Self Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 1
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 1.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 1.1 and 1.2)
Which of the following statements is false? In each case, say what is incorrect.
A In an adult human, blood accounts for approximately 7–9% of total body weight.
B A person weighing 70 kg has got 10–15 litres of blood circulating around the body.
C The primary function of the blood is to transport oxygen nutrients, and as a means to remove waste products from the tissues.
D Red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin, which is red in colour and contains a lot of iron.
E Haemoglobin picks up oxygen as it passes through the heart and distributes it around the body in the blood.
Answer
A is true. Blood accounts for approximately 7–9% of total body weight in an adult human.
B is false. An adult has 5–6 litres of blood circulating around the body (not 10–15 litres).
C is true. The primary function of the blood is to transport oxygen nutrients, and as a means to remove waste products from the tissues.
D is true. Red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin, which is red in colour and contains a lot of iron.
E is false. Haemoglobin picks up oxygen as it passes through the lungs (not the heart).
SAQ 1.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 1.1 and 1.3)
Look back at Figures 1.2 and 1.3. What would happen if there was a hole in the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart? How would this affect a baby born with such a hole in its heart? (This sometimes happens.)
Answer
If there was a hole in the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart, the oxygenated blood returning from the lungs via the pulmonary circulation would mix with the deoxygenated blood returning from the rest of the body. When the left ventricle contracts to pump blood back to the body, it would contain a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. In a baby born with such a hole in its heart (as sometimes happens), the body tissues and organs receive less oxygen than in a person with an undamaged heart; the baby will be more tired and breathless than a normal person.
SAQ 1.3 (tests Learning Outcome 1.4)
Where can you feel the pulse most easily in an adult? Write down the normal ranges of pulse and blood pressure in a healthy resting adult.
Answer
The pulse is most easily felt in veins on the inside of the wrist and in the neck. The normal range of the pulse is 60–80 beats per minute in a resting adult, and the normal range of blood pressure is between 90/60 mmHg and below 140/90 mmHg.
Read Case Study 1.1 and then answer the questions that follow it.
Case Study 1.1 Mr Tilahun’s story
Mr Tilahun is a 60-year-old farmer who asked you to visit him because he has begun to feel very breathless, even when he is lying in bed at night. He also feels tired and weak all the time. He was taking medication for hypertension for the past several years, but he used his last tablets three weeks ago and has not been to the health centre to get more.
SAQ 1.4 (tests Learning Outcomes 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6)
- a.What do you check first when you see Mr Tilahun?
- b.What do you think is the most likely cause of his symptoms?
- c.What measures would be appropriate for good management of his condition?
Answer
- a.The first thing to check is Mr Tilahun’s pulse rate and blood pressure to see if they are raised. If he has stopped taking medication for hypertension, it is likely that his blood pressure is too high.
- b.Heart failure is the most likely cause of his symptoms. He has had hypertension for several years, which can lead to the heart being unable to pump blood around the body efficiently. He is not getting enough oxygen or nutrients to his tissues, so he feels breathless, tired and weak.
- c.You should refer him to the nearest health centre or hospital urgently. He could have a heart attack at any time. He must begin taking medication to lower his blood pressure again soon. You should also pay attention to Mr Tilahun’s mental health – his illness may be making him depressed.
Read the following case study and then answer the question at the end:
Case Study 1.2 Mrs Yared’s story
Mrs Yared is a Health Extension Practitioner in a rural community. She notices that a lot of older people are having raised blood pressure when she gives them a health check.
SAQ 1.5 (tests Learning Outcomes 1.5 and 1.6)
What health education messages should she give to help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases in her community?
Answer
She should teach people in the community that they can reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases by:
- Eating a healthy diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and low salt and fat intake
- Drinking very little alcohol
- Not smoking cigarettes
- Taking exercise every day
- Avoiding stress wherever possible
- Taking their medication regularly if their blood pressure is already raised.
Summary of Study Session 1