How are physiological disorders monitored, diagnosed and treated?
Monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of physiological disorders: the clinical measurements and investigations used (blood pressure, pulse, peak flow, blood glucose, ECG and spirometry), how disorders are diagnosed, and the lifestyle, medical and surgical treatments available.
A CCEA A2 2 answer on monitoring, diagnosing and treating physiological disorders: the clinical measurements and investigations (blood pressure, pulse, peak flow, blood glucose, ECG and spirometry), how readings are interpreted against normal ranges, and the lifestyle, medical and surgical treatments used.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to explain how physiological disorders are monitored, diagnosed and treated. You need the clinical measurements and investigations used (blood pressure, pulse, peak flow, blood glucose, ECG and spirometry), how readings are interpreted against normal ranges, and the lifestyle, medical and surgical treatments available.
Clinical measurements and investigations
The key measurements CCEA expects you to know are: blood pressure (a sphygmomanometer, in millimetres of mercury, about when healthy; hypertension is around or above); pulse rate (about 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest); peak flow (a peak flow meter, in litres per minute, for lung function, used in asthma); spirometry (lung volumes); blood glucose (a glucose meter, in millimoles per litre, about 4 to 7 fasting, used in diabetes); and an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity of the heart to detect rhythm and damage. Blood tests (including cholesterol) and imaging (X-rays, scans) are also used.
Diagnosis
This is why measurement matters: it turns symptoms into objective evidence. A patient reporting chest pain might have their blood pressure and pulse taken, an ECG recorded, and blood tests for cholesterol, with the pattern of results pointing to coronary heart disease. The same logic applies to peak flow for asthma and blood glucose for diabetes.
Treatment
CCEA expects treatment at three levels. Lifestyle treatment (stopping smoking, a healthier diet, exercise, weight loss) reduces risk and can manage or slow many disorders, linking back to AS 3 health improvement. Medical treatment uses medication: statins for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, inhalers for asthma, and metformin or insulin for diabetes. Surgical treatment is used when other approaches are not enough: for example angioplasty with a stent or a coronary bypass for heart disease. The three levels are usually combined, and the choice depends on the disorder and its severity.
Try this
Q1. Name the instrument used to measure blood pressure and its units. [2 marks]
- Cue. A sphygmomanometer, measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
Q2. State what an ECG measures. [1 mark]
- Cue. The electrical activity of the heart.
Q3. Describe the three levels at which a physiological disorder can be treated. [3 marks]
- Cue. Lifestyle change (diet, exercise, stopping smoking), medical treatment (medication), and surgical treatment (such as angioplasty and stents).
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA A2 2 20186 marksDescribe three clinical measurements used to monitor physiological disorders, and explain what each can show.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark answer needs three measurements, each linked to what it reveals.
Blood pressure: measured with a sphygmomanometer in millimetres of mercury (about 120 over 80 when healthy). A consistently high reading (around 140 over 90 or above) indicates hypertension, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Peak flow: measured with a peak flow meter in litres per minute. It shows how well the lungs are working and is used to monitor and diagnose asthma; a low reading suggests narrowed airways.
Blood glucose: measured with a glucose meter in millimoles per litre. A persistently high reading indicates poor glucose control and is used to monitor diabetes.
Other valid measurements include pulse rate, an ECG (the electrical activity of the heart) and spirometry (lung volumes).
Markers reward three correctly named measurements, what each is measured with or in, and what an abnormal reading indicates.
CCEA A2 2 20228 marksExplain how physiological disorders are diagnosed and describe the lifestyle, medical and surgical treatments that may be used.Show worked answer →
An 8-mark answer needs the diagnosis process plus treatment at three levels.
Diagnosis: a clinician takes a history of symptoms, carries out a physical examination, and orders investigations such as blood pressure and pulse, blood tests (including glucose and cholesterol), an ECG for heart problems, peak flow or spirometry for lung problems, and imaging such as X-rays or scans. Readings are compared against normal ranges to reach a diagnosis.
Lifestyle treatment: stopping smoking, a healthier diet, more exercise and weight loss reduce risk and can manage or slow many disorders.
Medical treatment: medication such as statins (cholesterol), antihypertensives (blood pressure), inhalers (asthma) and metformin or insulin (diabetes).
Surgical treatment: procedures such as angioplasty and stents or a coronary bypass for heart disease, used when other treatment is not enough.
Markers reward the diagnostic process (history, examination, investigations against normal ranges) and a clear lifestyle, medical and surgical structure.
Related dot points
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCE Health and Social Care specification — CCEA (2016)