Sierra is a volunteer with an international aid organization. Right now her group is planning a trip to Togo, Benin, and Nigeria to help improve the type and quantity of clean sources of water in rural areas. Sierra has gotten all of the immunizations recommended for travel to West Africa, but she’s still concerned about getting sick, particularly because she has read there is a higher-than-average incidence of diseases like malaria, sickle cell anemia, and kwashiorkor in those countries.
These three diseases have very different causes and prevention methods. The next few sections are going to discuss specific diseases. By learning about specific diseases, you will have the knowledge to prevent and treat certain diseases. You can also be aware how your choices can increase or decrease the risk of contracting those diseases and what the potential treatments are for each disease.
One of the first things to understand is the difference between communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Communicable means that a disease is transferable or transmitted from one person to another through touch, air, or other means. A noncommunicable disease cannot be transferred from one person to another. Although some prevention and treatment methods may be the same for both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, there are some specific differences—which is why we want to discuss them separately.
A communicable disease is any disease caused by a foreign agent invading the body. These agents can be transmitted through food, water, other people, animals, or other environmental factors. All communicable diseases are caused by pathogens.
If you’ll recall Sierra’s upcoming trip to Africa, only one of the diseases she mentioned is a communicable disease. Malaria is a parasitic disease passed from person to person by mosquitoes. If a mosquito bites an infected person, it could pass the parasite to anyone else it bites. Common preventative measures for malaria include using bug spray, mosquito nets, and any other method of preventing mosquito bites in the first place. A parasite is a pathogen. Below are various types of pathogens and how they contribute to illnesses in humans.
Here are some basic things you can do to help protect yourself from pathogens. Even doing these things, you will probably still contract certain communicable diseases like the flu virus or a cold because that’s life, but these things can also help you recover quicker.1
If you would like to read more information about vaccines, here are a few resources:
Reasons Adults Choose to Get Vaccines2
Why Childhood Vaccines Are Important3
10 Facts about Vaccines from the World Health Organization4
In addition to communicable diseases, we want you to be aware of several noncommunicable diseases. These diseases can fit into several categories. By understanding these categories, you can have a better idea of how to prevent and treat each of these diseases.
Hereditary diseases are caused by abnormal chromosomes or defective genes inherited from one or both parents. For example, you may recall that Sierra was concerned about sickle cell anemia for her upcoming trip. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease that makes the blood cells less efficient in carrying oxygen to the cells. Even though some parts of Africa have a higher rate of sickle cell cases, this is not a disease Sierra needs to be worried about. Since it is a hereditary disease, the only way you can get it is from your DNA.
Huntington’s disease, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis are all hereditary diseases. This type of disease is not currently preventable, but many of these diseases can be treated. Coping with hereditary diseases can be difficult. Listed below are some ways to cope with them and live the fullest life possible.
Your immune system typically is activated when there is a foreign pathogen or object detected in the body, or when the body is no longer at homeostasis or able to function normally. The purpose of the immune response is to bring the body back to normal or homeostasis. Some individuals may have immune responses to something that is typically harmless to the body, which is called an immune disorder. One common example is individuals who have allergies. The substance that enters into the individual’s body isn’t harmful, but the immune response can be harmful or at least uncomfortable, manifesting as itchy eyes, hives, inflamed sinuses, and so forth. Autoimmune diseases can be particularly harmful because a person’s immune system attacks cells of the body it is meant to protect, deeming them harmful foreign substances. (Examples include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease).
Immune disorders are difficult to prevent, although researchers are trying to find connections between lifestyle behaviors and the onset of these disorders. This type of research is relatively new. Tthough there isn’t a cure for many of these immune disorders, treatments are available to help you live a healthier life.
Generally, neither hereditary diseases nor immune disorders are preventable. Behavioral noncommunicable diseases, however, are largely preventable even if they are influenced by genetics or other circumstances. For example, you may be have been wondering about kwashiorkor since you read about it in the story about Sierra at the beginning of the lesson. Kwashiorkor is a disease caused by severe malnutrition. People who suffer from kwashiorkor don’t get enough protein in a diet that is already poor in nutrients and calories. This illness is usually characterized by thin limbs and a distended abdomen (or swollen belly). Sierra should not be worried about this illness if she keeps up with good nutritional practices.
We’ll spend a little more time going into depth on some behavioral noncommunicable diseases because your choices can make a big difference in protecting yourself against them. The following links discuss more information like signs, symptoms, and treatment options.
Reasons Adults Choose to Get Vaccines7
Osteoporosis is very common during old age and in postmenopausal women. It occurs when the bones don’t absorb calcium or vitamin D like they used to. The bones become fragile and brittle. Individuals with osteoporosis are more likely to break bones when doing relatively normal tasks. Some ways to help prevent osteoporosis are to make sure you get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D and to perform weight-bearing exercises to help keep your bones strong.10
Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). Individuals who have a systolic blood pressure of higher than 120 or a diastolic blood pressure of higher than 80 are considered to have pre-hypertension. Individuals who have a systolic blood pressure of higher than 140 or a diastolic blood pressure of higher than 90 have hypertension. Hypertension over extended periods of time can be concerning because it can cause lots of pressure on blood vessels. Just like there are many different causes of heart disease, there are many different causes for hypertension, some that are preventable and some that are hereditary.12
Cancer occurs when a number of abnormal cells begin to reproduce at a rapid rate and interfere with an individual’s normal body tissues. There are many different kinds of cancers and, like many diseases, some are relatively preventable and some are not. The best way to combat cancer is through regular annual exams and communicating with your doctor if something is outside of your normal. By doing regular self-exams you can know what your baseline is and if something changes.14
Asthma is a condition where an individual’s airway constricts and becomes difficult to breathe. Although there isn’t a cure for asthma now, the symptoms can be treated through a variety of methods depending on the severity and if allergies or exercise aggravate it. Individuals can take daily oral medications, or use inhalers and nebulizers to help reduce the symptoms.16
Eventually all of us will age, and there are a few age-related illnesses, specifically Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis. Alzheimer’s is where your memories and regular mental functions begin to deteriorate to the point where you cannot function on a day to day basis. The cause is unknown, and it is currently incurable; however, it can be treated, depending on the severity of the disease. Arthritis is the stiffening and inflammation of joints that can worsen with age. There are many specific types of arthritis with varying causes.18
For those coping with any type of non-communicable diseases, here are a few suggestions:19
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1. David P. Friedman, Curtis C. Stine, and Shannon Whalen, Lifetime Health (United States of America: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2004), 314–325, http://scienceclassroom.homestead.com/Lifetime-Health-Textbook.pdf.
2. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/features/adultvaccinations/index.html
3. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/howvpd.htm
4. WHO, http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/immunization/en/
5. “Heart Disease: Definition,” Mayo Clinic, July 29, 2014, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/basics/definition/con-20034056.
6.Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/home/ovc-20341555
7. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/features/adultvaccinations/index.html
8. “Diabetes: Definition,” Mayo Clinic, July 31, 2014, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091.
9. Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091?reDate=15082017
10. “Osteoporosis: Overview,” Mayo Clinic, July 6, 2016, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/home/ovc-20207808.
11.Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091?reDate=15082017
12. “High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Definition,” Mayo Clinic, September 9, 2016, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20019580.
13.Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/definition/con-20019580
14. “Cancer: Definition,” Mayo Clinic, May 23, 2015, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/basics/definition/con-20032378.
15.Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/basics/definition/con-20032378
16. “Asthma: Definition,” Mayo Clinic, August 30, 2016, accessed June 15, 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/definition/con-20026992.
17.Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/definition/con-20026992
18. “Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics,” WebMD, accessed May 12, 2017, http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/understanding-alzheimers-disease-basics.
19. David P. Friedman, Curtis C. Stine, and Shannon Whalen, Lifetime Health (United States of America: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2004), 366–375, http://scienceclassroom.homestead.com/Lifetime-Health-Textbook.pdf.