Disease" is a broad term used to describe any condition or disorder that affects the normal functioning of the body, leading to signs, symptoms, or abnormalities. They can affect various parts of the body and can have diverse causes, including pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), genetic mutations, environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and underlying health conditions.
Imagine going back in time to your great-grandparents and you are having a conversation with them. They ask you to tell them about your modern time.
And you start by telling them how technology has been of benefit to man. You tell them technology has come to our aid in commercial agriculture such that there is more than enough food for everybody on the planet.
Mobile phones make communication with almost anybody around the globe. With blessed apps, Android phones have taken the communication to a higher level because people can have video calls.
Thanks to the internet which by itself revolutionized how people live their lives.
There are more specialized hospitals, more qualified medical practitioners, more drugs for illness, and more nutritional supplements. life is good, you say.
Your great grandparents who can only imagine all that you have been talking about ask you, what about challenges? What are the challenges you people in your time have You sigh?
And you tell them that there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor, you now have money that is not backed by gold or anything, there is terrorism, and there are sicknesses people are dying from on a daily basis.
Tell us about this sicknesses, your great-grandparents say, You do not know where to start.
You simply say, there are a host of them: dementia, celiac, heart and kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, and others. am not sure we experienced any of those. We do not even know this sicknesses.
You ask, what do people usually die from in your time? old age, they reply.
Since the mid-twentieth century, we have had to attribute someone`s immediate cause of death to a single illness rather than old age.
A particular illness sets in and goes on to become chronic, degenerating the health of the sufferer and involving multiple complications and symptoms which accumulate over time.
In fact, the old today are usually not dying of a specific ailment. In terms of health, something has changed between our time and the time of our great parents.
Are we even interested in knowing what it is or those things that have changed?
Or have we become too passive when it comes to illness?
Have we accepted that it is normal for old people to die of sickness?
Have we become fatalistic in our thinking when it comes to sickness?
Are we sure we are right to attribute an illness to the will of God?
Is there a possibility that we can go through life without migraines, allergies, diabetes, heart illnesses, cancer, and a host of other illnesses?
Could it be that we are refusing to take responsibility or even acknowledging the possibility that we may be bringing these illnesses on ourselves?
One thing that I know for certain that has changed between our time and the old time is diet.
my people perish for want of knowledge€ (Hosea 4:6).
Here are some common types of diseases:
1. Infectious Diseases:
- Caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
- Examples include influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and COVID-19.
2. Chronic Diseases:
- Long-lasting conditions that typically progress over time and may be managed but not cured.
- Examples include cardiovascular diseases (such as hypertension and coronary artery sickness), diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and certain types of cancer.
3. Autoimmune Diseases:
- Conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body`s own cells and tissues.
- Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.
4. Genetic Diseases:
- Caused by abnormalities or mutations in an individual`s genetic material (DNA).
- Examples include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell and Huntington`s disease, with other various forms of muscular dystrophy.
5. Mental Health Disorders:
- Conditions that affect mood, thinking, behavior, and emotional well-being.
- Examples include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.
6. Degenerative Diseases:
- Conditions characterized by the gradual deterioration of tissues or organs over time.
- Examples include Alzheimer`s and Parkinson`s disease, osteoarthritis, and age-related macular degeneration.
7. Lifestyle-Related Diseases:
- Conditions that are influenced by factors such as diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and stress.
- Examples include obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, cardiovascular and liver disease.
8. Rare Diseases:
- Conditions that affect a small percentage of the population.
- Examples include Huntington`s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cystic fibrosis, and rare genetic disorders known as orphan diseases.
9. Communicable Diseases:
- Diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another, either directly or indirectly.
- Examples include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), foodborne illnesses, airborne and waterborne diseases.
Understanding the various types of illness is essential for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and individuals to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage health conditions effectively