Diseases and disorders are widespread in today’s world. Billions of people suffer from them, and many even die. There are more than thousands of diseases and hundreds of disorders.
As science advances, we have been finding new cures and therapies for the diseases and disorders that ail humanity.
People generally think that the terms disease and disorder mean the same. We use these words interchangeably and casually. And yet, these two words mean different things.
Although it is easy to confuse the two words, they have particular meanings. Let’s explore the meaning and various types of diseases and disorders.
A disease is a medical condition that has specific physical signs and symptoms. Whereas, a disorder may not show physical symptoms.
A disorder is also a medical condition. It is a disruption in the order of the organism. This is where it can get confusing. Both cause malfunction in the body.
Diseases are what cause disorders. For example, cardiovascular disease is the root cause of arrhythmia, which is a disorder.
Also, a person with a communicable disease can transmit it to another person. In contrast, disorders cannot be transmitted. For example, a person can transmit chickenpox (disease) but not depression (disorder).
There are mainly two types of diseases. These diseases are as follows:
A communicable disease can be transmitted from one person to another. Bacteria, viruses and pathogens are the carriers of diseases. They spread the disease from one person to another.
Malaria, HIV, Chickenpox, coronavirus are examples of communicable diseases.
How to prevent communicable diseases?
A non-communicable disease does not spread from one person to another. It is caused due to allergies, malnutrition, poor lifestyle habits and illnesses.
Non-communicable diseases do not have carrier agents like communicable diseases. But they can be passed down from one generation to another. For example, children can inherit their parents’ cancer genes.
These diseases are chronic as they develop over a period of time. In comparison, communicable diseases are acute as they develop suddenly.
Cancer, Rickets, heart diseases and diabetes are a few examples of non-communicable diseases.
How to prevent non-communicable diseases?
Doctors also classify diseases based on how long they last. Acute diseases develop suddenly and last for a short duration. When they are not treated appropriately, acute diseases can also turn into chronic diseases.
Fever, cold and flu are acute diseases.
Chronic diseases develop slowly and last for a long duration. Cancer, arthritis and diabetes are examples of chronic diseases.
There are more than 100 types of disorders. But doctors classify disorders in mainly three ways:
Psychosomatic disorders are a combination of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders. In these type of disorders, the body and mind are not working in harmony.
Some examples of psychosomatic disorders are as follows:
All psychosomatic disorders are a combination of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders. An imbalance between emotions, actions and thoughts is one of the causes of psychosomatic disorders.
Patients with psychosomatic disorders heal with the right medication and psychotherapy. Along with psychotherapy, doctors prescribe anti-depressants and other drugs to manage the disorder.
A genetic disorder occurs due to a defect in the genome. In simple words, when there is an abnormality in the gene, it can manifest as a genetic disorder.
Some of the most common genetic disorders are as follows:
According to research, vaccinations also cause autism.
Psychosomatic disorders manifest on a mental and emotional level. Genetic disorders manifest on a gene level. Similarly, physical disorders manifest on a physical level.
Physical disorders are often connected to psychosomatic disorders.
Some examples of physical disorders are as follows:
While modern birth-control techniques are considered ‘effective’, there are still side-effects to consider. Girls as young as 12 can be prescribed birth control by doctors and only learn about the threats they do years later. Swedish nuclear physicist Elina Berglund Scherwitzl wanted to develop a method of contraception that did not damage hormonal cycles. She created an alternative called ‘Natural Cycles’ that used a combination of research and advanced math. It is an app-based algorithm that identifies when exactly the ovulation period occurs during the cycle. This way, a woman would need to use protection or abstain from sexual intercourse during this period alone.
Canada’s top doctor has approved the use of Psilocybin, commonly referred to as ‘magic mushrooms’ to relieve the pain of four individuals suffering from terminal cancer. Patty Hajdu, the country’s health minister introduced a new exemption the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act since psilocybin has been illegal in Canada since 1974. Studies have proved that the psychoactive components in psilocybin can ease anxiety and pain, especially in those with terminal illnesses.
A technique known as Craniosacral Therapy is a powerful way to allow your body to relax better. It helps your parasympathetic nervous system to gently function in a non-invasive manner. The more you use touch as a means of nervous resonance, the more stress you gradually melt away. This form of therapy, although considered ‘alternative’ allows the synarthrodial joints of the cranium to smoothly palpate. You will be able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions from strokes to sport injuries.
Bananas, especially Burro Bananas, are chock-full of nutrients that aid in digestion and help relieve blood pressure imbalances. They should be a staple regardless of what kind of diet you are following. Pregnant women are especially benefited by the consumption of bananas as they help relieve morning sickness during the first trimester. Bananas are also a great source of folate, which is necessary for the development of the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
Companion4health is a holistic health media platform. We are here to help you stay healthy by providing quality information on a full range of topics related to diseases, disorders and healing.
Companion4health is a holistic health media platform. We are here to help you stay healthy by providing quality information on a full range of topics related to diseases, disorders and healing.