ASSIGNMENT: Disease Research Paper
Choose a disease or other condition affecting the systems being studied. Research the disease using the library, the internet and/or the textbooks available in class. Use the guidelines below to direct your research and paper.
RESEARCH:
Diseases are homeostatic imbalances. The focus of your research should be on the anatomy and physiology of the disease!! This means you should describe the anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of a normal, healthy individual and then compare it to a person who is afflicted with the disease (how is homeostasis out of balance?). Use (and explain) as many terms and concepts learned in class as possible! The A & P is the most important part of your research and should be woven into all parts of your paper and presentation!
Your paper and presentation must also address the following topics, and these can be presented in paragraph form in the following order: (Indicate the sections in bolded form on your paper)
o Introduction - Introduce the disease with a general description of what it is and include Statistics that describe how common the disease/disorder is. Also include information if it occurs more commonly in certain populations, for example, women or Asian-Americans.
o Cause - Possibilities include inflammation, infection, abnormal cell growth, heredity, malnutrition, environmental factors, or stress. Explain how the cause (if known) of the disease/disorder produces the signs and symptoms. Be as specific as possible. In some cases, the disease may be idiopathic (no known cause). Also discuss prevention if the disease can be prevented, explain how. If not, explain why it can't be prevented (your reason will probably refer back to the cause of the disease).
o Diagnosis - List procedures that can be used to determine if a person has the disease. Procedures may include laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging techniques (such as MRI), biopsy, physical examination, asking the patient questions about their symptoms, family history, and others. Provide an explanation of each procedure, specifically describing what signs the doctor is looking for. Always try to connect the diagnoses to the cause and/or symptoms of the disease.
o Treatment Options- List all treatments that can be used to help the patient. Treatments may include medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, physical therapy, and others. You must provide a brief explanation of each type of treatment, specifically describing what signs or symptoms the treatment is designed to alleviate. Be as specific as possible. Prognosis: describe the typical outcome of the disease. Include the chances for complete recovery, if there is any permanent loss of function, or possibility of death.
o Conclusion- In your own words, explain your reaction to the information you learned from your research. Do NOT just restate your discussion or facts from the paper. Your conclusion should be personal, based on what you learned while researching this paper.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.