Health and Disease

Epidemology: study of patterns of disease and the various factors that affect the spread of disease

Incidence- no. of new cases in a population, occurring in a week, month, year

prevalence- no of people in a population with a disease at any given time

Mortality- no of people who have died of a certain this disease per week, month or year

Morbidity- no of people who are ill

Importance of Helath Stats

The patterns spotted by epidemologists can inidicate

• what causes diseases,
• how they are spread,
• where to target health education and care
• whether such programmes are succesfull.

It's a person physical, metal and social condition.

It may be good or poor

It's not only being free from disease but also feeling good with ourselves and have a positive outlook on life.

It's a disorder or malfunctioning of body that leads to a departure from good health

It might be acute (has a a sudden onset and lasts little time- INFLUENZA) or chronic (it lasts for months or years and most of the times is degenerative- BRONCHITIS)

It can affect body, mind or both

Some times, people may appear well but the lifestyle might put them at risk of getting it.

PHYSICAL- damage to body. Leprosy

MENTAL- affects minds with or without physical damage. Alzheimer's, Schzophfrenia, Claustrophobia

INFECTIOUS- it arises when organisms invade the body. Malaria, Flu

NON-INFECTIOUS- from any cause other than by invasion of organisms- Lung Cancer, Sickle call anaemia

INHERITED- it passes from parents to children on the genes (in DNA) - Sickle cell anaemia, cystoc fibrosis

DEFICIENCY- lack of nutrients, caused by poor diet. Night Blindness, Scurvy

DEGENERATIVE- gradual decline in funtion. Huntington's, Coronary heart disease

SOCIAL- caused by social environment or behaviour, such as poor housing, drug misuse. hypotermia, drug dependence

SELF INFLICTED- willingly caused by a person's own actions. Attempted suicide, Lung/skin cncer