protists: eukaryotic cells that can spread through vectors (has nucleus)
non-communicable: cannot be passed on
Often, the presence of one disease can lead to increased susceptibility to other diseases. For example:
Having HIV means that your immune system is impaired, leaving you at risk to many other ‘opportunistic’ infections, caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Having a particular virus called HPV can increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer.
pathogen is an organism which causes disease
our bodies have defence mechanisms against invading micro-organisms
chemical barriers against invading microbes:
enzymes in the tears kill bacteria on the surface of our eyes
stomach contains hydrochloric acid, kills bacteria and 'friendly' bacteria that kills microbes
physical barriers against invading microbes:
breathing organs have hairs and produce mucus to cover lining of these organs and traps pathogens
hair and mucus in nose traps particles that could contain pathogens
skin acts ass waterproof barriers
if microbes enter the body, they need to be neutralised or killed. done by white blood cells
some white blood cells (phagocytes) ingest the microbe
some lymphocytes release anti bodies which attach to the pathogens and either destroy them or cause them to stick together
antibodies are specific to a pathogen
antibodies: made by lymphocytes
producing antibodies:
white blood cells sees the pathogens (microbes)
cells produce antibodies to 'fit' the antigen
antibodies fit onto the antigens and cause the pathogens to 'clump'
pathogens ingested by the phagocytes
some lymphocytes turn into memory cells. these can quickly kill anti bodies because they already have made an antibody for this before.
waist:hip ratio better measure of obesity because muscle mass can affect BMI
Option 1: lifestyle changes
moderate excercise
balanced diet
avoid smoking
Option 2: lifelong med
anti hypertensive (reduce blood pressure)
statins (reduce cholestrol)
Option 3: surgical procedures
bipass surgery
stent
transplant
Vaccine
Exposes the body to weakened or inactivated pathogens, allowing the immune system to develop immunity without catching the full disease
Vaccines
Contain weakened or inactivated pathogens that the body recognizes and responds to by producing antibodies, developing immunity
Available for many diseases, including both bacteria and viruses
Given to children before primary school to protect against over a dozen potentially deadly diseases
Vaccines generally outweigh their cons
Antibiotics can only be used to treat bacterial infections, and not those caused by viruses, fungi or other pathogens. Bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics because antibiotics inhibit cell processes in the bacterium. However, viruses and other pathogens often use cell machinery in host cells to reproduce, and these are unaffected by antibiotics.
By immunising a large proportion of the population, the spread of the pathogen is reduced as there are less people to catch the disease from (called herd immunity).