1. Allergies, Asthma, Diabetes, and Arthritis
Coach Childress
Health and PE
Fall 2017

2. Allergies
If you are sneezing and have a runny nose, you might not have a cold.
Rather, you might have an allergy – a specific reaction of the immune system to a foreign and frequently harmless substance.
These substances are present in your environment and make their way into your body.
Have you notices how many advertisements for allergy medications are on TV and in magazines?
That’s because allergies are a very common noncommunicable illness, affecting 40 million to 50 million Americans.
The substances that cause allergies and are called allergens.
Allergens include pollen, certain foods, dust, mold spores, chemicals, insect venom, pet dander, and certain medicines.

3. Allergies (Continued)
Allergens produce the allergic reactions of sneezing and a runny nose in a four-step process.
The allergen enters the body, which treats the allergen as a foreign invader.
Antigens on the surface of allergens attach to special immune cells in the linings of the nasal passage.
These immune cells release histamines, chemicals that can stimulate mucus and fluid production.
Histamines cause sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and other allergy symptoms.

4. Allergies (Continued)
There are many kinds of allergic reactions. Some allergies produce hives – itchy raised bumps on the skin. More serious reactions that can be life threatening include the following:
Severe hives
Itching or swelling of an area stung by an insect
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Swelling of the tongue, mouth, or eyes
Sharp drop in blood pressure, which can cause dizziness.

5. Diagnosing Allergies Sometimes you can diagnose an allergy yourself.
For example, you may notice that you break out in a rash after eating certain foods.
In many cases, though, tests are needed to identify the source of an allergic reaction.
Blood tests and skin tests are common methods.
During a skin test, small amounts of possible allergens are applied to a scratched area of the skin.
If a person is allergic to any of the allergens, the skin will swell and turn red.

6. Treating Allergies
The simplest way to treat an allergy is to avoid the allergen that causes it.
Many people avoid peanuts, milk, or foods made with these items because they know they are allergic to them.
When avoidance are not possible, people with allergies can take antihistamines.
These medicines help control allergy symptoms.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which medication may be most helpful for you.
Some antihistamines may aggravate other medical conditions, such as heart conditions or lung problems.

7. Treating Allergies (Continued)
Allergies range from mild to life- threatening.
People with long-lasting or severe allergies should seek medical attention.
If you suffer from severe allergies, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines or a single, injectable dose of medicine that you carry with you at all times.
If someone you know experiences a severe allergic reaction, call 911 immediately.

8. Asthma
More than 15 million people in the United States have asthma – an inflammatory condition in which the small airways in the lungs become narrowed, causing difficulty in breathing.
This disease can develop at any age, but about 1/3 of asthma sufferers are under the age of 18.
Asthma can be life-threatening, so those who have it must take the condition seriously and learn to manage it.
The bronchial tubes of people with asthma are highly sensitive to certain substances called triggers.
Common asthma triggers include air pollution, pet dander, tobacco smoke, microscopic mold, pollen, and dust mites.
Sometimes, asthma attacks may be triggered by exercise (exercise-induced asthma)
During an asthma attack, the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and produce extra mucus.
Symptoms may range from minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing.

9. Managing Asthma
People with asthma are usually under a doctor’s care and take prescribed medications. They also help themselves with self-management strategies:
Monitor the Condition:
Learn to recognize the warning signs of an attack: shortness of breath, chest tightness, or pain, coughing, or sneezing.
Manage your Environment:
Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke, wash bedding frequently, and be aware of the air quality in your area.
Manage Stress:
Stress can trigger an asthma attack. Learn relaxation and stress-management techniques to reduce your risk.
Take Medication Properly:
Medications can help relieve symptoms, prevent flare-ups, and make air passages less sensitive to triggers. Many people with asthma use bronchodilators, or inhalers. These devices deliver medication that relaxes and widens respiratory passages.

10. Diabetes
It is likely that you know someone with diabetes – a chronic disease that affects the way body cells convert sugar into energy.
it is one of the fastest-growing diseases in the United States, with more than 1 million new cases diagnosed every year.
Young people are especially at risk today. Symptoms of diabetes include the following:
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Sudden changes in vision
Tingling in hands or feet
Frequent fatigue
Sores that are slow to heal
More infections than usual

11. Diabetes (Continued)
In a person with diabetes, the pancreas produces too little or no insulin, a hormone that helps glucose from food enter body cells and provide them with energy.
Some diabetics do produce enough insulin, but their cells don’t respond normally to it.
As a result, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being delivered to cells.
The only way to diagnose diabetes is through a blood test.
Diabetes can be successfully managed with medication, a healthful eating plan, and regular moderate exercise.
If the disease is not treated, the long-term effects include blindness, kidney failure, limb amputations, heart disease, and stroke.

12. Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of all diabetes cases.
It appears suddenly and progresses quickly.
The body fails to produce insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, and cells don’t get the energy that they need.
Over time, the high blood sugar level can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
Scientists have not yet been able to determine what causes type 1 diabetes.
Some suspect an environmental trigger – for example, an unidentified virus – that stimulates an immune response.
The body begins attacking itself and destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin.

13. Type 1 Diabetes (Continued)
Type 1 diabetes is known as an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself, targeting the cells, tissues, and organs of a person’s own body.
People with type 1 diabetes must take daily doses of insulin, either through injections or through a specifically attached pump.

14. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all cases of diabetes.
It usually appears after age 40, but growing numbers of younger people – even children and teens – are developing this disease.
In this form of diabetes, the body is unable to make enough insulin or to use insulin properly.
Some scientists fear that type 2 diabetes will become an epidemic for two (2) reasons:
There are more older people in the population
There are more obese and inactive young people

15. Type 2 Diabetes (Continued)
To help prevent type 2 diabetes, include these healthful behaviors in your life:
Choose low-fat, low-calorie foods
People whose eating plans are high in fat, calories, and cholesterol have an increased risk of diabetes.
Participate in regular physical activity
Being active helps control weight and lower blood cholesterol levels.
People with diabetes can live full, normal loves if they manage their condition.
This includes monitoring their blood sugar levels, making healthful eating decisions, engaging in regular physical activity, and taking prescribed medications

16. Arthritis
Arthritis is a group of more than 100 different diseases that cause pain and loss of movement in joints.
Arthritis affects people of all ages, though it is more common in older adults.
The two main forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Both can be debilitating, limiting movement in the affected joints.
There is currently no cure for either type, but self-management techniques can reduce pain and improve movement.

17. Osteoarthritis
½ of all arthritis cases involves osteoarthritis – a disease of the joints in which cartilage breaks down.
Cartilage is the strong, flexible tissue that cushions your joints.
Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to become pitted and frayed.
In time, it may wear away completely, causing the bones to rub painfully against each other.

18. Osteoarthritis (Continued)
People with osteoarthritis experience aches and soreness, especially when moving.
Osteoarthritis mainly affects the large, weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips.
However, the fingers, feet, lower back, and other joints are also at risk.
Several strategies can reduce your risk:
Control your weight:
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on your joints.
Stay active:
Physical activity strengthens your joints.
Prevent sports injuries:
Warm up before exercising, participate in strength training, and use protective equipment to avoid joint injuries.
Protect against Lyme disease:
If left untreated, Lyme disease can result in a rare form of osteoarthritis. When walking in wooded areas, use insect repellant and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

19. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis. is a disease characterized by the debilitating destruction of the joints due to inflammation.
It is THREE (3) times more common in women than in men.
Symptoms usually first appear between the ages of 20 and 50, but the disease can also affect young children.
Some of the symptoms and side effects include:
Joint pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness
Deformed joints that can’t function normally
Possible fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands

20. Rheumatoid Arthritis (Continued)
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder.
If affects mainly the joints in the hand, foot, elbow, shoulder, neck, knee, hip, and ankle.
The effects are usually symmetrical, meaning that both sides of the body develop the symptoms at the same time.
Treatments focus on relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and keeping the joints flexible.
Treatment methods include medication, exercise, rest, joint protection, and physical and occupational therapy.