Lesson One - Basic Principles
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | Chronic Conditions [1 cr] - AB Ed copy 1 |
| Book: | Lesson One - Basic Principles |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 14 September 2025, 3:31 AM |
Information
- This lesson is designed to take approximately 1 hour.
- You have the following tasks and assignments to complete in this lesson:
Lesson Outcomes
- Learn the difference between acute and chronic illnesses.
- Learn the difference between chronic illnesses and chronic conditions.
- Discuss the process of cellular dysfunction.
- Explain how cellular dysfunction contributes to chronic conditions.
Introduction
Pexels
Chronic Conditions Definitions
In HSS1010: Health Services Foundations you learned that the determinants of health and dimensions of wellness contribute to your short-term and long-term health.
This course dives deeper into long-term health conditions, known as chronic conditions. Before looking at specific conditions, it is important to have a basic knowledge about what is meant by chronic condition and chronic illness. To define chronic illness it will first be compared to the term acute illness and then compared and contrasted to chronic conditions.
Acute vs. Chronic Illness
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Everyone has experienced acute illness multiple times in their lives. That time you woke up in the middle of the night and barely made it to the bathroom but were better the next day? That is classified as an acute illness. Everyone will experience some sort of acute illness at one time or another. The flu, a cold, or a stomach virus are all common acute illnesses.
In contrast, only 44% of adults in Canada over the age of 20 will experience chronic illness. While this number seems high, it is important to remember that the number of adults who will experience an acute illness is very near to 100%.
Definitions
Depending on where you look, the definitions of acute illness and chronic illness can vary. The definitions presented here are the ones used for this course.
According to MedlinePlus:
Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast, is a long-developing syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis,
a chronic condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition. An acute asthma attack occurs in the midst of the chronic disease of asthma. Acute conditions, such as a first asthma attack, may lead to a chronic syndrome if untreated.
Wikicommons
Comparison
Comparing Acute and Chronic Illness
Click on each collapsible row to view information.
Onset refers to when or how an illness starts or begins. Commonly associated with something unpleasant.
Acute: Symptoms most often develop quickly.
Chronic: Symptoms come on slowly and usually get worse over an extended time. A chronic illness can also develop from an acute illness.
Acute: Symptoms most often develop quickly.
Chronic: Symptoms come on slowly and usually get worse over an extended time. A chronic illness can also develop from an acute illness.
Pixabay
Causes refers to the change in the body or disease that makes the illness happen.
Acute: Often caused by viruses or bacteria. They can also be a result of the misuse of drugs, medication, or alcohol.
Chronic: Can be caused by viruses or bacteria but are sometimes the result of genetic predispositions to disease, unhealthy lifestyle choices, environmental factors, social or emotional factors, ageing, or unknown causes.
Acute: Often caused by viruses or bacteria. They can also be a result of the misuse of drugs, medication, or alcohol.
Chronic: Can be caused by viruses or bacteria but are sometimes the result of genetic predispositions to disease, unhealthy lifestyle choices, environmental factors, social or emotional factors, ageing, or unknown causes.
Pixabay
Duration refers to how long the illness lasts.
Acute: Lasts a short time, usually only a few days or weeks.
Chronic: Any illness that lasts longer than 6 months or has an indefinite timeline is considered chronic.
Acute: Lasts a short time, usually only a few days or weeks.
Chronic: Any illness that lasts longer than 6 months or has an indefinite timeline is considered chronic.
Early diagnosis accuracy refers to how likely the illness is to be identified correctly by medical professionals in the early stages.
*Over time medical research has improved early diagnosis accuracy for many acute and chronic conditions. This, along with the influence of bias, means that early diagnosis accuracy or uncertainty is not a recommended way to differentiate between acute and chronic illness.
*Over time medical research has improved early diagnosis accuracy for many acute and chronic conditions. This, along with the influence of bias, means that early diagnosis accuracy or uncertainty is not a recommended way to differentiate between acute and chronic illness.
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Test decisiveness refers to reliability of tests for this illness.
*Over time, medical research has improved the ability of many tests for reliability and certainty. However, it is not possible to directly test for some illnesses. Instead, tests are done to rule out other illnesses rather than to test for the illness itself.
*Over time, medical research has improved the ability of many tests for reliability and certainty. However, it is not possible to directly test for some illnesses. Instead, tests are done to rule out other illnesses rather than to test for the illness itself.
Pixabay
Common or rare cure refers to treatment or medication that leads to the return of normal health.
Acute: Full returns to health are common.
(*Note: if a return to health does not happen within 6 months the illness is no longer classified as an acute illness.)
Chronic: Full returns to health are rare with chronic illness. Often treatment is focused on management rather than a cure.
Acute: Full returns to health are common.
(*Note: if a return to health does not happen within 6 months the illness is no longer classified as an acute illness.)
Chronic: Full returns to health are rare with chronic illness. Often treatment is focused on management rather than a cure.
The role of the professional refers to the role trained health professionals play in treatment and management of the condition.
For the most part, the role of professionals for acute and chronic illnesses is the same.
The exception to this is in an acute medical emergency when there is no time for a doctor to fully explain or explore various treatment options, or the patient is not able to make and communicate decisions.
The professional will decide if medication, hospitalization, surgery, or a referral to a specialist are needed and make recommendations for treatment.
For the most part, the role of professionals for acute and chronic illnesses is the same.
The exception to this is in an acute medical emergency when there is no time for a doctor to fully explain or explore various treatment options, or the patient is not able to make and communicate decisions.
The professional will decide if medication, hospitalization, surgery, or a referral to a specialist are needed and make recommendations for treatment.
Pixabay
They will
- monitor side effects from the treatment.
- monitor the recovery process.
- make sure that the patient understands the illness and treatment recommendations.
- be open to any needs for changes to the health care plan.
This refers to the role the patient plays in their own care and a return to health or a better life.
In the past, patients were expected to take a passive role in their health care plan. They were expected to do as their doctors told them. Now, for the most part, patients are expected to take an active role in their health care plan for both acute and chronic illnesses.
The exception to this is in an acute medical emergency when there is no time for a doctor to fully explain or explore various treatment options, or the patient is not able to make and communicate decisions.
For more information visit Patients Are Important Members of the Healthcare Team.
In the past, patients were expected to take a passive role in their health care plan. They were expected to do as their doctors told them. Now, for the most part, patients are expected to take an active role in their health care plan for both acute and chronic illnesses.
The exception to this is in an acute medical emergency when there is no time for a doctor to fully explain or explore various treatment options, or the patient is not able to make and communicate decisions.
For more information visit Patients Are Important Members of the Healthcare Team.
Illness vs. Condition
What is a Chronic Condition?
The definitions of chronic illness and chronic conditions can vary. For the purposes of this course, a chronic illness is subjective and based on the person's experience. A chronic condition is based on the disease classification.
In other words, the illness is the symptoms and the condition is the diagnosis.
In other words, the illness is the symptoms and the condition is the diagnosis.
Wikicommons
Cells Review
What is a cell?
Cells are the smallest unit of life. Various types of cells work together to make you who you are. Detailed information about cells is beyond the scope of this course. For more details see the YouTube videos below.
Created with BioRender.com. Exported under a paid subscription.
Quick Information
Going Further
This video is not required viewing. Instead it is extra information about cells if you are interested.
Cellular Dysfunction
Cellular Dysfunction Defined
When any of a cell’s normal functions are impared it is called cellular dysfunction.
A cell is considered dysfunctional when its ability to take in nourishment or oxygen is compromised. When a cell cannot eliminate the toxins and waste they produce, it is also considered dysfunctional. In either scenario, a dysfunctional cell is unable to create healthy cells when they reproduce.
A cell is considered dysfunctional when its ability to take in nourishment or oxygen is compromised. When a cell cannot eliminate the toxins and waste they produce, it is also considered dysfunctional. In either scenario, a dysfunctional cell is unable to create healthy cells when they reproduce.
Created with BioRender.com. Exported under a paid subscription.
Causes of Dysfunction
Click on each collapsible row for more information.
In recent years, the long-term dangers of head injuries and multiple concussions have been spotlighted in popular media. When a person gets a concussion there is damage on a cellular level. If the cells do not have time to heal before there
is another impact to the head, it will cause more damage and require a longer recovery time than the first concussion, even if the second impact was not as hard as the first impact. When injury happens again before there has been time for
healing to happen, it is called progressive dysfunction.
Learn More
For more information about what is happening when you get a concussion, visit the Ask Smithosonian website.The brain is not the only place that progressive dysfunction occurs. Progressive dysfunction can occur in any cellular or organ system throughout the body. When the body becomes trapped in a loop of progressive dysfunction it results in a chronic condition.
Another cause of cellular dysfunction is genetic mutations. When a gene’s instructions are altered through mutations it can cause the protein to malfunction or be missing. When the mutation alters a protein that plays a role that is critical
for the body, a chronic condition is the result.
Learn More
For more information about genetic mutations watch the Amoeba Sisters video about Mutations or Dr. John Day - Genetic Mutations.
Learn More
For more information about genetic mutations watch the Amoeba Sisters video about Mutations or Dr. John Day - Genetic Mutations.Chronic Condition Cycle
Click on each of the coloured blocks below for more information.| → |
Cellular Dysfunction |
→ |
Disease in Body Systems |
↓ |
| Fatigue |
Pain and/or Functional Compromise |
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| ↑ | Depression | ← |
Stress, Anxiety, Other Emotions |
← |