Health And Disease Flashcards
What is health?
Health is a state of physical and mental well-being.
What is a communicable disease?
A communicable disease is caused by pathogens and can spread between individuals.
(e.g., flu, TB)
What is a non-communicable disease?
Non-communicable diseases cannot be spread and are often due to lifestyle or genetic factors.
(e.g., cancer, heart disease)
How can different diseases interact in the body?
One disease can weaken the immune system, making it easier to catch others, or cause immune responses that lead to other health issues.
What is a pathogen?
A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists.
How do bacteria and viruses cause illness?
Bacteria produce toxins that damage tissues; viruses replicate inside cells, causing them to burst.
How are diseases spread?
Through air (droplets), water, direct contact, and vectors like mosquitoes.
How can we reduce the spread of diseases?
Hygiene, isolation of infected individuals, vaccination, and destroying vectors.
What are examples of viral diseases?
Examples include measles, HIV, and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV in plants).
What are examples of bacterial diseases?
Examples include salmonella and gonorrhoea.
What is malaria and how is it spread?
Malaria is caused by a protist and spread by mosquitoes (vectors).
What are the body’s defence systems against pathogens?
Skin, mucus, stomach acid, and white blood cells (phagocytosis, antibody production, antitoxin release).
What is vaccination and how does it work?
A vaccine contains a weakened or dead form of a pathogen. It stimulates the immune system to produce memory cells for future protection.
What is antibiotic resistance and why is it a problem?
Bacteria evolve to survive antibiotics. Resistant strains like MRSA make infections harder to treat.
How do drugs get developed?
Drugs are tested for toxicity, efficacy, and dosage through preclinical and clinical trials, including double-blind testing.
What is the difference between a painkiller and an antibiotic?
Painkillers relieve symptoms, while antibiotics kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.
What are monoclonal antibodies and how are they used?
Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced from a single clone of cells. They are used in pregnancy tests, cancer treatment, and medical diagnosis because they bind to specific antigens.
What lifestyle factors can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases?
Poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
How does the immune system provide long-term protection against pathogens?
When a pathogen enters the body for the first time, white blood cells called lymphocytes detect its unique antigens. They produce specific antibodies to bind to and destroy the pathogen. After the infection is cleared, memory cells remain in the body. These include memory B cells, which quickly produce the correct antibodies, and memory T cells, which recognise the pathogen faster. If the same pathogen invades again, the secondary immune response is much quicker and stronger, often preventing symptoms. This gives long-term immunity.
