Health and Disease Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely

the absence of disease or infirmity. A disease is a medical term meaning that there is a pathological change in structure or function of the body or mind. An illness is the response of the person to a disease; it is an abnormal process in which the persons level of functioning is changed when compared with a previous level. There are many categories into which diseases can be placed and they are as follows:Physical-this is a disease or illness that affects the physical well-being of the person. For example, Osteoporosis, this causes the person to slowly lose their ability to move around freely. Mental-these diseases affect the well-being of the mind. One such disease is Schizophrenia which is branded by a disintegration of the process of thinking and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking. Social-diseases brought about by humans themselves . For example, Coronary heart disease caused by bad nutritional and lifestyle choices. Chronic -usually has a slow onset and many periods of remission (where the disease is present but the person doesnt know) and exacerbation (symptoms of the disease reappear). Hence, they are incurable. One such example is Diabetes which is caused by the lack of insulin produced. Infectious-diseases caused by small organisms namely bacteria, viruses and fungi they are also known as communicable diseases. An example of one such disease is Cholera which is caused by a bacterium. Degenerate-diseases caused by the degeneration of bodily tissues. An example is Arteriosclerosis which is the hardening of the arteries due to ageing. Inherited- diseases passed from one generation to the other through genes, they cannot be cured. Sickle cell disease is an example of inherited diseases. Self-inflicted-can also be called social diseases, these are diseases caused by humans themselves either as individuals or together as a society. An example of this disease type is

Alcoholism which is an illness or disorder distinguished by the loss of control over drinking, with habituation. Deficiency-diseases caused by the absence of certain nutrients. One such disease is Rickets, which is the lack of vitamin D or calcium in the diet causing disorder in growing bones and teeth. In the Caribbean, there are three major diseases affecting the population. Those diseases are Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Diabetes and Cancer. AIDS is a degenerative disease which is caused by the HIV virus and destroys the immune system in the body. HIV is a RNA virus which replicates itself inside T4 lymphocytes or helper cells. The virus binds itself to receptors present in the surface of the T4 lymphocytes. It enters the lymphocytes by endocytosis or by fusing the cell surface membrane and injecting its viral RNA directly into the cell. The viral RNA is then copied into DNA by the activity of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. The viral DNA then enters the lymphocyte nucleus and becomes a permanent part of the cells DNA which replicates rapidly and spreads virus. When the HIV infects the helper cells they no longer function to fight off foreign invaders. Thus weakening the immune system and exposing the body to a variety of diseases. The incubation period is the time between infection and the onset of symptoms of disease. The incubation period between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS can vary anywhere from six months to an unknown period of time. Some people who are HIV antibody positive may never develop AIDS. The average length of incubation at this time is six years or more and this is also known as the latency period. Since the incubation period is long an infected person may continue living such a lifestyle that would further spread the disease. The HIV virus can survive in bodily fluids such as blood or semen therefore it can be easily transmitted. There are three major ways in which the virus can be transmitted. They are intimate sexual contact, infected blood entering bloodstream and from mother to baby. AIDS is one of the diseases with the highest distribution rate in the region because it is so easily transmitted and because of the lifestyle most people live. Today, promiscuity, as well as prostitution, is a growing phenomenon and it is through this that AIDS is so widely spread. Another reason for the high distribution of AIDS is through intravenous drug users who use infected needles among each other. It can also be distributed through medical mishaps where patients contract it after being stuck with an infected disease. Since the virus lives in blood it can also be passed from one person to another through open wounds or cuts. Finally, the virus can be passed from mother to baby during birth via the placenta or after birth via breast feeding. AIDS has no cure but drugs have been designed to control virus, these drugs however

cost a lot of money and the amount of pills required are high as well therefore it places a strain on any family with infected persons. AIDS is generally transmitted because most people arent educated about how it is spread and the best ways to prevent such a thing.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high. Cells in the body break down glucose in order to provide energy for movement, growth, and repair. The hormone insulin is responsible for regulating glucose levels in the blood. Unusually high levels of glucose can damage the small and large blood vessels, leading to diabetic blindness, kidney disease, amputations of limbs, stroke, and heart disease. The pancreas is responsible for insulin production. Insulin is a small protein made up of 51 amino acids; it is released in response to rise in the blood glucose level above the average level of 90mg per 100cm3 of blood. Insulin is transported in the blood plasma attached to a beta-globulin. Insulin helps cells to increase their glucose to glycogen conversion rate, to increase their uptake of glucose, to maximize their use of glucose, to increase conversion of glucose to fatty acids and fats and overall it helps decrease the blood glucose level. There are three common types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the pancreas in unable to produce insulin and insulin must be taken daily. Type 2 occurs when cells dont respond efficiently to insulin or the pancreas doesnt make enough. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. The main reasons for the high distribution of diabetes or high sugar level are unbalanced diets, obesity and prenatal malnutrition. Unbalanced diets contribute to the possibility of developing diabetes because the foods in the diets are what provide the body with glucose. People who often consume foods that are too rich in carbohydrates place their selves at risk of developing diabetes because carbohydrates contain the most glucose when broken down. Obesity mainly occurs when the amount of input energy is not the same amount out; this occurs as a result of no exercise. In this case energy comes from glucose therefore not enough glucose is utilized hence causing diabetes. Prenatal malnutrition is yet another reason for the regional distribution of diabetes. When mothers dont follow proper diet and exercise plans while pregnant the babys glucose tolerance is affected as well as physical features.

Cancer is a result of uncontrolled cell division. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide
uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors. Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur: 1. a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion 2. that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis. There are many factors that contribute to the development of cancer, such as environmental hazards, food additives, viruses and genetic factors. Some environmental hazards that contribute to the development of cancer are being exposed to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, radon gas and chemical mutagens. Many food additives used today also promotes activity of carcinogen which is an agent that causes cancer. Some of these additives are alcohol, basil, black pepper, celery, parsley, herbs and mustard. Another major reason for the high regional

distribution of cancer is viruses. Retroviruses (RNA) are responsible for rapid division of cells and they contain a gene which causes the cell to become malignant. DNA viruses also Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.

Incidence rates- the number of particular new events which occur in a population in a given period of time. For example, the number of new cases of a disease such as measles expressed per 1000 of population per year. Mortality rates-the number of deaths per 1000 or other unit of population occurring annually from a certain disease or condition. Substance Abuse Drug abuse is the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter the user's feelings, behavior, or perception. Such drugs or substances are painkillers, sedatives for anxiety and sleep disorders, and stimulants for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which are legal over the counter drugs and marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and crack cocaine are which are illegal drugs.
Legal drugs

Illegal drugs

Psychological Dependence Psychological dependence is a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms (such as cravings, irritability, insomnia, depression, anorexia etc). Addiction can in theory be derived from any rewarding behaviour, and is believed to be strongly associated with particular areas of the brains reward system (as in the case of cocaine). It is considered possible to be both psychologically and physically dependent at the same time. Physical Dependence Physical dependence on a substance is defined by the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when use of the substance is discontinued. Opiates (such as Heroin), benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol and nicotine induce physical dependence. The speed at which a person becomes addicted to a substance varies with the substance, the frequency of use, the method of use, the intensity of pleasure, and the individuals genetic and psychological susceptibility. Some people may show alcoholic tendencies from the moment of first intoxication, while others can drink socially without ever becoming addicted. For example heroin dependent people have different responses to low doses of heroin, although this may be due to a variety of other factors, as heroin use heavily stimulates pleasure-inducing areas in the brain. However, because of these variations, in addition addiction is linked to a persons genetic makeup. The genetic makeup may regulate how susceptible a person is to a substance and how easily they may become psychologically attached to a pleasurable routine. Alcohol is liquor created by fermentation, a process in which the yeast fungus feeds on the sugars and/or starches in certain plants such as barley or grapes and excretes alcohol along with carbon dioxide (CO2). It is very intoxicating when consumed in large amounts. Alcohol consumption has many negative effects on the human body both short term and long term. One short term effect is fatty liver which is the build-up of fat in the liver cells. Fatty liver may be associated with or may lead to inflammation of the liver. Another short term effect is alcoholic hepatitis which is the inflammation of the liver, resulting in liver cell damage and destruction due to too much alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis is a complex problem. If an individual develops alcoholic hepatitis and abstains from drinking, the inflammation is often reversible over time. Some long term effects however are: -cirrhosis-extensive scarring and hardening of the liver, this is a very serious condition. -cancer-cells that grow out of control; alcohol contributes to esophageal cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer. -impaired nervous transmission-Low Consumption: Low quantity of alcohol intake reduces tension, relaxes the muscles, slows down the reflex actions and also reduces the reaction time and the coordination. Medium Consumption: It causes a lot of drowsiness, slurring and mood swings with alternate emotions. High Consumption: It leads to breathing difficulties, sometimes even breathing failures, vomiting, panic attacks, unconsciousness that sometimes leads to coma, etc.

-demyelination- loss of myelinated fibers and decreased concentrations of cerebrosides, cholesterol and phospholipids, indicating demyelination which is common in chronic alcoholism. -dehydration of brain cells-Alcohol drains potassium levels. It causes the body to turn off its own dehydration processes. Alcohol dehydrates brain cells.

Alcohol affects more than just the body but has social consequences as well. Some of which are accidents caused by drinking and driving, an intoxicated person has slow reflex actions and this results in accidents causing severe injury or even death. Aggressive behaviour is yet another consequence since alcohol disrupts the functioning of the mid brain and causes the person to lose control of their emotions. Intra family violence is a huge issue closely related and caused by alcoholism, since emotional control is lost the intoxicated individual engages in violent acts against their family members. The violence and pressures such as poverty, caused solely by alcoholism contributes to major family breakdowns. Since an intoxicated individual has bad decision making skills they also find themselves involved in petty crimes such as thieving and destruction to property.

A unit of alcohol is defined as 10 milliliters of pure alcohol. The safe limit for driving when drinking for blood and breath is under 0.08 BAC (blood alcohol content). Smoking