What is Disease? Disease: Abnormality of structure or function of a part, organ, or system. Effects of a disease may be felt by a person or observed by others

What is health? Not simply the absence of disease Living a well rounded, healthy lifestyle Total picture: physical and mental health

Terminology: Idopathic: cause not known Etiology: cause/origin Iatrogenic: results from the adverse effects of treatment including drug treatment or surgery Epidemic: many people within an area with the same disease Pandemic: a disease prevalent throughout the whole world (Pan = world) Example AIDS

Terminology (cont.) Communicable: a disease that can be transmitted from one person to another Incidence: How frequently the disease occurs within a population and the tendency of a disease to affect one group over another

Severity Levels Acute: sudden and severe but usually short duration Chronic: gradual onset, less severe, but lasts longer Terminal: “end stage of disease”

Categories of Disease: 1. Infection 2. Degenerative 3. Nutritional 4. Metabolic 5. Immune 6. Neoplasms 7. Psychiatric 1. Ex: strep throat 2. Ex: osteoarthritis 3. Ex: rickets 4. Ex: diabetes 5. Ex: AIDS 6. Ex: tumors/cancer 7. Ex: Depression

Just a quick note on Cancer: Types Malignant (bad) Benign (not so bad) Immune surveillance: ability of immune system to find and destroy abnormal cells Immunotherapy: stimulating immune system to treat cancer

Predisposing Causes of Disease Age When we are younger and as we age our immune system is incapable of fighting disease Gender Men more susceptible to heart disease before age 45 Heredity Family history Living conditions/habits hygiene Physical/chemical change Preexisting illness Weakened immune system Emotional disturbance Psychiatric disorder also stress can weaken immune system

Treatment of disease: Onset of disease Symptoms/signs (s/s): conditions of the disease, noted by patient What’s the difference between (b/t) a sign and a symptom? Symptoms are conditions of disease noted by the patient Signs are the evidence the physician or other healthcare professional can observe Syndrome: characteristic group of symptoms that accompany a disease Diagnosis – given by doctor Prognosis: prediction of probable outcome Treatment/therapy

Types of treatment: Conventional Doctors Medication surgery Alternative/Complementary Naturopathy: helping people heal by developing healthy lifestyles Chiropractic: correct misalignment for treatment(tx) of musculoskeletal disorders Acupuncture: chinese method of inserting needles into pressure points to relieve pain or promote healing Biofeedback: teaching people to control involuntary responses (heart rate,balance etc.) by means of electronic devices that provide feedback

Herbal remedies Different from homeopathic Use of plant-derived remedies Not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)