Blog Post #3 – Research Round 1

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog post! My inquiry question is, “How does disease affect the world?” but in order to proficiently understand the many answers to this question, we must understand the key word in the question, disease, which is why today we will be answering the sub-question “What is disease?”

In simple terms, Disease is when something goes wrong in the body or mind, affecting its normal functioning. It can be caused by various factors like germs, genetic issues, environmental factors, or lifestyle choices. Diseases come in different forms, including infections, chronic conditions, genetic disorders, and autoimmune issues. (1)

Each disease has its own origin and reason of being, but symptoms to often very different disease can be similar and overlap, often causing confusion to the specific diagnosis. (2) As an example, Multiple sclerosis (MS) and sarcoidosis are distinct medical conditions with different underlying causes, but they can share certain symptoms, leading to potential confusion. Here are some symptoms that may be common between MS and sarcoidosis: (2)

1.Neurological Symptoms:

• Both MS and sarcoidosis can cause neurological symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in the extremities.
• Muscle weakness and difficulty with coordination may also be present in both conditions (2)

2.Fatigue:

• Fatigue is a common symptom in both MS and sarcoidosis. Individuals with either condition may experience significant and persistent tiredness. (2)

3.Vision Problems:

• Both conditions can affect the eyes, leading to symptoms like blurred vision, eye pain, or difficulty in moving the eyes. (2)

4.Mood Changes:

• Emotional and mood disturbances, such as depression or anxiety, can be associated with both MS and sarcoidosis. (2)

It’s important to understand that, although the symptoms of MS and sarcoidosis are similar, the causes and treatments are not. MS is an autoimmune condition that impacts the central nervous system (3), while sarcoidosis involves the development of granulomas inflammatory nodules and can affect various organs, including the lungs, skin, and eyes. (4)

Diseases fall into categories like autoimmune, bacterial, blood-related, cancer, digestive, heart, nerve, etc. (1)

1. Arthritis (autoimmune)
2. Salmonella infections (bacterial)
3. Anemia (blood related)
4. Lung cancer (cancer)
5. Lactose intolerance (digestive)
6. Angina (heart)
7. Dementia (nerve)

They can be contagious or not. Most often, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are the most contagious and commonly spread contagion. Cancers are an example of diseases that are not contagious. (5) External causes include viruses or bacteria (Salmonella or Lactose Intolerance), and internal causes involve autoimmune reactions or genetic issues (Anemia or Dementia) . Some diseases are chronic, lasting a long time and showing symptoms consistently. (6)

People typically link disease with discomfort, distress, or social challenges. Unusual changes in structure and function, abnormal behaviors, disabilities, disorders, injuries, infections, etc. can also be indicators of disease. (1)

In order to prevent chronic illnesses, a nutritious diet is very important. (7) Stay physically active by playing a sport or doing physical activity can help with prevention as well. Limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and managing stress can improve your mental and physical health over time. (7) Schedule regular health check-ups for screenings, stay up-to-date on vaccinations, and get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Staying hydrated, protecting your skin from the sun with sunscreen, and creating positive social connections is very healthy as well. (7) These straightforward steps help well-being and help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. (7)

However, there are still some disease, such as cancer, that cannot always be prevented. (8) These diseases are known as non-communicable diseases and can often be very dangerous. (8)

Overall, disease is a very broad topic with many different asnwers to a simple question; as a result, it is a topic that is still under consistent research and does ot have definitive answers for most aspects. It is a facisnating topic and I hope that this Blog Post helped you learn some things about it as it is a building block for my next Blog Post where we will learn about the social and economic consequences of disease outbreaks on communities and countries. Thank you!

Sources:

1.Organization, et al. “What Are Diseases?” Healio, 14 June 2012, www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20120625/what-are-diseases.

2.“15 Diseases like MS: Similar Conditions and Symptoms.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diseases-like-ms#more-likely-misdiagnoses. Accessed 2 Jan. 2024.

3.“Multiple Sclerosis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 24 Dec. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269.

4.Association, American Lung. “Learn about Sarcoidosis.” American Lung Association, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/sarcoidosis/learn-about-sarcoidosis#:~:text=Sarcoidosis%20is%20an%20inflammatory%20disease,more%20organs%20of%20the%20body. Accessed 2 Jan. 2024.

5.“CDC – STD Diseases & Related Conditions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 July 2023, www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm#:~:text=There%20are%20dozens%20of%20STDs,through%20ways%20other%20than%20sex.

6.“What Are the Factors Responsible for Causing Diseases?” Byju, byjus.com/question-answer/what-are-the-factors-responsible-for-causing-diseases/. Accessed 2 Jan. 2024.

7.“How You Can Prevent Chronic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Oct. 2023, www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/prevent/index.htm.

8.“Noncommunicable Diseases.” PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization, www.paho.org/en/topics/noncommunicable-diseases. Accessed 2 Jan. 2024.