Why do we fall ill – 1 (Health & Disease)

Introduction

            Health and disease in human communities are very complex issues, with many interconnected causes. We also realise that the ideas of what ‘health’ and ‘disease’ mean are themselves very complicated. When we ask what causes diseases and how we prevent them, we have to begin by asking what these notions mean.

            We have seen that cells are the basic units of organisms. Cells are made of a variety of chemical substances, viz. proteins, carbohydrates, fats or lipids, and so on. Cell is a dynamic place. Something or the other is always happening inside them. Complex reactions and repair goes on inside cells. New cells are being made. In our organs or tissues, there are various specialised activities going on– the heart is beating, the lungs are breathing, the kidney is filtering urine, the brain is thinking.  All these activities are interconnected. For example, if the kidneys are not filtering urine, poisonous substances will accumulate. Under such conditions, the brain will not be able to think properly.

            For all these interconnected activities, energy and raw material are needed.  Food is a necessity for cell and tissue functioning.  Anything that prevents proper functioning of cells and tissues will lead to a lack of proper activity of the body.

Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.

Basic conditions for good health:

• Awareness about Health and Healthy Living & Willingness to become & remain Healthy
• Happiness.  There should be fear free environment. There should be no anxiety.  [Although this has nothing to do with economic status. The poorest person of the society may be much more happy and tension free than the richest lot, but it is not understood by all and the society thinks that money matters, hence the next point]
• Good standard of living and economic status.
• Proper balanced and nutritious diet.
• Personal hygiene.
• Clean environment and surroundings.
• Clean water
• Fresh air.
• Regular exercise.
• Proper rest.

[In addition to all that mentioned above one should –

• Keep on suggesting oneself that he is Healthy and Worthy for Society or at least for his family.  If one starts thinking that he is useless, he becomes useless. So always keep thinking how can you do any value addition to the Society.
• One should not think ill of others. Learn to become happy if your neighbour achieves something. Go and congratulate him.  Don’t fill your heart with jealousy.]

Being Healthy & Freeness from Disease are different

            One is said to be having a disease when he is at dis-ease.  That is he not at ease. We will talk about it in next topic.  Not having any disease does not mean that the person is healthy.  Being Healthy for a dancer may be able to stretch her body in difficult poses. For a singer it may be a large lung capacity.  For a commando it may be much more.  If he is not able to bear extreme cold or hot he may not be considered to be healthy enough to pass the training despite the fact he may be very healthy and very fit from rest of the society.

In – text Questions Page 178

Q1. State any two conditions for good health 
Answer: Two conditions essential for good health are:

State of physical, mental and social well-being.

Clean environment.

Q2. State any two conditions essential for being free of disease.
Answer: The two conditions essential for being free of disease are:

Hygiene.

Pollution free surroundings

Q3. Are the answers to the above questions necessarily the same or different? Why?
Answer: The answer to the above questions are different because a person may be free of disease, but not healthy.

Disease

Any disturbance in the structure or function of any organ or part of body is termed as disease.  When there is a disease, the functioning or appearance of one or more systems of the body changes.
It may be caused due to external or internal factor viz. due to the attack of pathogens (virus, bacteria), or due to lack of nutritious diet/balanced diet and lack of public health services.

Symptoms and signs of Diseases

A diseased body shows certain symptoms and signs of illness. These symptoms and signs help in identification and diagnosis of the disease. A symptom is felt by the affected person while sign can be detected by another person. A symptom is thus, subjective and a sign is an objective.

Types of Diseases: Acute or Chronic

Depending on the duration—disease is classified as acute or chronic.

Acute Diseases

Acute diseases are those which lasts for a very short time. Examples are headache, common cold etc.  But these diseases can be fatal also.  They are usually caused by an external agent.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases are those which last for a longer time. They take a lot of time to heal and can be caused by any external or internal factor.  Examples are cancer, elephantiasis, tuberculosis, etc.

Difference between Acute Disease & Chronic Disease