Factors That Cause and Control Diseases - Coursework Example

Name Course Tutor Date History of Medicine Question One. Introduction The 21st century concept on health and diseases is that the human body has mechanisms that enable it to heal itself from diseases and remain healthy, as long as the right conditions that ensure good health are provided. Diseases occur when there is an interruption of natural balance of the body. Hippocrates argues that diseases do not emerge suddenly but they occur as a result of steady abuse of the laws of nature. There is no much attempt in typical medicine that tries to explain how to create good health or the way in which diseases occur. The societies do not see the importance of educating people on how the body functions or how to have personal responsibilities on their bodies so as to maintain good healthy. Therefore majority of the people do not have much information on laws of nature that control health and healing. The current medical practices is on the basis of the principal which states that diseases and poor health spread all over and the entire population act as victims. The modern medicine particularly applies drugs in treatment of health problems. This move treats only the symptom of the disease through suppressing them. The drugs neither build health nor cure the diseases. The main purpose of the drugs is to cause disruption on the biochemical processes of the body or killing the invading pathogens so as to reduce the symptoms of the diseases. Most of the drugs that are used wisely and correctly save lives and aid in recovery from symptoms and pain. People are supposed to take steps in knowing the causes of the diseases or poor health and take preventive measures where possible (Robbins 122). Most people view health and health care as a personal subject. Assurance of public health is beyond focus each individual’s health status and therefore there is requirement of an approach that will look into the health status of the whole population in a nation. The process of assuring national health faces remarkable modifications, general drawbacks, and challenging influences and norms of the people living in the society. Considering these challenges, it is essential to change the public policy of the nation which in the past as been seen personal concern for health services together with medicinal research that is beneficial to the individual. So as to have an approach on health issues from the population point of view, the nation must be committed into understanding and working on a complete collection of things that influence health. The nation must address economic, social and cultural surroundings at local, national and state level. The common factors that affect health and causes diseases are environment, climate, nutrition and lifestyle. Climate and health Scientific research has shown that there is worldwide climate change as a result of rise in surface temperatures, increasing sea levels, rising climate inconsistency and melting snow and ice. There is an expectation that these changes have considerable influence on the human health. There are responses on these impacts by public health personnel’s but the range, timing and how complex the climate change is cannot be predicted. Climate and weather are known to have an influence on human health. Heat or high temperature causes hyperthermia, while cold or low temperatures cause hypothermia and drought or lack of rains for a long time causes famine. Floods or excess water causes displacement, death and diseases like cholera. Hurricanes, forest fires and tornadoes also cause death and injury. The different categories of diseases are on the basis of a particular climate. Weather and climate influences the risk and distribution of several diseases which are transmitted by vectors like Rift valley fever, Malaria, dengue fever and plague. If there is presence of vectors in an area then there will be high prevalence of the particular diseases. Weather also influences the hazard of waterborne and food borne diseases and the upcoming contagious diseases like West Nile fever, Hantavirus and Ebola haemorrgic fever (Richard 57-73). It is well established that there is a great relationship between climate and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. For the past years global climate has been stable with constituency in temperature and levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but recently levels of methane, carbon dioxide and various gases produced by green houses have been on increase which have contributed to climate changes and change in climate. For instance world mean temperature have risen to about 0.6celsius, there have been a change in rainfall pattern in several regions, rise in sea levels and occurrences of storms. Climate change is seen as causing potential health hazards. The areas of concerns in climate include fatalies and injuries connected to harsh climatic conditions in association with heat waves; the contagious diseases linked to vector biology changes, food and water contamination; allergic reactions linked to an increase in production of allergen; cardiovascular and respiratory diseases connected to deteriorating weather contamination; and dietary shortages connected to food production changes. However variations in patterns of parasites, pests, and pathogens that affect livestock, wildlife, forests agriculture and coastal aquatic animals seem to change the functions and composition of ecosystem and the alteration of these systems that are important in supporting life have a great impact on human health. It is evident that changes in climate have greatly affected human health. The world health Organization has estimates that from the world trouble on diseases resulting from climatic changes has gone beyond 150,000 deaths yearly. Even though individual weather conditions cannot be accredited to changes in climate the increasing storms like Katrina implies that changes in climate had a great influence on public health. Environment and health If the environment in which an individual is dwelling in is not condusive the person will be exposed to stress which will negatively affect health. It is believed that adverse emotional states and life stressors lead to chief negative effects on the functioning of the body and therefore emergence of diseases. Poor health outcomes like coronary heart disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal distress are connected to unresolved life stresses that are displayed as negative influence on continued human existence and the eventual reduction of life span. Stress causes damages to the immune system and this makes the body unable to fight diseases .For instance a stressed person gets more colds frequently. It also may increase symptoms in illnesses that possess an autoimmune constituent like rheumatoid arthritis. Stress has an influence on irritable bowl syndrome and headaches and this is seen as a link between cancer and stress. It is linked to mental health harms particularly depression and anxiety and negative thinking which is linked with stress contributes to this (Tilles 297-300). There is a well establishment on the connection between stress and heart disease. When there is intense stress hormones fail to be fully utilized during the physical activities and this leads to increased heart rate and rise in blood pressure which exert strain on arteries thus damaging them. Stress hormones hasten the heart to raise blood supply to other body parts and muscles and this makes the blood vessels narrow sand the blood reaching the heart is not enough to meet the demands and this may lead to a heart attack. When some people are stressed they result to excessive drinking and smoking which may lead to kidney or liver diseases. Other people may work so much due the extent of failing to eat properly or exercise, may have sleepless nights due to much worry and this are likely to causes diseases. Stress is likely to lead to poor health. Stressed people tend to eat the wrong form of food as a result of high levels of stress hormone cortisal; they crave for foods that have high amounts of salt fat and sugar. They usually skip meals or are vulnerable to emotional eating and end up eating food when they are not hungry which is not helpful to the body. Stressed people normally have busy lives and tend to take water and this may pose health conditions such as constipation. They usually eat fast foods which have high amounts of fats and acts as a health risk. Stress leads to weight gain they tend to eat little food than required which may lead to malnutrition. When people take less food of unhealthy food leads to imbalances in blood sugar levels and may lead to diseases like diabetes. Lifestyle and health The way of life has a great influence on the health of individuals. If people fail to take preventive measures on diseases that can be prevented such as immunization on diseases like polio then they are likely to get these diseases. Hygiene is a crucial issue in human healthand unhygienic people is likely to contract disease like typhoid. Unhygienic people are vulnerable to helminthic diseases caused by flatworms, roundworms and hookworms. Exercise plays a major role in maintenance of good health. People who remain active feel better and live longer. Lack of exercise can lead to overweight and obesity which may in turn cause heart diseases. Regular exercise protect the body from stroke and heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, on insulin dependent diabetes, back pain, osteoporosis and obesity and helps in improved mood and better management of stress. It is recommended that 20-30 minutes of involving the body in aerobic exercise for three times in a week and several types of muscle strengthening and stretching activities helps in prevention of diseases caused by lack of exercise. Regular exercise prevents heart disease and stroke by making muscles of the heart, decreasing blood pressure, increasing levels of high density lipoprotein, and lowering levels of low density lipoproteins which is considered as cholesterol, improving the flow of blood, and increasing the working capacity of the heart. Physical exercise reduces high blood pressure in the already sick patients and prevents high blood pressure by reduction of body fats which is the main cause of high blood pressure. Prevention and control of non insulin dependent diabetes is by reduction of by reduction of body fats. Physical exercise prevents obesity by reduction of body fats through preserving or building muscle mass , improving the ability of the body to utilize calories and if combined with appropriate nutrition if aids in controlling body weight and prevention of obesity which are the chief factors in the causes of diseases. It prevents back pain by increasing the strength of muscles and muscle endurance, and by improving posture and elasticity. In prevention of osteoporosis regular weight bearing exercise leads to promotion of bone formation and also may prevent several types of bone loss resulting from aging. Physical exercise helps in improvement of mood and how individuals feel about themselves. Research has shown that exercise is expected to reduce anxiety and depression and therefore help in better management of stress. Certain behaviors like heavy drinking and excessive smoking may cause several diseases. Compsumption of large amounts of alcohol leads to increased hazard of developing cardiovascular disease, alcoholism, chronic pancreatitis, malabsorption, cancer and liver diseases. Sustained consumption of alcohol may lead to damage on the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system. Long term consumption of excess alcohol is liable to causing damage to almost every body organs and systems. Consumption of alcohol by adolescents may cause toxification of the brain. The greatest effect of alcohol is on the liver. The liver cells usually prefer fatty acids for energy and packs the extra fatty acids into triglycerides which are then used by other body tissues. When there is presence of alcohol the liver cells must first breakdown alcohol leading to accumulation of fatty acids which are at times in huge amounts. The metabolism of alcohol changes the structure of the liver permanently leading to impairments of the ability of the liver to breakdown fats (Pell 485-486). Consumption of alcohol by pregnant mothers during the first trimester of pregnancy may adversely affect the foetus leading to development of the foetal alcohol syndrome upon delivery. Smoking is causes heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. It is connected to the cancer of the bladder, mouth, stomach, cervix, and kidney. Smokers are at high risk of possessing reduced functioning of the lung resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking by pregnant women may cause stillbirth, premature birth or miscarriage. Smokers have reduced rate of surviving after surgery because smoking damages the defense mechanisms of the body, reduced immune response and slow wound healing. They are at high risk of developing complications such as wound infections, respiratory problems and postoperative pneumonia after surgery. Smoking leads to periodontitis which is disease of the gum that lead to loss of bone and teeth because it damages the ability of the body to fight diseases or repair tissues. Smokers are susceptible to peptic ulcers which occur in the duodenum and stomach and may result to death (Gregory 165). Nutrition and health The maintenance of biochemical balance of the body is a crucial step in maintaining good health prevention of disease, or promotion of the healing process. Majority of people carry on with life with a feeling of good health. They may not be having any evident medical situation but they may be having many symptoms that are not easy to treat. These symptoms include lack of enough energy, headaches, migraines, aching muscles, fatigue, dry skin, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, pain attacks, heart palpitations, insomnia, muscle cramps and acne. These conditions are signs of biochemical imbalance. Even when these conditions are medically diagnosed and treated with the recommended drugs best nutrition can aid the body in looking for its innate balance and begin the process of healing A research on the analysis of biochemical imbalances displayed that the major fields that affect disruption of health as poor digestive function , food intolerances, inconsistent blood sugar levels, disruption of the endocrine system, and deficiencies in mineral, vitamins and essential fatty acids. All these conditions are as a result of por nutrition and they manifest themselves in serious health conditions and problems such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, autoimmune problems, dementia and ill mental health. Through eating the correct food and food supplements optimum nutrition gives the biochemical construction blocks that create good health. It also brings biochemical imbalances to balance which occur as a result of various forms of stress. The main aim of rebalancing the body is so as to create good health, high energy as well as increasing the body’s ability to resist diseases and stress. By use of optimum nutrition one is able to raise the body’s resistance to diseases and poor health by learning and being able to interpret symptoms of several diseases and how to deal with them. The connection between body and mind is vital to health, optimum nutrition move is not only about eating correct food but having responsibility over ones health is more important to maintaining good health. A healthy body along with a healthy mind is connected and they control one another in health issue. Every individual has his own metabolic needs and this implies that one a single diet can be fit for every one due to differences in metabolic needs of the individual body. Consumption of sugary food may lead to imbalances in blood sugar which leads to diseases like diabetes. Random fluctuation in blood sugar levels causes physical and emotional instability and there is stability when the levels are kept constant. Insufficient control of blood sugar levels is the main cause of several fatal diseases like cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Consumption of right foods that the body can easily metabolize can increase blood sugar levels. For instance consumption of non sugary and low fat foods by diabetic patients helps them in controlling their blood sugar levels. Good health starts in the digestive system and therefore one must eat the type of food that the body will be able to digest, absorb and eliminate (Fauci 45). Consumption of highly fibrous food and failure to take enough food can lead to constipation. Correct diet strengthens the immune system and increases the ability of the body to fight diseases. An imbalance diet can lead to deficiency diseases like kwashiorkor, marasmus, scurvy, beriberi and pellagra while consumption of too much junk food can cause obesity. Poor diet or lack of enough food can lead to malnutrition that may lead to rise in poor health, vulnerability to diseases, delayed recovery from infections and injury. A deficiency in minerals and vitamins influence almost every body organ, digestive system, and diminishes functioning of organs along with mental processes. High sugar intake during alcohol consumption makes the pancreatic to respond by producing excessive insulin which leads to hypoglycemia which causes headaches, reduction of energy levels and mental abilities and this can stimulate feelings of depression of depression and lethargy. Proper nutrition restores the blood sugar levels to normal. Rising and dropping of the blood sugar levels leads to type two diabetes. Conclusion There is high connection between climate, environment, lifestyle and nutrition and how these factors cause or control diseases. Climate changes lead to change in food production patterns which may affect nutrition and lead to diseases. Life style habits like alcohol consumption and smoking may lead to poor health and how food materials are metabolized and used by the body systems. It may lead to diseases like diabetes which is also linked with nutrition. Climate, environment, and lifestyle seem to directly and indirectly affect nutrition leading to emergence or control of diseases. Works cited Walter, C. Rebuilding the Food Pyramid. Scientific American 288 (1): 64–71, 2003 Richard, J. Preparing the U.S. Health Community for Climate Change. Annual Review of Public Health 29: 57-73, 2008 Lloyd, G. Climate Change and Health .Annual Review of Public Health 29:20-40, 2008. Pell, J. Smoke-free legislation and hospitalizations for acute coronary syndrome. The New England journal of medicine 359 (5): 482–490, 2008. Benowitz, N. Cigarette Smoking and Infection . Archives of Internal Medicine 164 (20): 2206, 2004 Gregory, B. Measuring the Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption: Current Needs and Methodological Challenges23:162-169, 2005. Fauci, A. Harrison's principles of internal medicine, 14th Edition, 30-50, 2001. Nuland, B. The Uncertain Art: Thoughts On A Life In Medicine New York: Random House 2008. Robbins, J. The Physician in the Practice of His Art. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 121- 124. Tilles, D, Community Health. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 56 (2): 295-301, 2003. Read More