2.1 - Health and Disease

Question 1

What are some causes of disease and ill-health? (5)

Answer 1

• the organism may become infected by a pathogen
• there may be a mutation in the organism’s genes
• the organism may be affected by environmental conditions e.g if a plant doesn’t get enough light it wont grow properly
• an organism may experience trauma (an emotional shock or a physical injury) e.g the sudden death of a loved one may cause anxiety and depression
• the organism’s lifestyle may affect their health e.g. eating too much food can lead to obesity

Question 2

What is a communicable disease and how is it caused?

Answer 2

A communicable disease is a disease that can spread between organisms. They are caused by pathogens infecting the organism. A pathogen is a type of microorganism that causes disease. Types of pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protists and fungi

Question 3

What are 2 examples of a communicable disease?

Answer 3

• Common cold
• Malaria

Question 4

What are non-communicable diseases and how are they caused?

Answer 4

Non-communicable diseases cannot be passed from one organism to another. They generally last for a long time and progress slowly. They are associated with genetic mutations, lifestyle and environmental factors

Question 5

What are 2 examples of non-communicable diseases?

Answer 5

• Cancer
• Diabetes

Question 6

What is meant by the incubation period?

Answer 6

The time between being infected with a pathogen and showing symptoms of the disease

Question 7

How can HPV result in someone having cancer? (3)

Answer 7

• HPV is a virus that can infect the reproductive system
• An infection by the virus doesn’t always cause symptoms and often clears up on its own within a couple of months
• However, some HPV infections can cause cell changes resulting in the development of certain types of cancer. It’s thought that nearly all cervical cancer cases result from HPV infections

Question 8

What are 4 lifestyle factors that have an adverse effect on health?

Answer 8

• Stress
• Smoking
• Diet
• Exercise

Question 9

Define a ‘disease’

Answer 9

A disease is a condition that commonly damages cells of the host and impairs the normal structures or functioning of the organism. Most organisms will experience disease at some point in their lifetime.

Question 10

What is HPV?

Answer 10

It is a virus that can infect the reproductive system

Question 11

Does an infection by the HPV virus always cause issues?

Answer 11

No. An infection by the virus doesn’t always cause symptoms and often clears up on its own within a couple of months

Question 12

What are Helminths?

Answer 12

A type of worm

Question 13

What happens if certain heilminths get inside the human body?

Answer 13

They can cause a range of diseases

Question 14

What is trichinosis?

Answer 14

Trichinosis is a disease caused by infection by the heilminth. Trichinella spiralis.

Question 15

What is the positive effect of being infected by Trichinella spiralis?

Answer 15

It’s thought that infection by Trichinella spiralis may reduce the development of some autoimmune diseases, e.g. Crohn’s disease