Pathogenesis is the process of development of any disease. It is investigated on the basis of clinical test data. This also helps, for example, X-ray examination in diseases of the bones and joints; ultrasound - for diseases of internal organs, fluorographic - for lung damage and others. In other words, pathogenesis describes everything that happens to a person during a particular illness. If the doctor knows the mechanisms of pathogenesis, he will be able to prevent the development of more serious complications. The pathogenesis of the disease is always different. It will depend on the disease itself, its causes and pathogen. Consider the examples of the pathogenesis of diseases.
Diabetes
This disease has been known since ancient times. Even then, healers noticed that people who had sweet urine would soon die. But people did not know what kind of disease it was, how it was treated, so for many centuries diabetes was considered a death sentence.
Some time passed, scientists appeared who were able to understand the pathogenesis of diabetes and develop a life-saving drug.
What happens in the body of a person who has diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the human body does not receive an important hormone - insulin. Because of thisthe patient's blood sugar rises. The person may die. There are two types of diabetes: insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent (types 1 and 2). The pathogenesis of diabetes in these cases is different, but first things first.
The first type of diabetes usually occurs in children and adults under 35 years of age, it is inherited, but other causes are possible: severe stress, trauma to the pancreas, infectious diseases. Any of the causes becomes an impetus for the development of the disease. The pancreas (more precisely, the islets of Langerhans) begins to die. But it is she who secretes insulin. Soon, the body develops an absolute deficiency of this hormone, and patients require life-saving injections.
Today, diabetes can be called an incurable disease. Pancreas transplant operations are performed in Russia and abroad, but they are very expensive, not everyone can afford it.
The second type of diabetes mellitus has a different pathogenesis of development. They suffer from older people, more often women who are prone to fullness. In their case, the pancreas has no problems. It, as expected, produces the right amount of insulin, but the tissues of the body do not feel this hormone, and it enters the blood in small quantities. Reduced sensitivity occurs due to age, excess weight and chronic diseases of a person. The body lacks insulin, which sends signals to the pancreas. She, in turn, begins to intensively produce a hormone, which still does not reachgoals. As a result, the body gets tired, with each time the production of insulin decreases. For normal tissue sensitivity to insulin, such people are prescribed tablet preparations that improve the above process. Sometimes this helps, and sometimes it doesn't, and then the patients are prescribed insulin injections.
Pathogenesis of pneumonia
Pneumonia develops when pathogenic bacteria enter the lungs. They can get there by airborne droplets - this is the most common option. Hematogenous infection occurs with sepsis or other serious infectious diseases. Through the lymph, a person can become infected when the chest is wounded.
In any case, microbes enter the bronchi and begin to multiply there. The body reacts to such an invasion by raising the temperature and, consequently, by launching the immune system. With reduced immunity, a person quickly weakens, mucus begins to accumulate in the lungs, which will disrupt the patency of the bronchi. Predisposing factors in the formation of mucus include the following: smoking, drinking alcohol, working in hazardous industries, heart disease, and chronic illnesses. Microbes in the mucus feel very good and continue their pathogenic effect. To stop the harmful effects on the body of pathogenic bacteria, the patient is prescribed a special therapy and a complex of multivitamins to increase the body's defenses. The pathogenesis of pneumonia is very important for physicians. Knowing him, they will be able to prescribe the right treatment.
Hypertension
A condition in which there is an increase in blood pressure in the arteries is called arterial hypertension. The causes of the problem are: increased cardiac output, increased resistance to arterial blood flow, or both. The pathogenesis of arterial hypertension will depend on the causes that caused it. For example, if a person is constantly stressed, his muscles are in a tense state. This is transmitted to the blood vessels, they narrow, thereby provoking an increase in pressure. Also, the causes of this problem can be diseases of the heart and other internal organs, such as the thyroid gland. In any case, if persistent arterial hypertension is detected, the patient must undergo a complete medical examination to determine the exact cause of the disease.
Pathogenesis of gastric ulcer
Aggressive and protective factors are isolated in the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. Peptic ulcer appears when there is an imbalance between them. Aggressive factors:
- pepsin;
- bile acids;
- hydrochloric acid.
Protective factors include the following:
- mucus production;
- epithelium renewal;
- proper blood supply;
- normal nutrition of nerve cells.
In addition, another important reason for the formation of ulcers is isolated - the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. At the end of the twentieth century, Australian scientists discovered it in the mucousthe lining of the stomach of a person suffering from chronic gastritis. After a number of studies, it has been proven that Helicobacter pylori can affect the formation of ulcers. It does not die in the stomach and releases harmful substances that damage its mucosa.
The bacterium attaches to the wall of the stomach, thereby causing inflammation of the mucous membrane. When a focus of inflammation appears, the body turns on defenses and delivers leukocytes to the ulcer with blood (they fight infectious pathogens). But in this case, leukocytes begin to produce an active form of oxygen, which damages the epithelium and aggravates the course of the disease. The affected mucosa becomes sensitive to aggressive factors - this causes pain.
Peptic ulcer requires urgent treatment because it gives many life-threatening complications. You must be aware of the risk of perforation of the ulcer (the formation of a through hole in the stomach). Untreated, an ulcer can turn into cancer. Therefore, if you suspect a considered ailment, you should consult a doctor.
Atherosclerosis
A disease in which the arteries of the elastic type are damaged is called atherosclerosis. With this disease, there is a change in the state of the walls of blood vessels and the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque. As the disease progresses, the patient's condition may worsen. But with timely seeking medical help, terrible consequences can be avoided. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis will depend on the causes that caused it. There are several hypotheses for the formationatherosclerotic plaques.
Causes of atherosclerotic plaques
The first reason is a violation of the integrity of the blood vessel wall. There are many factors that damage the endothelium. This includes smoking, including passive smoking, high blood pressure, unhe althy diet, sedentary lifestyle, frequent stress and emotional overstrain. In addition, various bacteria and viruses can cause integrity violations. Platelets begin to accumulate at the site of damage to the vessel. They are necessary to close the hole that has appeared. The problem is that platelets partially or completely block the lumen of the vessel. When large vessels are damaged, clinical symptoms of complications of atherosclerosis appear: coronary heart disease - a condition in which the heart muscle lacks oxygen; myocardial infarction and other diseases.
Another hypothesis for the appearance of the disease is malnutrition. With the frequent use of fatty and fried foods, a large amount of fat is retained in the blood. They adversely affect the walls of blood vessels and cause damage to them. Further, the picture is similar to the previous one. Platelets rush to the site of injury, but their activity is too high. A thrombus forms on the wall of the vessel, which clogs the lumen of the vessel and causes complications. In addition, a thrombus can break away from the wall of the damaged vessel and clog any other, such as the aorta or pulmonary artery. In this case, instant death occurs.
As you can see, both hypotheseshave almost the same pathogenesis. This is a matter of controversy, but scientists around the world believe that both causes of atherosclerosis have a right to exist. More than that, they complement each other. Currently, there are a number of drugs that can reduce the risk of developing plaques. In order to find out if you are at risk of developing this disease, you need to consult a doctor. If necessary, he will prescribe treatment for you.
Edema
Everyone knows what swelling is. The pathogenesis of their appearance depends on the causes. And there are a lot of the latter. But first things first.
Edema in heart disease
Normally, the fluid that goes through the arterial vessels has a higher pressure than that available in the tissues. In the venous system, the opposite is true. Thus, there is a normal exchange of fluid in the body. But with pathology, the pressure in the venous vessels increases, fluid retention occurs in the body - edema appears. The problem may be due to venous stasis or heart failure.
Edema in the inflammatory process
The pathogenesis of the disease is also associated with fluid retention in the body. Inflammation provokes venous congestion - this is a condition in which there is stagnation of blood in the organs due to obstructed venous outflow. The pressure in the veins increases, while the fluid is retained in the body.
Swelling from an allergic reaction
Allergy is the body's reaction to antigenic factors. With suchproblem, the body releases histamine, which causes vasodilation and increases the permeability of the vascular wall. Because of this, fluid begins to flow intensively into the tissues, resulting in edema.
Hungry swelling
Normally, oncotic pressure in the blood and tissues is the same. But during starvation, the breakdown of proteins begins in the body, which the body begins to consume. First of all, it is taken for blood plasma proteins. Because of this, blood pressure drops sharply, and the fluid passes into the direction of increased pressure, that is, into the tissue.
Swelling associated with inflammation of the kidneys
When the kidney becomes inflamed, compression of the renal vessels occurs. This is followed by a violation of the circulation of the specified organ and irritation of the cells that stimulate the release of renin. The latter stimulates the adrenal glands, which begin to produce aldosterone. It inhibits the excretion of sodium from the body. This element irritates tissue osmoreceptors, which increase the activity of antidiuretic hormone. It, in turn, slows down the excretion of fluid from the body, and it begins to accumulate in the tissues.
The pathogenesis of diseases that cause edema is almost the same, but each case has its own nuances. Therefore, for the correct treatment of the disease, it is not enough just to read the pathogenesis on your own. It can only hurt. Therapy must be prescribed by a physician.
Conclusion
In the article, we tried to describe the pathogenesis of various ailments in understandable words, so that it would be easier for you to understand the essence of the problem. Pathogenesis ismechanism of disease development. Information about him is used to prescribe the correct treatment.
