This coursework is Unit 14 of BTEC Health and Social Care : Physiological disorders and their care . I did Asthma and Diabetes in which I received a Distinction * for.
Throughout section A of the coursework, I will be discussing two physiological disorders, their
affects, symptoms, and many more impacts they have on a service user. There are a variety of
psychological disorders which can have both physical and mental effects on the human body
including, Parkinson’s disease, bowel cancer, coronary heart disease and may more. However, the
two I will be researching are Diabetes (Endocrine Disorder) and Asthma (Respiratory Disorder).
Asthma
Asthma is a lung condition which causes breathing difficulties. Being a common respiratory disease,
it affects 5.4 million individuals in the UK and on average 3 people die from it daily. Although it
affects people of all ages, it predominantly starts in childhood, with some service users experiencing
it for the first time later in life. Asthma presents itself in the lungs but specifically in the muscles of
the airways. Due to inflammation and excessive mucus, the airways become restricted and
sometimes blocked. Although Asthma cannot be cured, there are some treatments which can make
the disease more manageable for the individual.
What is asthma? Asthma UK (no date) Asthma + Lung UK. Available at:
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/understanding-asthma/what-is-asthma/ (Accessed: February 25,
2023).
Diabetes
Diabetes, an Endocrine System Disorder. An Endocrine System Disorder controls the bodies
hormones and biochemical, controlling homeostatic functions. Diabetes is a disorder occurs when
your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it well as it should. This lack of insulin lead to the
excess of sugar staying in your bloodstream which overtime could cause serious health problems. I
will be exploring two types of diabetes, both of which occur from different factors and carry
different symptoms.
• Type 1 diabetes – Type 1 diabetes develops forms damage to the pancreas (through infections or
genetically). The damage to the pancreas causes the failure to produce any insulin. This type usually
,appears from childhood, but it can be spotted in adult life through it being undetected.
• Type 2 diabetes – Type 2 diabetes occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or
their body doesn’t react to it. Therefore, the insulin stays in the blood and isn’t used for functions
such as energy. Opposing to type 1, type 2 diabetes shows with obesity issues and in later life. Type
2 diabetes is also a degenerative condition meaning it can cause long-term health problems
including kidney failure and limb amputation.
(No date) NHS choices. NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/ (Accessed:
February 25, 2023).
Causes, Signs and Symptoms
Asthma
• Inherited traits- The main biological causes of asthma are usually caused by genetics. For example,
an individual is more likely to be affected by this disorder if there is a history of asthma or atopic
conditions (associated allergies e.g., hay fever or eczema) in their family. Moreover, being exposed
to smoke as a foetus or a child may cause this lung condition.
• Lifestyle choices- One of the most severe lifestyle effects on asthma is smoking. Smoke irritates the
airways making them inflamed and narrow, imitating an asthma attack. As an asthmatic is more
sensitive to these things, it is more likely to trigger their symptoms and cause a flare-up.
• Diet- Although your diet does not directly affect an individual’s asthma, however eating better to
maintain a healthy lifestyle may help their condition. Being overweight increases the risk of having
asthma due to the pressure on the lungs, making it difficult to breath. Therefore, good nutrition is
valuable for asthma. For instance, following an anti-inflammatory diet reduces the risk of
inflammation within the body’s cells and help to keep your weight within a healthy range.
,• Environmental Causes- Environmental factors can be indoor or outdoor and can be as a result of
many factors. Some of the main environmental factors which affect asthma are Infections (affecting
the upper airways such as colds and the flu), allergens (pollen, animal fur and dust), air pollution,
food allergies and housing condition (mould or dampness). Furthermore, extreme weather
conditions and other outdoor factors (allergens & irritants) can exacerbate asthma and increase the
chances of an asthma attack. Adding to this, the effects of smoke/pollutants within the environment,
such as tobacco smoke or air pollution, may irritate the airways and fill them with mucus, causing
the Individual to have struggle breathing.
Lifestyle changes to manage asthma (2022) Allergy &, Asthma network. Available at:
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-asthma/lifestyle-changes-to-manage-
asthma/#:~:text=Following%20an%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20diet,that%20does%20not%20promo
te%20inflammation. (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
Diabetes
• Inherited traits- Doctors aren’t sure of the root source of diabetes therefore we cannot directly say
that inherited traits cause diabetes. However, there are time when type 1 diabetes can be
predisposed, and certain individuals can have a higher chance of getting diabetes if they have a
relative with it. It is suggested that individuals should talk to their doctor about any chance of
diabetes history within the family. But it is known that individuals who are white have a higher
chance of developing type 1 diabetes than others. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes-type-1-
genetics (Accessed: February 25, 2023). Other inherited statistics include mother with diabetes
increases the risk for children by 2%, 8% for a father and 30% if both parents suffer with type 1
diabetes. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-genetics.html (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
• Lifestyle choices- Type 1 diabetes cannot be caused by any lifestyle choices and it cannot be
prevented of cured. However, type 2 diabetes is usually affected because of lifestyle choices. The
main cause of type 2 diabetes is obesity, accounting 80-85% of those developing type 2. This obesity
is affected by an unhealthy diet and having excess weight around their stomach lining. Besides this,
smoking similarly affects type 2 diabetes. Nicotine increases your blood sugar and increase the
chance of getting diabetes by 30-4-%. Therefore, patients who suffer with diabetes who also smoke
need larger doses of insulin.
• Diet- An unhealthy diet, full of fat, calories and cholesterol increases the risk of type 2 diabetes
since they may cause high blood sugar levels and abnormal insulin production. A poor diet may also
lead to obesity which is a main factor for diabetes. Another way that diet can cause diabetes is a
person’s alcohol intake. Alcohol minimizes your body’s ability to recover after your blood sugar
spikes, it also stops glucose from re-entering the blood to boost blood sugar levels.
• Environmental factors- For type 1 diabetes, having a virus at a young age may trigger the disorder,
studies also suggest that people who are born in colder countries are more likely to suffer from type
1 diabetes. In addition, type 2 diabetes is affected a lot more by environmental factors due to it
usually starting in adulthood. Although it hasn’t been proven, studies suggest that air pollution can
cause type 2 diabetes through pollutants entering the bloodstream and organs. Nall, R. (2019)
Diabetes risk factors: Genetics, environmental, and more, Healthline. Healthline Media. Available at:
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes-risk-factors (Accessed: February 25, 2023).
Observational signs
Asthma
, Observational signs are those that are detectable by other individuals but not always the patients
themselves. For asthma, these include:
- Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound which occurs when an individual with asthma
breathes. This noise occurs when the persons airways in the lungs are narrowed which
makes it hard to breathe.
- Someone may find it trouble to talk when they are experiencing an asthma attack. This is
because they are suffering with breathlessness. Furthermore, individuals who have regular
wheezing and allergies may have inflammation within the vocal cords, making the voice
sound scratchy.
- Blue lips can the result of a decrease of oxygen in your blood or poor blood circulation
(common in individuals with asthma).
- Low peak flow expiratory flow reading (PEF). A PEF is a device which allows individuals to
measure how well air is travelling out of your lungs. A low reading indicates that there is
narrowing within their lungs and an increase in the severity of their asthma.
Asthma attack symptoms and early signs of asthma (no date) WebMD. WebMD. Available at:
https://www.webmd.com/asthma/asthma-symptoms (Accessed: March 4, 2023).
Diabetes
Observational signs of diabetes can differ from each type. This is because they occur at different
stages of life and have varied impacts.
- Type 1 diabetes- Physical signs that may be apparent in a person with type 1 diabetes are,
fatigue, mood swings, unintended weight loss and frequent urination. Fatigue is a cause of
high blood glucose levels when the body is not providing enough energy. Due to this, the
body will start burning muscle instead of fat for energy, sometimes causing rapid weight
loss. Mood swings and frequent urination are both associated with higher blood glucose or
hyperglycaemia.
Type 1 diabetes - symptoms (no date) Type 1 Diabetes - Symptoms | ADA. Available at:
https://diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1/symptoms (Accessed: March 4, 2023).
- Type 2 diabetes- Signs that may be observed in those with type 2 diabetes are: increased
hunger, darkened skin and wounds taking longer to heal. Excessive hunger is caused by the
body’s insulin resistance keeping glucose from entering the muscles, decreasing energy and
increasing hunger. Darkened skin, also known as Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition
common in people with diabetes which usually darkens or thickens the skin. This may mean
that you have too much insulin in your blood. Lastly, delayed wound healing is due to the
insufficiency in insulin in the body, sugar levels rise, meaning that it takes longer for wounds
to heal.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms and treatments (no date) Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform.
Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/diabetes/type-2-diabetes
(Accessed: March 4, 2023).
Symptoms
Asthma
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