Health, Disease Types, Prevention, and Treatment

Defining Health and Well-being

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Factors Influencing Health

Health depends on several factors:

• Physical and psychological characteristics of a person
• Lifestyle choices
• The healthcare system
• The social environment

Understanding Diseases

A disease is a serious or minor alteration of the body's normal functioning.

Infectious Diseases

These are health changes caused by transmissible agents, such as viruses.

Key Concepts in Infectious Disease

• Virus: Biological structures that require a host (like humans) to replicate and often cause disease.
• Microorganisms: Microscopic creatures capable of causing disease. Classes include:
  • Bacteria: Examples include bacilli, cocci, vibrios, and spirilla.
  • Fungi
  • Protozoa

Body Defenses Against Infection

• External Barriers: Physical defenses like skin and wax (cerumen).
• Immune System: This system is formed by:
  • Lymphoid Organs: Bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes.
  • Immune Cells: Leukocytes (white blood cells), including B and T lymphocytes.

The Process of Infectious Disease

The typical stages of an infectious disease are:

1. Contagion (Infection)
2. Incubation Period
3. Disease State Period
4. Resolution Period
5. Convalescence Period

Examples of Infectious Diseases

• Gastroenteritis
• Meningitis
• Candidiasis
• Malaria
• Measles
• Flu (Influenza)

Disease Prevention Measures

To prevent the spread of some diseases, the following measures can be put into practice:

• Practicing good hygiene habits
• Administration of vaccines

Disease Treatment Approaches

Treatment aims to combat and eliminate disease, often through:

• Medicines and drugs
• Transplantation of tissues and organs (although immune rejection can sometimes occur)

Non-infectious Diseases

These are diseases that cannot be spread from one person to another. An example is cardiovascular disease.

Tumors and Cancer

A tumor or cancer involves tissue cells that proliferate uncontrollably.

Carcinogenic Agents and Factors

Agents or factors that can increase cancer risk include:

• Certain types of radiation (e.g., UV rays)
• Tobacco use
• An unbalanced diet

Cancer Treatment Methods

Common methods used to combat cancer include:

• Surgical intervention
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy

Understanding Drug Addiction

Drugs are substances that act on the nervous system, altering behavior and thought processes.

Disorders Caused by Addiction

Addiction typically produces two types of disorders:

• Dependence: A physical or psychological need for the drug.
• Tolerance: Requiring increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect; this can occur with or without dependence.

Commonly Abused Drugs

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine

Factors Influencing Drug Use

• The individual's environment
• The specific type of drug
• The individual's personality

Types of Accidents

Accidents can occur in various settings, including:

• Domestic (at home)
• Industrial (at work)
• Traffic (on roads)