2.3.2 Health Issues

Categories of Diseases:

1. Communicable Diseases:

• These diseases are infectious and caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They can be passed from one person to another.
• Example: The flu is a common communicable disease.

2. Non-Communicable Diseases:

• These diseases are not infectious and cannot be transmitted from person to person. They often result from lifestyle factors or genetic predispositions.
• Example: Heart disease is a non-communicable disease.

Interactions Between Diseases:

It's important to recognise that diseases can interact with each other, either by triggering another disease or by worsening its effects. Here are some examples:

• Weakened Immune System: If an individual's immune system is compromised, they are more susceptible to communicable diseases because their body is less capable of fighting off pathogens.
• Viral Infections and Cancer: Some viruses can trigger the development of cancers. For example, the hepatitis virus can lead to liver cancer.
• Allergic Reactions: An infection by a pathogen can stimulate the immune system, which may lead to allergic reactions. For instance, a viral infection might increase the severity of asthma or cause skin rashes.
• Physical Health and Mental Health: A decline in physical health, especially if it reduces the ability to carry out daily tasks or decreases life expectancy, can lead to mental health issues such as depression.

Other Factors Affecting Health:

• Diet:
  • A balanced diet is essential for maintaining good health. Eating too little, too much, or the wrong types of food can lead to poor health.
  • Impact: Poor diet can result in conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and malnutrition.
• Stress:
  • Both physical and mental stress can have significant effects on the body, leading to various health problems.
  • Impact: Chronic stress is linked to heart disease, cancers, and mental health disorders.
• Life Situations:
  • Factors such as where you live, your financial status, your ethnic background, access to healthcare, and the hygiene levels in your environment can all affect your physical and mental health.
  • Impact: Poor life situations can lead to communicable diseases like diarrhoea and malaria, or non-communicable diseases like heart disease.

Understanding and Interpreting Health Data:

• Disease incidence and health statistics are often displayed using frequency tables, bar charts, histograms, and scatter diagrams.
• Skills: It's important to be able to interpret these forms of data to identify trends, patterns, and correlations between variables. For example, you may need to find a correlation between high stress levels and the incidence of heart disease. By understanding the factors that influence health and how diseases interact, we can better manage and prevent health issues, leading to improved overall well-being.