Human Health and Disease

The chapter Human Health and Disease aims to comprehend the biological underpinnings of health by the World Health Organisation's definition, which encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being. It encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases that include the aetiology, clinical manifestations, and mode of transmission of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi-related communicable diseases. Preventive measures like vaccination, personal hygiene, and public sanitation are highlighted as major tools of disease control.

This Story also Contains

1. Important Topics of Human Health and Diseases
2. What is Health?
3. What is Disease?
4. Common Human Diseases
5. Immunity
6. Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Moreover, the chapter discusses the immune system extensively, making a distinction between innate and acquired immunity and reviewing immune-related illnesses like allergies, autoimmunity, and AIDS. It also emphasises the role played by lifestyle in health, such as the physiological consequences of drug abuse and causation of non-communicable diseases like cancer. Such information serves as a foundation for spreading health consciousness and creating improved strategies of preventing diseases and controlling them.

Important Topics of Human Health and Diseases

Human Health and Diseases is a must for understanding how the body protects itself and reacts to different internal and external threats. The matter includes significant areas such as the categorisation and etiology of diseases, mechanisms of immunity, categories of pathogens, modes of transmission of disease, and prevention and treatment methods. It also covers disorders related to lifestyle, the physiology of addiction, cancer, and the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. These subjects give an overall idea about how health is being preserved and how different factors cause illness and disease.

• Factors affecting Health
• Types of Diseases
• Immunity
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Important Concepts - Pathogens, Vaccination, Cancer, AIDS

What is Health?

Health can be defined as a state of well-being where an individual feels body, mind, and social well-being. It is not only the absence of disease but also having the energy and ability to enjoy life to the fullest. Good health is dependent upon healthy nutrition, staying active, getting ample rest, and managing stress. It also has to do with living in a clean environment and avoiding bad habits.

Factors Affecting Health

Many factors affect our health:

• Genetic disorders inherited by parents cause deficiency or defects at birth.
• Infections are conditions brought about by microbes, such as bacteria or viruses.
• Lifestyle, diet, exercise, sleep, and habits all contribute to fitness or overall good health.

Factors Affecting Physical Health

Factors Affecting Mental Health

Also Read

• Health and Disease MCQ
• Viral Diseases
• Protozoan disease

What is Disease?

A disease is a condition that causes the body or mind to perform abnormally. It results from some form of abnormality in the body, such as an infection, injury, or imbalance. Diseases can be caused by microbes, such as bacteria or viruses, unhealthy habits, or genes passed from parents. Some diseases are short-lived, such as the flu, and others, such as diabetes, last longer. Treatment and prevention also vary according to the disease.

Types of Diseases

Human diseases fall into two categories:

Congenital: A condition that has existed since birth

Acquired: Disease that occurs during a person's lifetime

Basic points about Congenital and Acquired are discussed below:

Causes of Diseases

Pathogens are often responsible for the disease. Lifestyle choices, genetic factors and environmental factors are other causes.

• Pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi cause infectious diseases. For example, flu virus and tuberculosis.

• Lifestyle Choices: smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise and sleep can result in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

• Genetic Factors: Genetic mutations are inherited and can lead to diseases such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia.

• Environmental Factors: Pollution, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and poor living conditions can lead to respiratory diseases, cancers, and other health issues.

Transmission of Diseases

• Direct Contact: Diseases can be transmitted through direct contact. (For example, flu and chickenpox)

• Indirect Contact: Diseases are transmitted via contaminated surfaces, objects, or food and water (norovirus or hepatitis A).

• Vectors: Insects or animals act as a medium of transmission for diseases. They carry pathogens from one host to another. For example, mosquitoes transmit dengue and malaria fever.

• Transmission via Air: Pathogens present in droplets spread through the air. For example, tuberculosis and COVID-19.

Prevention of Diseases

There is a famous saying, “Prevention is better than cure." There is a lot to do to protect yourself from disease.

• Healthy Lifestyle: Have a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and do some physical activities regularly to boost your immune system.

• Hygiene: There is some minute work to do to reduce the risk of infections. Maintain cleanliness and proper sanitation. Wash your hands regularly before having a meal.

• Vaccination: Immunise yourself against diseases like polio, influenza and measles by taking a vaccine and building immunity.

• Eliminate risk factors: avoid exposure to harmful substances such as smoking, and alcohol.

• Masks: Use masks to avoid pollution and air-borne diseases.

To treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals are used, respectively. Anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers are used to treat symptoms.

Common Human Diseases

The table below lists the common diseases that affect humans:

Immunity

The immune system refers to the body's ability to fight off infections by invading viruses or foreign bodies. There are two types, such as.

Innate Immunity

This protection is available from the time of birth and provides barriers to attack by any foreign agent that causes infections. In addition, there are four types:

• Physical barrier
• Physiological barrier
• Cellular barrier
• Cytokine barrier

Acquired immunity

This type of resistance is directly related to the pathogen, and a person acquires it during his or her lifetime.

Allergies

Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to certain things such as pollen, medicines, food, etc. The human immune system can distinguish between foreign molecules and bodies. However, there are cases when the body beats its cells. As a result, it is harmful to the body and is called an autoimmune disease. A usual example of such a given effect is rheumatoid arthritis.

Cancer

Cancer refers to the uncontrolled and abnormal replication of cells. These cells capture and kill neighbouring tissues, and the continuous proliferation of cancer cells causes metastasis. The basics of cancer are discussed below:

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Drug abuse commonly includes cannabinoids, coca alkaloids and opioids. Few medicines can be found in the fungus, especially in flowering plants. Opioid drugs also bind to the opioid receptors present in the human GI tract and the CNS (Central Nervous System). On the other hand, cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Examples of such drugs are hashish, marijuana, and charm.

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