2.4 Pathophysiology and Disease Mechanisms

Pathophysiology bridges the gap between disease processes and clinical symptoms, examining how diseases disrupt normal body functions. It's crucial for understanding how diseases develop, progress, and affect the body at cellular and systemic levels.

This knowledge is vital for healthcare professionals, guiding prevention strategies, diagnosis, treatment decisions, and monitoring. By understanding disease mechanisms, we can develop targeted interventions and improve patient outcomes across various medical conditions.

Introduction to Pathophysiology and Disease Mechanisms

Pathology vs pathophysiology vs disease

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• Pathology studies disease processes and their effects on the body focusing on structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs
• Pathophysiology examines functional changes that occur within the body during a disease process and how these changes disrupt normal physiological functions bridging the gap between pathology and clinical signs and symptoms
• Disease is a specific abnormal condition negatively affecting an organism's structure or function characterized by specific signs, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria (flu, diabetes)

Classification of disease causes

• Genetic diseases caused by mutations or abnormalities in an individual's DNA (sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease)
• Infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites transmitted from person to person or acquired from the environment (influenza, HIV/AIDS, malaria)
• Environmental diseases caused by exposure to harmful substances or conditions in the environment (asbestosis from asbestos exposure, lead poisoning, radiation sickness)
• Lifestyle-related diseases caused by unhealthy behaviors or habits (lung cancer from smoking, liver cirrhosis from alcohol abuse, obesity from poor diet and lack of exercise)
• Idiopathic diseases with unknown causes (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, essential hypertension)

Disease Progression and Applications of Pathophysiology

Stages of disease progression

1. Exposure or genetic predisposition: individual exposed to disease-causing agent or has genetic susceptibility
2. Pathological changes begin: disease-causing agent or genetic abnormality starts causing structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, or organs which may not be clinically evident
3. Subclinical stage: pathological changes progress but individual does not exhibit signs or symptoms; disease may be detectable through diagnostic tests
4. Clinical manifestations: signs and symptoms become apparent as pathological changes affect body functions; severity varies depending on extent of changes
5. Complications and sequelae: if untreated or poorly managed, disease may lead to secondary complications or long-term effects (sequelae) affecting multiple organ systems and potentially more severe than initial disease

Applications of pathophysiology knowledge

• Prevention: understanding causes and risk factors helps develop targeted prevention strategies (anti-smoking campaigns and policies based on smoking causing lung cancer)
• Diagnosis: knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms guides development of diagnostic tests (PET scans detecting beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease)
• Treatment: understanding pathophysiology identifies potential therapeutic targets and guides treatment decisions (antihypertensive medications developed based on high blood pressure leading to heart disease and stroke)
• Monitoring: tracking disease progression based on pathophysiology helps monitor treatment effectiveness and adjust therapies as needed (measuring blood glucose in diabetic patients to assess insulin therapy effectiveness and guide dosage adjustments)