The human body is a unique self-regulating system.

The structure of the body.

The structure of the human body explores the anatomy (from the Greek. anatome - dissection). Physiology is the study of its functions.. And hygiene (from the Greek. hygienos - healing, healthy) studies the impact of living and working conditions on human health and develops measures to prevent diseases.

Scientists identify several levels of organization of living matter: cellular, tissue, organ and organ systems.

The smallest living system of our body is a cell - the main structural and functional unit of all living organisms, which has a cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus and other organelles..

Tissues are formed from cells - historically established single systems of cells and their derivatives, which have a common development, structure and functioning..

In total, 4 types of tissues are distinguished in the human body:.

• connective, which includes blood, lymph, bone, cartilage, tendon;

• muscular, which is subdivided into smooth muscle, striated and cardiac, and has the ability to contract;

• nervous, consisting of neurons and glial cells, capable of conducting a nerve impulse;

• epithelial, which includes the skin, mucous membranes and glands.

Organ (from the Greek. organon - a tool, a tool) is a part of the body that performs a specific function. Organs are combined into groups according to the similarity of their functions, which are called systems (Table. 7).

Table 7 - Human organ systems System Organs that form it Main diseases of the system musculoskeletal skeleton, muscles, joints osteoporosis, osteochondrosis, fractures, arthritis cardiovascular heart, vessels IHD, AS, GB, stroke, heart attack respiratory lungs, airways bronchitis, pneumonia.

All organs and systems in the human body work smoothly and clearly due to the fact that they are combined with the help of two systems that regulate all processes in the body: nervous and endocrine..

Everyone knows that under the influence of brain impulses, which are carried out along the nerves, almost all vital processes in the body occur..

However, there is an equally important regulatory system, without which neither growth, nor development, nor even the very life of our body is possible - endocrine (from the Greek. endon + krino - inside + separate) or endocrine gland system. The science of endocrinology deals with the study of this system and its organs..

Endocrinology is the science of endocrine glands, biologically active substances - hormones that these glands secrete, the effect of hormones on the human body and pathological conditions caused by malfunction of the endocrine glands..

Hormonal regulation of all physiological processes in the human body is carried out with the help of hormones.. Hormones (from the Greek. hormao - set in motion, encourage) - these are biologically active substances secreted in negligible amounts by endocrine glands or accumulations of special cells of the body and have a huge impact on all its organs and systems. Everyone has heard about hormones such as adrenaline, insulin, sex hormones, they will be discussed in the following paragraphs of the training manual..

Depending on what and how is affected in the human body, there are three groups of diseases: somatic, mental and infectious..

Somatic (from the Greek. soma - body) diseases are diseases related to the body, such as those presented in table 7, etc..

Mental (from the Greek. psyhe - soul, spirit, consciousness) diseases are associated with higher nervous activity: consciousness, memory, thinking.

Infectious (from lat.. infectio - nourish, infect) diseases occur when microbes invade and multiply in the human body.

Methods of therapeutic effects on the body are divided into therapeutic and surgical. Therapy (from the Greek. therapeia - care, treatment) - treatment of the patient, a term used to refer to conservative methods of treatment (using tablets and injections).

Surgery (from the Greek. cheir + ergon - hand + work, action) - a field of clinical medicine that studies diseases and injuries for the treatment of which surgical methods are used.

Let us dwell on some somatic diseases in which the pathology of one organ has a negative impact on the entire body.. First of all, these are diseases of the musculoskeletal system: osteochondrosis and osteoporosis.

Osteocondritis of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the spine (from the Greek. osteo + chondr + os - bone + cartilage + disease) - a chronic disease of the spine caused by degeneration and thinning of the intervertebral discs and characterized by the growth of bone growths on the vertebral bodies, which often lead to herniated discs, which can cause compression of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. The root cause of osteochondrosis of the spine is considered to be upright posture, although it is known that the disease is genetically determined and is the result of an imbalance in the work of bone and cartilage tissue cells..

The spinal column (spine) is made up of many interconnected bones called vertebrae.. Inside it is the spinal cord, which it protects. In addition, the spine serves as a support for our entire body.. Thus, it participates in the unification of the whole organism.

The irrational and asymmetrical work of the muscles of the spine negatively affects the discs, namely: with incorrect habitual postures, with insufficient warm-up, when carrying bags on the shoulder, when using soft pillows and mattresses. Flat feet can act as a stimulator of pathological processes.. If the foot does not provide proper cushioning of interactions with the support, this has to be done by the spinal column. Obesity also contributes to spinal osteochondrosis. Excess adipose tissue, being deposited from different places, complicates the maintenance of balance and overloads the intervertebral joints.

Among all patients with diseases of the nervous system, neurological manifestations of osteochondrosis of the spine take the first place and account for 40% of the total number of nervous diseases according to the number of visits to the clinic. A significant part of these patients (up to 80%) becomes disabled due to severe radicular pain syndrome with frequent exacerbations.. Syndrome (from the Greek. syndromum - a confluence of signs of a disease) - a group of signs (symptoms) characteristic of a disease. Symptom (from the Greek. simptomum coincidence, sign) - a sign of illness.

For the prevention of osteochondrosis, the following methods can be recommended:.

•development of correct posture;

• wearing orthopedic shoes with flat feet;

• creation of daily adequate physical activity of the spine;

• implementation of the following rules for maintaining the health of the spine.

We sit right.

It is not recommended to sit on upholstered furniture. Excessive pressure on the spine helps to avoid such a position when the body is supported by the ischial tuberosities. This is only possible on hard chairs..

The height of the chair should be in line with the height of the lower leg. The foot should rest on the floor. For people of small stature, a footstool is useful. The depth of the seat should be 2/3 - 3/4 of the length of the entire thigh. There should be enough space under the legs so that they do not have to be bent..

Every 15-20 minutes it is necessary to change the position of the legs, do a warm-up for them.

The back should fit snugly against the back of the chair.. The torso should be kept straight, the head should not be tilted strongly so as not to strain the muscles of the body.

Learning to stand.

If you have to stand for a long time, a large load falls on the spine, especially on the lower back. To help the spine reduce the load, you should change your position every 10-15 minutes.. You need to lean on one or the other leg. You can trample on the spot. From time to time you need to bend back, stretching your arms up and taking a deep breath. These exercises are necessary in order to relieve fatigue of the muscles of the back, neck, shoulder girdle..

Women have to stand for long periods of time while ironing or washing dishes. In this case, it is necessary to put in turn one or the other foot on the stand (box, small bench). For those who have osteochondrosis, it is recommended to iron while sitting. You can make the ironing board taller so you don't have to bend over low..

When you vacuum a room, increase the length of the hose, eliminating the possibility of a low slope.

If you need to pick up an object from the floor, it is recommended to first squat down or bend over, bending your legs and leaning your hand on the floor or table, take the object and rise.

We lie correctly.

Neither soft featherbeds nor hard bare boards are suitable for sleeping.. From lying on soft feather beds, the spine is deformed, curved. It is also bad to rest on the boards, and they will not save you from deformation of the vertebrae. The bed should be semi-rigid to keep all the curves of the spinal column.. And if you are worried about pain, it is recommended to put a shield on the width of the bed and cover it with foam rubber on top, the thickness of which is 5-8 cm.

It is believed that the healthiest spine in the Japanese. They often sleep on two thin mattresses stuffed with rice straws and do not know any osteochondrosis..

Proper weight lifting.

A sharp rise in a jerk is contraindicated.

It is not recommended to carry a heavy load for long distances in one hand, it is better to separate it. Avoid bending over when holding a weight in your hand.

It is undesirable to lift and carry a load of more than 15 kg. Can you get a herniated disc. Handy bag or wheeled trolley.

If it becomes necessary to lift something heavier, you can put on a wide belt, then squat down. In this case, the back should remain straight, and the head straightened. The load must be taken with both hands and gradually rise. Don't bend your back!

If manifestations of osteochondrosis already exist, then in addition to the above rules, the lifestyle should include the daily implementation of a set of special exercises to strengthen the muscles of the body and increase blood supply to the intervertebral joints during a warm-up. It is useful to include jellied meat in the diet and limit potatoes in it..

If, as a result of osteochondrosis, a hernia of the intervertebral disc has appeared - its destruction and protrusion, it is necessary:.

• follow all the above rules and recommendations;

•completely exclude torso bending and lifting weights;

• in case of pain and physical exertion, fix the spinal column with a special orthopedic corset;

• spinal stretching is not recommended, as they can temporarily relieve pain, but at the same time, stretched ligaments will hold the intervertebral disc even worse and the hernia will progress;

• upon appointment of the attending physician, take courses of chondro-protectors, the most effective of which is currently recognized as the drug \;

• and only in case of emergency, when the legs fail and the pain is unbearable, you can agree to surgical intervention.

Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (from the Greek. osteoporosis - bone rarefaction) - a disease associated with damage (thinning) of bone tissue, leading to fractures and bone deformities.

Bones become thinner with age, become less strong and elastic. This is partly due to the fact that after about 35 years of age, calcium is washed out of the bones more intensively than its deposition in bone tissue.. This is common to everyone, but in some people it is especially pronounced and leads to osteoporosis..

Osteoporosis affects the entire skeleton, but especially the bones of the thigh, forearm, and vertebrae. Even a weak blow (for example, when falling on the street) can lead to a fracture. A fracture of the femoral neck is especially dangerous, after which the elderly, for the most part, can no longer stand up..

Cases of compression (depressed) fractures of the vertebrae can occur further in the absence of external influence - as a result of the load created by the body's own weight. This kind of damage, as well as the flattening of the cartilaginous intervertebral discs due to their loss of elasticity, causes a person to “grow down” in old age, and his posture deteriorates.. Osteoporosis is especially common in older women over 60..

There is a test specially developed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation to identify predisposition to this disease..

Osteoporosis test.

Have any of your immediate family members had a hip fracture after a minor injury?

Have you ever had a bone fracture due to minor trauma?

For women: were you under 45 when you went through menopause

For women: Have you stopped menstruating for more than a year (other than during labor)?

For men: have you ever had potency disorders, lack of sexual desire, infertility associated with low testosterone levels?

Have you taken steroid hormones in tablets (prednisolone or other. ) more than 6 months?

Has your height decreased by more than 3 cm?

Do you abuse alcohol?

Do you often have diarrhea?

10. Do you smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day?

Methods for preventing osteoporosis.

Physical activity. You can add daily walking for 30 minutes in addition to the usual load.

Arrangement of housing, workplace, etc.. so that the risk of falling is minimized. Light switches should be located so that you do not have to look for them in the dark. It is necessary to equip the bathtub with a handle, remove objects sliding on the floor, etc..

Dosed exposure to the sun contributes to the production of vitamin D.

Consuming foods rich in calcium.

Sexual activity increases hormonal activity, which contributes to the prevention of osteoporosis in women.

Quit smoking, coffee and alcohol.

Taking combined calcium preparations after the age of 40 containing calcium salts and vitamin D (for example, Calcium-D3 Nycomed).

There is a natural, affordable remedy for osteoporosis. This is an eggshell. Prepare the shell like this. Eggs are washed in warm soapy water, rinsed well. Protein and yolk are poured out of the egg, and the shell is rinsed again and placed in boiling water for 5 minutes. The shell of hard-boiled eggs is slightly less active, but is ready to use..

Grind the shell into powder better in a mortar. Take with morning meal - with cottage cheese or porridge. To increase bioavailability, you can quench the shell powder with a few drops of lemon juice or citric acid.. An adult at one time will need a shell from one egg. Prevention course 15-20 days twice a year.

So, a universal method of preventing somatic diseases is adequate physical activity of a person.. Not without reason, for each disease, there are even complexes of physiotherapy exercises..

However, while doing physical exercises, you must remember the following rules:.

•regularity of classes;

• dosage of physical activity;

•gradual transition from simple to complex exercises, from light to heavy loads;

• the complexity of the selection of exercises;

•in an individual approach, taking into account the state of health of the body.

Shurygina Yu.

medbe. en.