Comprehensive Overview of Noncommunicable and Communicable Diseases in Human Health

Asymptomatic

Individuals show no symptoms, or the symptoms are mild and disappear after the onset of the infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus

A virus that attacks the immune system.

Noncommunicable disease

A disease that is not transmitted by another person, a vector, or environment.

Cardiovascular disease

A disease that affects the heart or blood vessels.

Hypertension

Can damage the heart, blood vessels, and other body organs if it continues over a long period of time.

Atherosclerosis

Hardened arteries with reduced elasticity.

Angina pectoris

Chest pain that results when the heart does not get enough oxygen.

Arrhythmias

When the heart skips a beat or beats very fast or very slowly.

Stroke

An acute injury in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted.

Cancer

Uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells.

Tumor

Abnormal cells build up in the body.

Benign

Noncancerous, tumor grows slowly.

Malignant

Cancerous, tumor does not stay in one place.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer from the point where it originated to other parts of the body.

Carcinogen

Many cancers develop because of exposure to a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substances.

Biopsy

The removal of a small piece of tissue for examination.

Remission

When treatment works and the cancer is either gone or under control.

Diabetes

A chronic disease that affects the way body cells convert sugar into energy.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself, targeting the cells, tissues, and organs of a person's own body.

Osteoarthritis

A disease of the joints in which cartilage breaks down.

Communicable disease

A disease that is spread from one living organism to another or through the environment.

Virus

A piece of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat.

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms that live almost everywhere on earth.

Toxins

Substances that kill cells or interfere with their functions.

Vector

An organism that carries and transmits pathogens to humans or other animals.

Jaundice

A yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Immune system

A network of cells, tissues, organs, and chemicals that fight off pathogens.

Inflammatory response

A reaction to tissue damage caused by injury or infections.

Phagocytes

White blood cells that attack invading pathogens, surround the pathogens, and destroy them with special chemicals.

Antigens

Substances that can trigger an immune response.

Immunity

The state of being protected against a particular disease.

Lymphocyte

A specialized white blood cell that coordinates and performs many functions of specific immunity.

Antibody

A protein that acts against a specific antigen.

Vaccine

A preparation of dead or weakened pathogens that are introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response.

Emerging infections

Communicable diseases whose occurrence in humans has increased within the past two decades.

Epidemic

A disease outbreak that affects many people in the same place and at the same time.

Pandemic

A global outbreak of an infectious disease.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Infections spread from one person to another through sexual contact.

Rheumatoid arthritis

A disease characterized by the debilitating destruction of the joints due to inflammation.

Disability

Any physical or mental impairment that limits normal activities, including seeing, hearing, walking, or speaking.