Animated Chalkboard Learning Unit

chronic diseases with a hereditary factor

Second grade

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Cause: Insulin resistance, often influenced by genetics and lifestyle.Prevention: Healthy eating, regular exercise, and maintaining a normal weight.Symptoms: Frequent thirst, urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.Impact on Life: Requires monitoring blood sugar, maintaining a healthy diet, and can lead to complications like nerve damage.Curious Fact: Some people can control Type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes without needing medication.

Diabetes (Type 2)

Cause: Genetics, high salt intake, lack of physical activity, or stress.Prevention: Exercise regularly, eat a low-salt diet, manage stress, and avoid smoking.Symptoms: Often no symptoms, but severe cases cause headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds.Complications: If left untreated, hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, vision loss, and heart failure.Impact on Life: Regular monitoring, medication, and lifestyle changes are essential to avoid life-threatening complications.Fun Fact: It’s called a "silent killer" because many people don't know they have it until complications arise.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Cause: Genetics, unhealthy lifestyle choices (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking).Prevention: Regular physical activity, a heart-healthy diet (low in saturated fats), no smoking, and managing stress.Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.Complications: Heart attacks, heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac arrest are possible if not managed properly.Impact on Life: May limit physical activity and require medication or surgery. It also increases the risk of sudden, life-threatening events.Fun Fact: Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but it’s highly preventable with lifestyle changes.

Heart Disease

Cause: Genetic mutations, age, and family history.Prevention: No guaranteed prevention, but mental stimulation, a healthy diet, and physical activity may reduce risk.Symptoms: Memory loss, confusion, difficulty with problem-solving, and thinking.Complications: Leads to complete dependence on caregivers, severe memory loss, loss of communication abilities, and difficulty with daily tasks.Impact on Life: Severely affects daily tasks and relationships; in later stages, patients often require full-time care.Fun Fact: Not everyone with a family history of Alzheimer's will develop the disease, but genetics play a major role.

Alzheimer's Disease

Cause: Genetic factors, environmental triggers like pollen, pollution, or smoking.Prevention: Avoid known triggers, use prescribed medications, and maintain a clean environment.Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.Complications: Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening if not managed properly. Long-term uncontrolled asthma may lead to permanent lung damage.Impact on Life: Can limit physical activities and cause frequent hospital visits if uncontrolled.Fun Fact: Many famous athletes have asthma and manage it effectively to continue their careers.

Asthma

Cause: Genetics (BRCA gene mutation), hormonal factors, and family history.Prevention: Regular self-exams, mammograms, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and knowing your family history.Symptoms: Lumps in the breast, changes in breast shape or size, skin changes.Complications: Metastasis (cancer spreading to other organs), recurrence after treatment, and the need for chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.Impact on Life: Impacts physical and emotional health, may require long-term treatment, and affect daily activities.Fun Fact: Men can also get breast cancer, although it’s rare.

Breast Cancer

Cause: Inherited genetic mutation affecting the lungs and digestive system.Prevention: Cannot be prevented, but early diagnosis and treatment can help manage symptoms.Symptoms: Persistent cough, frequent lung infections, difficulty breathing, poor weight gain.Complications: Lung infections, respiratory failure, and digestive issues if not managed. Patients may also need a lung transplant later in life.Impact on Life: Requires daily treatments, impacts breathing and digestion, and limits physical activity.Fun Fact: Advances in treatment have significantly improved life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cause: The thyroid does not produce enough hormones, which affects metabolism.Prevention: There is no certain way to prevent it, but monitoring thyroid function with regular tests can help.Symptoms: Fatigue, weight gain, depression, and sensitivity to cold.Complications: If untreated, it can lead to heart problems, infertility, or severe depression.Impact on life: Slowed metabolism, constant need for medication, and regular testing.Fun fact: The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is located in the neck.

Thyroid Disorders (Hypothyroidism)

Cause: The thyroid produces too many hormones, which speeds up metabolism.Prevention: There is no sure way to prevent hyperthyroidism, but regular thyroid tests can help manage it early.Symptoms: Weight loss, rapid heartbeat, nervousness, irritability, sweating, and difficulty sleeping.Complications: If untreated, it can lead to heart problems (like atrial fibrillation), brittle bones (osteoporosis), or a life-threatening condition called thyroid storm, which causes fever, confusion, and high blood pressure.Impact on life: Increased metabolism, risk of heart issues, anxiety, and the need for medications or even surgery to manage thyroid levels.Fun fact: People with hyperthyroidism often feel hot all the time, even in cooler environments.

Hyperthyroidism (Hipertiroidismo)