An abnormal condition that affects an organism?s body is known as a disease. In the majority of instances, diseases are often perceived to be a medical condition that relates to signs and symptoms. It may be the result of external factors in the case of infectious diseases or it can be the result of internal dysfunctions in the case of an autoimmune disease. The word ?disease? is a broad word when it relates to humans and can refer to a condition that causes social problems, distress, dysfunction, pain, or death in some cases, to those afflicted with it. In the broader sense, a disease can sometimes include infections, syndromes, disorders, disabilities, deviant behaviors, injuries, and atypical changes of function and structure, where in some cases and purposes these problems may be categorized differently. A disease can affect a person emotionally as well as physically as living and contracting a disease can change a person?s personality and their perspective on life. The following are some common types of diseases that affect humans and including their characteristics:
Types of Diseases
1. Hepatitis-This condition is associated with the inflammation of the liver and can also refer to viral infections that the liver is affected by. The most common forms of this disease are Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A but there are cases of Hepatitis E and Hepatitis D. The number one cause of liver transplantations and the leading cause of liver cancer is viral hepatitis. It is estimated that Americans living with chronic hepatitis make up around 4.4 million individuals; most of these are not even aware they have it. Each year, there are around 80,000 new infections.
2. Heart Disease-The most common type of heart disease in the U.S is coronary artery disease also referred to as CAD. This condition can lead to a heart attack and can greatly be reduced through changes in lifestyle such as taking medication.
3. Tuberculosis-This disease is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. This bacterium typically attacks the lungs, although the Tuberculosis bacteria can attack any area of the body such as the brain, spine and kidney. This condition can be fatal if not treated properly.
4. Diabetes-With this disease, a person?s blood glucose levels rise above normal. The majority of foods we consume turns into glucose and is used for energy by the body. An organ in the body known as the pancreas produces a hormone known as insulin which aids glucose in reaching the cells in the body. When a person has diabetes, their body either can not use its own insulin properly or does not make enough insulin. Diabetes can cause a host of serious health problems such as kidney failure, blindness and heart disease.