B6.3

• WHO's definition of health

  "A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
• Factors to consider when assessing an individual's health

  • Mental health
  • Level of social support
• Communicable diseases

  Diseases caused by microorganisms called pathogens, which can spread between individuals
• Communicable disease

  • Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus
• Types of pathogens

  • Bacterium
  • Virus
  • Protocist
  • Fungus
• Pathogen causing Tuberculosis (TB)

  M. tuberculosis and M. bovis
• Pathogen causing Influenza

  Influenza A, influenza B, influenza C
• Pathogen causing HIV/AIDS

  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Transmission of Tuberculosis (TB)

  Direct transmission through airborne droplets
• Transmission of Bacterial Meningitis

  Direct transmission through airborne droplets
• Transmission of Influenza

  Direct transmission through airborne droplets
• Transmission of HIV/AIDS

  Direct transmission through the transfer of body fluids
• Transmission of Malaria

  Indirect transmission through female mosquitoes
• Transmission of Cattle Ringworm

  Direct transmission through contact with infected cattle
• Transmission of Athlete's Foot

  Direct transmission through contact with items touched by infected individuals
• Non-communicable diseases

  Diseases not caused by pathogens and cannot be passed on between individuals
• Effects of non-communicable diseases

  • Their effects tend to be longer-lasting compared to communicable diseases
• Non-communicable diseases

  • Asthma, coronary heart disease (CHD), and most cancers
• Risk factors for non-communicable diseases

  • Diet, stress, and life situations can increase the risk
• Impact of diet on health

  Eating a balanced diet maintains good health, while a poor diet can lead to deficiencies, obesity, diabetes, and poor mental health
• Impact of stress on health

  Constant stress can lead to cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure, increasing the risk of CHD, and poor mental health
• Impact of socioeconomic factors on health

  These factors affect the accessibility of healthcare, the quality of food they can buy, and overall well-being
• How smoking causes disease

  Chemicals in cigarette smoke, such as tar and nicotine, damage the alveoli in the lungs and the endothelial lining of the arteries
• Risk factor linked to type 2 diabetes

  Obesity caused by a poor diet
• How obesity caused by a poor diet causes disease

  Excess consumption of sugar reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin
• Risk factor linked to liver disease and impaired brain function

  Consuming alcohol
• How consuming alcohol causes disease

  The breakdown of alcohol by liver cells produces substances toxic to liver cells, and alcohol damages brain neurons, reducing brain function
• Risk factor linked to cancer


  Exposure to carcinogens
• How carcinogens cause cancer

  Exposure to ionizing radiation or certain chemicals can damage DNA in cells, leading to uncontrolled cell division
• Risk factor linked to poor development of the fetus (unborn baby)

  Smoking and consuming alcohol when pregnant
• How smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy affect the fetus

  Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces oxygen delivery to the fetus, and substances in alcohol impair brain development in the fetus
• The vast majority of microorganisms are either beneficial or do no harm
• Importance of mental health compared to physical health

  Mental health is equally important as physical health
• How to think of communicable diseases

  Diseases that are caught from one person to another
• Cancer is not solely genetic, but some individuals may have a genetic predisposition that increases their likelihood of developing specific cancers
• How suffering from one disease affects susceptibility to other diseases

  It can make individuals more susceptible because their immune system may be compromised or because different diseases can interact negatively
• How defects in the immune system increase susceptibility to infectious diseases

  They make individuals more likely to suffer from infectious diseases. For example, individuals infected with HIV may have reduced numbers of lymphocytes, reducing the immune system's ability to tackle infections like pneumonia
• How viruses living in cells can trigger cancers

  Viruses like HPV can infect cells of the cervix, leading to cervical cancer. Some strains of the hepatitis virus can also cause liver cancer
• How immune reactions triggered by pathogens can lead to allergies

  Immune reactions can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma, often as a result of an overactive immune response
• How severe physical ill health can impact mental health

  It can lead to depression and other mental illnesses, which can further negatively affect the immune system and lifestyle choices