Human Pathophysiology
Human pathophysiology is a branch of medical science that studies the physical and structural anomalies that occur to the human body as a result of a disease. In other words, pathophysiology studies the changes that occur to the human body following a disease infection or a syndrome.
The term pathophysiology is derived from two medical terms; pathology and physiology
Pathology is the study of disease. This branch is primarily concerned with studying how a disease is caused, its origin, and its nature. Pathologists will examine different parts of the body, including tissues, organs, body fluids, and even conduct autopsies when diagnosing a disease. An accurate diagnosis guides the plan of treatment and improves the chances of recovery. Pathologists also contribute tremendously to the medical research and advancement of medicine and in developing new and advanced treatments, including drugs and cutting-edge technologies to treat different conditions.
Physiology, on the other hand, is the study of how the human body works. It seeks to explain how the body functions from the cellular level to other organs, including the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, brain, and so forth. Through this knowledge, physiologists learn how the body should work and are able to identify when an infection invades. Physiologists often rely on laboratory findings. Others will take it upon themselves to study single cells and their interaction in creating body tissue, organs, and other systems that make up the human body.
When these two branches converge, pathophysiology is born. Essentially, pathophysiology will utilize the knowledge from these two fields to understand diseases and their mode of action on the human body. Therefore, pathophysiology is concerned with investigating and understanding biological processes then establishing the relatedness with disease processes, including the physical, mental, and psychophysiological diseases and disorders. For example, changes in the endocrine system could be presented through neurotransmitters. Thus, the primary purpose of pathophysiological studies and research is to recognize these biological markers that will help recognize, predict and explain the disease processes.
Pathophysiology is fundamental to nurses other medical students. Understanding pathophysiology can make a significant impact on a career as a nurse. As part of nursing school, nurses are required to complete and pass an entire course on pathophysiology. The course does not simply require one to define pathophysiology but understand the details and how it impacts people in life. You cannot extend adequate care to patients unless you understand what is happening to their bodies from the cellular level.
For example, if a patient visits the hospital complaining of a headache, you must employ knowledge acquired from pathophysiology classes to solve such a medical problem. You should be able to tell whether the problem is a result of dehydration, fatigue, stress, or other more serious conditions. Although it is the physician’s job to diagnose diseases, as a nurse, you have a role in educating your patients regarding their health, including explaining why they feel the way they do and actions they can take to lead a healthier life.
References
Bron, A. J., de Paiva, C. S., Chauhan, S. K., Bonini, S., Gabison, E. E., Jain, S., … & Sullivan, D. A. (2017). Tfos dews ii pathophysiology report. The ocular surface, 15(3), 438-510.
Ramachandran, A., & Jaeschke, H. (2017). Mechanisms of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and their translation to the human pathophysiology. Journal of clinical and translational research, 3(1), 157.
Schett, G., Lories, R. J., D’Agostino, M. A., Elewaut, D., Kirkham, B., Soriano, E. R., & McGonagle, D. (2017). Enthesitis: from pathophysiology to treatment. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 13(12), 731.

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