Understanding Health, Diseases, and Environmental Factors
Health
The body that monitors health is called the World Health Organization (WHO). Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being of a person. It depends on several factors: physical and mental characteristics of each person, lifestyle, the healthcare system, and the social environment.
Healthy Tips
- Do not smoke
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
- Do not use drugs
- Practice safe sex
- Meet road safety standards
- Prevent occupational accidents
- Do not self-medicate
- Undergo regular medical checkups
Diseases
A disease is a mild or severe alteration of the functioning of an organism. Diseases are classified into four groups:
- Infectious: Can be contagious
- Non-infectious: Cancer, drug dependencies, and tumors
- Accidents
Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms and can be spread.
Types of Microorganisms
- Bacteria: Living prokaryotic organisms. Structure: Bacterial wall (structure that surrounds and protects the bacteria), plasma membrane, genetic material (a unique chromosome), cytoplasm, and ribosomes. Classification: Cocci, bacilli, vibrios, and spirilla. Bacteria can be autotrophs or heterotrophs.
- Fungi: Eukaryotic organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular. The diseases they produce are called mycosis and usually involve the skin and mucous membranes.
- Protozoa: Unicellular, prokaryotic, and aquatic living beings. Some cause diseases in people.
- Virus: Simple cellular life forms that produce diseases. Structure: Nucleic acid. Life cycle of a virus: The virus enters the cell through the cell membrane. The virus’s nucleic acid integrates into the cell and produces copies of the virus. The cell is destroyed, and new viruses can infect other cells.
Process of an Infectious Disease
Infection, incubation, status, and resolution.
Infectious Disease Prevention
- Promote hygiene habits
- Follow a vaccination program
- Use drugs correctly
- Avoid immune rejection in transplantation
Non-infectious Diseases
Tumors
Tumors are tissues formed by cells that proliferate uncontrollably. They can be caused by:
- Tobacco: Favors the appearance of cancer
- Ultraviolet (UV) radiation: Causes mutations in DNA
- Unbalanced diet: Diets rich in fat can cause colon cancer
- Nuclear radiation
Drugs
A drug is a substance that acts on the nervous system, changing behavior and thought. All drugs have three characteristics:
- Toxicity
- Physical damage
- Physical and psychic dependence and tolerance: Increasing need for more of the substance. Drugs can be hallucinogenic or depressants.
Prevention of Accidents
- Domestic: Ensure that children do not touch anything dangerous
- Work: Know the risks of your position
- Traffic: Comply with the rules
Environmental Factors
Solar Radiation
Solar radiation is the set of electromagnetic waves in which solar energy travels. It can be:
- Infrared: Provides heat energy
- Visible light
- Ultraviolet light: Highly energetic and harmful
Geological Agents
- Water: In a river, there is a high, middle, and low course. In the middle and lower courses, meanders appear. In the high course, valleys and gorges are formed. At the bottom, deltas and estuaries are formed. In streams, a reception basin, drainage channel, and alluvial fan are formed. There is water runoff into groundwater aquifers. In oceans and seas, there are waves, tides, and currents. Glaciers have a front, tongue, cirque, and glacier.
- Wind: In deserts, dunes and arches are formed.
Sedimentary Rocks
- Clastic: Originally clay, sand, and conglomerate
- Chemical: Gypsum, rock salt, and limestone
- Organic: Coal and oil