Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology studies the disordered physiological processes that cause illness or injury in an individual.

In this article, you will understand in detail what pathophysiology is, how it works and you will see some examples, such as the pathophysiology of diabetes, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

To begin to understand what physiopathology is , we can start from its etymological origin. The term comes from the Greek “pathos” = suffering; “physis” = nature, origin; and “logos” = “the study of”. Thus, we can define it as the study of the nature of a disease.

The aim of physiology , therefore, is to investigate the abnormal changes in bodily functions that are the causes, or consequences, of physical, mental, or psychophysiological disorders.

How does it work?

Pathophysiology is a convergence of pathology, the discipline that describes conditions observed during a disease state, with physiology , the discipline that describes processes or mechanisms that operate within an organism.

Thus, pathophysiological research aims to identify biological markers and mechanisms that help explain the functional, structural and biochemical changes that occur at the cellular, tissue, organ and system level, due to a pathological state.

Thus, with the help of pathophysiology, it is possible to understand the entire process of a disease: its causes, how it evolves and also what alterations and clinical manifestations it generates in the individual.

In the next topic, we will show some examples of pathophysiology for you to understand better. Keep following!

Examples

cardiovascular pathophysiology

Cardiovascular pathophysiology encompasses several conditions that disturb the functioning of this system.

Let’s take the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis as an example , one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases, understanding the whole process that involves this pathology.

We first have the various risk factors for this condition:

• high cholesterol;
• hypertension
• and smoking.

From there, we move on to the physiological changes that can occur when these factors trigger oxidation and inflammation mechanisms in the artery wall that, over time, give rise to fatty-fibrous lesions characteristic of atherosclerosis.

We then move on to the clinical manifestations : physical trauma and inflammation produce rupture of the lesion, which can lead to events such as heart attack and stroke.

We will also have several biomarkers here that will help to identify the progression of the disease, such as:

• The inflammatory indicator CRP (C-reactive protein), indicates the growth of the atheromatous plaque;
• The inflammatory marker CD40 and the cardiac myofilament protein, troponin, are indicators of heart attack;

Pathophysiology of diabetes

The pathophysiology of diabetes depends on the type of disease, but, in general, it involves disturbances in the mechanisms responsible for plasma concentrations of glucose in the blood.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system itself attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone responsible for reducing the rate of glucose in the blood.

There may still be other associated autoimmune diseases, that is, that can trigger type 1 diabetes, including vitiligo and hypothyroidism.

This type of disease always requires insulin therapy, not responding to oral medications that stimulate this hormone.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, which this time is produced by the pancreas, but cannot act properly.

To compensate, its production is accelerated by this organ, which, over time, becomes exhausted, causing insulin-producing cells to begin to fail and blood sugar to become permanently high.

Obesity is the main cause of insulin resistance. In most cases, over time, patients need to take insulin when oral medications do not stimulate adequate insulin release.

Pathophysiology of the respiratory system

In pathophysiology of the respiratory system , the disturbed physiological function of the individual is breathing.

We can take the pathophysiology of asthma as an example , a condition that affects the lungs, more specifically the bronchial tree, the structure responsible for distributing air through the lungs until it reaches the alveolar sacs, where gas exchange between air and blood takes place.

The bronchi contain smooth muscle and elastic fibers to maintain their wall integrity, which changes based on their contraction and relaxation.

In normal respiratory physiology, lung compliance is the willingness of the lungs to stretch, whereas elastance is the ability of the lungs to return to their resting position.

In patients with asthma, this mechanism is compromised due to inflammation, causing narrowing of the bronchi and making it difficult for air to pass through, causing contractions (bronchospasms), which make breathing difficult.

There are several factors that can trigger asthma attacks, such as exposure to irritants and allergens such as:

• pollen,
• mold,
• mites,
• cigarette smoke,
• air pollutants,
• chemical gases,
• insecticides,
• dust
• and even certain foods, such as milk and eggs.

Asthma is a chronic disease, that is, it has no cure. But your symptoms can be controlled and relieved with medication.

Now that you know what pathophysiology is , you must have realized that many diseases have risk factors and manageable causes, right?

So remember that prevention is always the best way to take care of your health!

Keep healthy habits: exercise, eat well, take care of your mental health and perform a periodic health check-up, even if you don’t have symptoms.

A simple test requested in a routine appointment can save your life by making it possible to diagnose an illness early.

Access the Eigier website and schedule your exams, with comfort and safety.

Eigier Diagnostics has been in the market for more than 37 years and is responsible for the control of specialized companies that operate in diagnostic imaging medicine .