Disease Basics
What are the two categories of disease that we discussed in class?
1. Communicable/Infectious Diseases = diseases passed from person to person via germs.
2. Non-Communicable/Chronic Diseases = diseases that are not passed from person to person but can last a long time.
What does the term "symptoms" mean?
Symptoms: the signals that your body sends to let you know that you are sick or becoming sick.
True or False: Viruses require prescription antibiotics from a doctor to treat and cure?
False! Viruses can be treated and cured with rest, hydration, proper nutrition, and over-the-counter medicines.
What is the number one way to prevent communicable/infectious diseases?
Wash Hands - 20 Seconds With Warm Water & Soap
What is the number one chronic disease killer in the United States?
Heart Disease
What are the two forms of disease transmission that we discussed in class?
1. Direct Contact
2. Indirect Contact
True or False: Non-communicable (chronic) diseases can have symptoms?
True! Just because chronic diseases are not contagious does not mean that they do not cause symptoms to signal the body that something is wrong with it.
What is prescribed by doctors to treat BACTERIAL infections?
Antibiotics - they kill bacteria!
What should be used to clean hands if washing them is not an option?
Hand Sanitizer (At Least 60%-70% Alcohol)
How can you prevent sun damage to the skin?
1. Wear SPF sunscreen and UV protective clothing/sunglasses
2. Stay in shaded areas
3. Do not go out in the sun between 12-2 PM when the UV index is the highest
What would be some examples of both DIRECT contact and INDIRECT contact?
Direct Contact: shaking hands, hugging, kissing, touching skin
Indirect Contact: breathing in infected cough or sneeze droplets in the air, sharing foods/drinks/utensils, touching germ-infected surfaces (including dirty tissues!)
What are some common symptoms of colds and flus?
-Scratchy/Sore Throat
-Stuffy/Runny Nose
-Cough/Sneeze
-Headache
-Body Ache
-Fever + Chills
-Tiredness
How can viruses be treated?
1. Hydrate with water
2. Eat immune-boosting foods (fruits and veggies)
3. Sleep
4. Manage stress
5. Take over-the-counter medicines to treat symptoms (follow the directions!)
When someone is coughing or sneezing, they should always ______________ and ______________ to prevent the spread of the communicable/infectious disease to other people.
1. Cover their mouth or nose by placing it on the inside of their elbow
2. Wear a mask if possible
What "portals of entry" should you never touch before washing your hands?
Eyes, Nose, Mouth
Germs Enter Here!
What are the four types of pathogens (germs) that can cause infectious diseases?
1. Virus
2. Bacteria
3. Fungi
4. Parasite/Protozoa
What body system is responsible for causing the inflammatory response symptoms of sickness when someone is fighting off an infection?
What are some good treatments for chronic diseases?
1. Get 8-10 hours of sleep each night
2. Eat proper nutrition
3. Exercise daily
4. Manage stress
What "Core 4" health behaviors can prevent non-communicable/chronic diseases?
1. Get 8-10 hours of sleep every night
2. Eat healthy foods
3. Exercise daily
4. Manage stress properly
What are some examples of non-communicable/chronic diseases?
1. Heart Disease
2. Type 2 Diabetes
3. Cancer
4. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
5. Alzheimer's Disease
What are three risk factors of non-communicable (chronic) diseases?
1. Family History Of The Disease (it is in the family genes).
2. Environment (air and water pollution, secondhand smoke, toxins and chemicals)
3. Health-Risk Behaviors (poor sleep, high stress, unhealthy diet, and no exercise)
True or False: Some diseases can be asymptomatic, or not have any present symptoms?
True!
An example of this is Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which do not always show symptoms.
What can happen if someone takes too many antibioitics when they do not actually need them?
Antibiotic Resistance
This means that bacteria in their bodies can become resistant to the treatment so that when they really do need antibiotics, they will not work as effectively to kill the bacteria causing the bacterial infection.
What % of diseases can be prevented simply by washing hands?
80%!
True or False: Animals and insects can also transmit diseases to humans?
True!
Animals who bite and scratch can transmit Rabies.
Mosquitoes can transmit Malaria, West Nile, and Zika Virus.
Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease.