Human Health and Diseases Summary
Health Definition
- WHO defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.
- Health is dynamic and influenced by factors like sex, age, and heredity.
- Good health is the result of conscious behaviors.
Goals for Good Health
- Lifestyle behaviors associated with lower disease risk:
- Not smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption (if any)
- Eating breakfast daily
- Avoiding between-meal snacking
- Maintaining normal weight
- Sleeping 7-8 hours nightly
- Moderate exercise
Aspects of Health
- Biological/Physical Health: Involves health-enhancing behaviors, understanding body's signals, basic home care skills, and regular check-ups.
- Mental Health: A state of well-being where individuals realize their abilities, cope with stress, work productively, and contribute to their community.
- Social Health: Ability to perform roles (friend, neighbor, etc.) comfortably without harming others; influenced by family and loved ones.
- Emotional Health: Includes productive activities, understanding emotions, and coping with stress; emotions can affect physical health (placebo, faith).
- Spiritual-Philosophical Health: Feeling that behavior aligns with values; sense of meaning, awe, or tranquility.
Disease Definition
- A pathological condition of an organism’s part, organ, or system due to infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, characterized by signs/symptoms.
Categories of Diseases
- Autoimmune Diseases: Immune system attacks body cells.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Spread by sexual contact.
- Infectious Diseases: Caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses); spread directly or via vectors.
- Genetic Diseases: Hereditary, determined by genes.
- Nutritional Diseases: From lack of nutrients or body's inability to utilize them.
- Psychiatric Diseases: Disorders in perception, emotion, and behavior.
- Degenerative Diseases: Progressive deterioration of tissues or organs over time.