The term for any tendency or a condition hampering the normal body functions is called a disease. Most people think of disease as a condition causing dysfunction or uneasiness. Pathology is the name for studying of diseases, illnesses, and disorders. Many factors can cause a disease such as, biological, chemical, psychological, and social. When harmful pathogenic microbes or germs (viruses, bacteria, and protozoa) enter a person’s body, this is called an infection and can be infectious or non- infectious.
An infectious disease, also called communicable or contagious, can be transmitted through insect bites, food or water contamination, air, blood transfusions, and infected injections. It is suggested to take appropriate medical treatment and keep away from other people to refrain from spreading the disease around.
A non- infectious disease can not be spread to other people, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions. Millions of dollars are spent each year on non- infectious diseases in the United States alone. The top most expensive are, heart, trauma, cancer, mental illness, respiratory, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, and back ailments. There has been a substantial increase in the some diseases and ailments such as, high cholesterol, esophageal diseases, anxiety disorder, breast cancer, and hemorrhoids.
Some illnesses are not caused by infection but by responses of the body to clearing up an infection. Aspects of this type of illness include depression, lethargy, sleepiness, anorexia, and complete lack of concentration. Disorder is the preferred terminology in some cases instead of disease or illness. Disorders are grouped in several categories; mental, functional, emotional, genetic, behavioral, and physical disorders. A mental disorder acknowledges the interaction of social, psychological, and biological factors of a psychiatric condition.
A broad term including all disorders, diseases, injuries and even pregnancies is called a medical condition. Some insurance companies describe medical conditions as an injury, disease, or illness, with the exception of psychiatric conditions. A synonym used for a medical condition describes a medical state such as the usage of “critical condition”. The ending of a treatment or medical condition is called a cure, while a temporary disappearance of a symptom is referred to as a remission.
