1900-present day: Ideas about the causes of disease and illness

Question 1

What has allowed rapid development in understanding causes of disease and illness?

Answer 1

Knowledge of Germs allowed specific cures and vaccines to be developed - e.g. Salvarsan 606 in 1909: the world’s first successful chemical cure.

Science and technology has allowed better and more efficient medical research. E.g Industrial dyes were essential for the staining of microbes.

Question 2

What has been learnt about the impact of genetic factors on health?

Answer 2

Diseases are built into our DNA (1953). Diseases are handed down through generations.

Question 3

What has been learnt about the impact of lifestyle factors on health?

Answer 3

Our diet and our activities can prevent illnesses such as Type-2 Diabetes and Lung Cancer among others and can also help mitigate against some hereditary illnesses.

Question 4

What has the impact been of blood tests, scans and monitors?

Answer 4

Early diagnosis, more targeted diagnosis and greater knowledge of diseases and their causes.

MRI Machines / CAT Scans / Better X-Rays.