Healthcare Essay 2022

Running head: HEALTHCARE
HEALTHCARE
Name of Student
Name of University
Author’s Note

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Introduction
The main objective of this essay is to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of
core pathologies and describe their impact on occupational performance. The understanding is
done by describing the impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bipolar Disorder, which Lydia in the
given case study is suffering from. However, apart from these impacts Lydia is also suffering
from the extensive poverty because of her unemployment. All these impacts are pushing Lydia
into depression, ultimately making her feel lonely.
Section 1
Rheumatoid Arthritis
A chronic inflammatory disorder, which affects the joints of the human body, sometimes
even leading to damaging the eyes, blood vessels, lungs, skin and heart, is known as rheumatoid
arthritis (Kurkó et al., 2013). It usually occurs by the mistakenly attacking the tissues of the body
by the body’s immune system, thereby it is an autoimmune disorder (Kaur, White and Bartold,
2013).
In the given case study, Lydia (35 years old), was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in
her late twenties and is currently suffering from severe flare up of the disorder.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
 Tender, swollen joints, warm
 Joint stiffness, which is usually worse after inactivity and during the mornings

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Tender, swollen joints, warm
In this particular symptom, the patient’s smaller joints, like the metacarpophalageal joints
and the metatarsophalangeal joint (MCP) which are present in the fingers and toes, are firstly
targeted, resulting in causing tenderness and swelling of the joint. In the given case study, Lydia
faced problems with making tea for her friends; this is because in order to make tea, she has to
use her hands to hold the pot or to add the ingredients (Van Nies, et al., 2015). However, Lydia is
suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, her grip strength have decrease and she is experiences
fatigues in the proximal upper extremities, which is limiting the movements of her hand and
making her incapable of making tea (Koziel, Mydel and Potempa, 2014). The grip strength of
Lydia had decreased and the stiffness of the joints have increased. Lydia’s decreased proximal
interphalageal joints and the wrists and decreased MCP flexion has brought about this functional
disability in Lydia, that has de creased his fine motor skills like grasping and holding. In
addition, the disorder has resulted Lydia in losing her ability to balance things with her hand, for
which she will not be able to hold the pot of tea. The fine motor skills of Lydia has been
vanished because she is not able to pick up things from her fingers, in addition she is not able to
use the different tools and instruments of the kitchen, which is required while making tea.
Therefore, the skills and movement of hands required to make tea are no longer available in
Lydia along with the disorder her financial conditions are also not very stable, for which she
feels embarrassed and do not welcome her friends when they arrive by not opening the door.
Joint stiffness, which is usually worse after inactivity and during the mornings
It is the symptom, which involves pain whenever the joint is moved, thereby reducing the
motion and the range of motion, in a patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Sometimes the stiffness
of the joints is so intense that the patient feels that their hands or legs are stuck by means of

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superglue or something. In some cases, the patients are able to perform rage of motions but it
requires extra force and energy. Lydia, is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, from almost 15
years and the symptoms have become more of a disorder themselves. Like the joint stiffness, has
worsened in the past years, causing difficulties in the locomotion of the hands and the legs. This
has affected the endurance of the limbs and is also causing difficulties in the daily activities of
living. (Matcham et al., 2013). Even a slightest discomfort to their hands will generate immense
amount of pain in the patient. The motor skills of balancing also require additional effort due to
the stiffness in the joints. However, while making tea, Lydia has to hold the pots and the tea bags
and then serve the interesting cups she got, to her friends, which will require immense amount of
effort. For a normal and healthy individual, it seems simple to hold a teapot, but for patients like
Lydia, it is almost equivalent to holding a big massive rock, because of the dysfunctioning due to
the stiffness of the joints in their body, especially hands and legs. Due to the severe symptoms of
the Rheumatoid Arthritis (Matcham et al., 2015), Lydia is not being able to make and serve tea to
her friends, for which she feels embarrassed and lonely.
Section 2
Bipolar Disorder (Mental Health Condition)
The case study revealed that Lydia had been suffering from bipolar disorder, which might
be another cause of her inability to prepare tea. Since, people suffering from bipolar disorder
have tremendous mood swings, which can affect the daily activities of living in people with
bipolar disorder. People suffering from bipolar disorders have distinct brain structures that
affects the concentration of individuals. Preparation of tea requires certain amount of
concentration for adding the correct amount of sugar or milk. In correspondence to the current