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Common Diseases Questions and Answers
Free Medical Flashcards for Students
Revise the presentations, causes and management of common diseases and conditions with these free Medical flashcards. Useful for medical students, nursing students and health science courses.
Question
What is hypertension and what are its thresholds?
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Answer
Persistently elevated blood pressure. Diagnosed when readings are consistently ≥140/90 mmHg. A major risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and renal failure.
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Question
What is type 2 diabetes mellitus?
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Answer
A chronic metabolic disorder where cells become resistant to insulin and/or insulin secretion is inadequate — resulting in chronically elevated blood glucose (hyperglycaemia).
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Question
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
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Answer
Type 1: autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells → absolute insulin deficiency (requires insulin injection). Type 2: insulin resistance + relative deficiency → managed with lifestyle, oral medications, and sometimes insulin.
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Question
What is COPD and what causes it?
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Answer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease — progressive airflow obstruction caused mainly by smoking. Includes chronic bronchitis (excess mucus, productive cough) and emphysema (alveolar destruction).
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Question
What is asthma and how does it differ from COPD?
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Answer
Asthma is reversible airway inflammation and bronchospasm — usually episodic, often allergic, and responsive to bronchodilators. COPD is progressive and not fully reversible.
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Question
What is a stroke and what are the two main types?
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Answer
Sudden disruption of blood supply to the brain. Ischaemic stroke (85%) = blocked artery. Haemorrhagic stroke (15%) = burst artery. Both cause sudden neurological deficits.
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Question
What is the FAST acronym for stroke recognition?
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Answer
Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services. Early recognition and treatment significantly improves outcomes.
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Question
What is heart failure?
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Answer
The heart's inability to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Causes include coronary artery disease, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy. Symptoms: breathlessness, fatigue, oedema.
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Question
What is pneumonia?
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Answer
Infection of the lung parenchyma causing alveolar inflammation and consolidation. Symptoms: fever, cough (productive), dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain. Caused by bacteria (e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae), viruses, or fungi.
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Question
What is the difference between community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia?
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Answer
Community-acquired (CAP): develops outside hospital — typically Streptococcus pneumoniae. Hospital-acquired (HAP): develops ≥48 hours after admission — often more resistant organisms (e.g. MRSA, Gram-negative bacteria).
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