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Diseases

 

 

  • Types of diseases


    A disease is a condition that disrupts how the body functions and can lead to ill health. There are two types of diseases:

     

    • Communicable diseases
    • Non-communicable diseases

     

    Communicable Diseases


    Communicable diseases, also called infectious diseases, are caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. These diseases can pass from one person to another in different ways. For example, through the air in small droplets, through touching body fluids like blood, saliva, or mucus, or through touching dirty surfaces or things.


    Some common communicable diseases are:

     

    • The common cold
    • Flu
    • Tuberculosis

     

    Measles


    Another example of a communicable disease is Measles. Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that can sometimes cause serious problems. It is an example of a disease that can spread from person to person.
    Some signs of measles are:

     

    • having a cold, such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
    • having red, sore eyes
    • having a high fever having small white spots inside the mouth

     

    Measles can make you feel bad, but it will usually go away in about a week or two without causing any more trouble. But sometimes measles can cause dangerous and even life-threatening problems. These can include infections of the lungs and brain.

     

    The measles virus is in the tiny drops that come out of the nose and mouth when someone who has measles coughs or sneezes. You can catch measles easily by breathing in these drops or, if the drops have landed on something, by touching that thing and then touching your nose or mouth. There is no special treatment for measles. If you get measles, you should rest, take medicine for pain and drink lots of water to help with the symptoms until it gets better. But measles is rare in the UK now because of the vaccine that works well.

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  • Non-communicable diseases


    Non-communicable diseases are long-lasting health problems that do not pass from one person to another. Instead, these diseases tend to develop slowly over time and can be caused by different factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and the environment.


    Some examples of non-communicable diseases are:

     

    • Cancer – a serious disease that happens when cells in the body grow too much. These abnormal cells can move to other parts of the body and cause harm.
    • Coronary heart disease – a problem in which the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart become narrow or blocked. This can cause a heart attack.

     

    Diabetes


    Another example of a non-communicable disease is Diabetes. Diabetes is a long-term health problem that affects how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). People with diabetes have trouble making or using insulin (a hormone that helps to keep blood sugar levels normal) in their body. This can make the blood sugar levels too high, which can hurt the body’s organs. There are two main kinds of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.


    Type 1 diabetes


    Type 1 diabetes is a problem where the body’s immune system attacks the cells that make insulin in the pancreas. Insulin helps to keep blood sugar levels normal by letting cells use glucose for energy and by helping the liver store extra glucose. This kind of diabetes usually starts in children and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to control their blood sugar levels.


    Type 2 diabetes


    On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is a problem where the body does not respond well to insulin. People with type 2 diabetes have a hard time using insulin or do not make enough of it to keep their blood sugar levels normal. As a result, their blood sugar levels get too high. Type 2 diabetes is mostly related to how people live, such as what they eat and how active they are. It is the most common kind of diabetes. It usually affects adults, but it is becoming more common in children and teens. People with type 2 diabetes may be able to control their blood sugar levels by changing how they live, such as eating healthier and exercising more. But they may also need to take medicine or insulin to keep their blood sugar levels normal.

     

    Signs of diabetes


    The signs of both kinds of diabetes can be similar and may include: o Feeling thirsty a lot o Needing to pee a lot o Feeling tired o Having blurry vision o Healing slowly from cuts and wounds But some signs may be more common in one kind of diabetes than the other.


    Treating diabetes


    If diabetes is not treated, it can cause serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, and blindness. These problems are caused by high blood sugar levels hurting the body’s organs and blood vessels. People with diabetes also have a higher chance of getting other long-term health problems, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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  • Summary:

     

    • A disease is a condition that harms an organism’s body, organs, tissue or cells.
    • There are many kinds of disease in the world today.
    • Diseases can be infectious, chronic or genetic.
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