes include:

• Lengthening of the hip.
• Development of bipedal walking legs.
• Atrophy of the lower jaw and masseter muscles (releasing the skull).
• Increasing complexity of the brain (leading to greater intelligence).
• Development of the hand, particularly the thumb (allowing the use and manufacture of tools).

Humanization is the process by which our ancestors acquired culture, the elements that constitute civilization. This involves not physical changes, but cultural... Continue reading "Hominization and Evolution: Key Concepts Explained" »

The Major Challenges in Organ Transplantation

A transplant is the replacement of a diseased organ, which endangers a person's life, with a healthy one that functions properly. It's not always necessary to replace the entire organ; sometimes, a part of the organ, or even just some tissue or cells, is sufficient.

The therapeutic method of transplanting organs and tissues faces three major problems:

1. Immunological rejection
2. The shortage of available organs
3. The technical impossibility of obtaining certain organs or tissues

Immunological Rejection

Our immune system has the ability to distinguish between 'self' and 'non-self.' When white blood cells detect something foreign, they attempt to destroy it. This response is crucial when the foreign entity is... Continue reading "The Core Challenges of Organ and Tissue Transplantation" »

General Health and Medical Concepts

Health

A state in which the body is free of disease and performs all its functions normally.

Public Health

The art and science of organizing and directing community efforts to prevent disease, promote health, and rehabilitate individuals to achieve an optimal level of well-being.

BMI (Body Mass Index)

A ratio calculated from a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²).

Morbidity

The rate of disease or the proportion of a population affected by a particular illness.

Alzheimer's Disease

The most common cause of dementia in the elderly, characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain. This is often due to the accumulation of a protein called amyloid-beta. There... Continue reading "Key Health Terms and Medical Conditions Explained" »

Procedure: Inform the patient that it is bath time and request their cooperation. Offer the bedpan or urinal before you start cleaning. Gather all materials so that they are within reach. Wash your hands and put on gloves. Place the patient in a supine position.

1. Head - Hair and Face

Hair

From the recumbent position, remove the patient's pillow and place a towel under their head. Roll another towel around the neck. Place a waterproof sheet under the patient's head and shoulders, securing the towel and a rubber grip. Create a channel with the sheet leading to a container or basin to collect water. Protect the patient's eyes with a washcloth. Wet the hair and apply shampoo. Scrub, making circular motions to massage the scalp gently with your fingertips.

Tumor Diseases and Cancer

In normal tissues, cells divide to produce new cells that replace those that are old or damaged. These old or damaged cells must die to make room for new ones. When this balance is altered, a tumor appears (a disorganized mass of tissue). Most tumors are benign.

Malignant Tumors: Cancer

A malignant tumor is one whose cells can move from the initial tumor site to build new tumors in other parts of the body. Malignant tumor cells have two key characteristics:

• Invasiveness: The ability to penetrate and spread through adjacent tissues.
• Metastasis: The ability to penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, move through the blood and lymph, and settle in any part of the body to form a secondary tumor.

Genetics and Cancer

When the... Continue reading "Common Diseases Explained: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments" »

Employer Responsibilities

Duties of the Employer

• Protect workers from harm.
• Inform, consult, and involve workers in preventive measures.
• Provide theoretical and practical safety training to all workers.
• Establish emergency measures and manage serious risks.
• Periodically monitor the health of workers.
• Develop and maintain documentation, such as risk assessments and monitoring results.
• Coordinate with other companies when multiple employers share a worksite.
• Provide special protection for vulnerable workers, such as minors and pregnant women.

Employee Responsibilities and Rights

Employee Obligations

• Use safety devices and equipment correctly.
• Immediately report any safety concerns to a supervisor or designated prevention staff.
• Contribute to the fulfillment

Long-Term Diabetes: Consequences

• Neuropathy (damage to the nervous system)
• Nephropathy (kidney damage)
• Retinopathy (damage to the retina)
• Cardiovascular complications

Overnutrition and Obesity: Definitions and Causes

Overnutrition: a type of eating disorder caused by excessive intake of food as usual, which is higher than the nutritional needs of that person.

When is a person obese? A person is obese when body weight exceeds the normal by 20% or more.

Other factors in obesity: is due to hereditary factors (genetic), endocrine (glands in these disorders), metabolic or environmental (chemical reactions that occur in our cells).

Complications involved in obesity: hypertension, increased cholesterol, diabetes, myocardial infarction or stroke (overnutrition)... Continue reading "Diabetes Complications, Obesity, Cholesterol & Eating Disorders" »

Organic and Physiological Changes

Organic and physiological changes: Functional modifications occur in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. These include a decline in salivary secretion, reduced esophageal peristalsis, and decreased gastric acid secretion. Sensory alterations affect sight, taste, and smell, leading to inappetence and disinterest in food, often resulting in malnutrition.

Metabolic Changes

Metabolic changes: Cholesterol levels change, generally increasing lipemia, and protein synthesis degrades. Glycemic alterations in glucose utilization are frequent, leading to a decline in basal metabolism and, consequently, reduced energy needs.

Physical Activity

Physical activity: Physical work effectiveness and aerobic capacity (maximal... Continue reading "Nutrition for Seniors: Maintaining Health and Well-being" »