Human Disease and

Prevention

What is Disease?
a disease is anything infectious ( spreading from one organism to
another ) or noninfectious ( does not spread from one organisms to
another ) that changes or disrupts normal cell functions.

The immune system is a complex protection mechanism that functions by

protecting the body from harmful microorganisms ( bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites ) and foreign materials ( toxins and venoms )

Its job is also to recognize and eliminate foreign pathogens

The Immune System

Two Disease Categories

Infectious
Disease
(Chronic &
Acute)
A disease caused by
Organisms that enter
the body and multiply
within the human
body

Noninfectious
Disease
(Chronic & Acute)
Diseases that are not transmitted by
means of a pathogen ( foreign invaders
on/in the human body )

Chronic & Acute Disease

Chronic Disease
A disease or health condition that lasts longer than three months, sometimes
for the remainder of ones life

Acute Disease
A disease or health condition that occurs and subsides within three months
usually within days or weeks

Examples of
Chronic Infectious Diseases
HIV - virus that attacks the immune system making it dicult to fight
diseases

Other viral STD's

Tuberculosis - bacterial infection of the lungs

Meningitis - inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal
cord

http://www.pdrhealth.com/disease/diseasemono.aspx?contentFileName=BHG01ID16.xml&contentName=Meningitis&conten
tId=97&TypeId=1&sectionMonograph=ht1

Examples of
Acute Infectious Diseases
The cold virus - causes inflammation in the mucous membranes lining the nose
and throat

Influenza - a viral infection of the respiratory tract

Mononucleosis- known as " the kissing disease " common in teens, it's a virus
that multiplies in the lymphocytes changing lymphocyte appearance

Ebola - the virus is a short acting infection, however some patients who survive
the disease wind up with chronic health issues as a result

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html (CDC web)

https://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=ebola (video on CDC
response to Ebola)

Examples of
Chronic Noninfectious Diseases
or Conditions

Diabetes

Osteoporosis

Arthritis

Heart ( cardiovascular ) disease

Cancer - specific causes of cancer are the sun, radiation, smoking, asbestos, cell
phones, air, water

Hypertension ( high blood pressure )

Examples of Acute Noninfectious

Diseases or Health Occurrences

Heart attack - death of heart tissue due to a blocked coronary artery

Stroke - blockage of blood flow in the brain

Cardiac arrest - sudden heart arrhythmia causing the heart to stop beating

Hypoglycemia - blood sugar levels are to low

Hyperglycemia - blood sugar levels are to high

Both can become chronic conditions

http://www.lifeclinic.com/focus/diabetes/kids_symptoms.asp

Primary Disease Prevention

(before disease is present)

Stay away from an infected individual

Keep yourself clean - wash hands with antibacterial soaps and shower

Get enough rest

Exercise on a regular basis

Eat right

Stress management

Don't smoke or drink excessively

Secondary Prevention
(measures that lead to early diagnosis)
Visit your doctor on a regular basis and get yearly physicals

Research diseases that run in your family and be sure your doctor is familiar with
your medical history

Tertiary Prevention
(disease is present)
Measures aimed at rehabilitation following
significant disease.
Methods:

medications

Chemotherapy - poison put into system through iv and attacks all cells and kills the cancer

Surgery

Dialysis

Rehabilitation