Per iod 6

Hubbard

Lifestyle Diseases

No matter how healthy we may be, we are always susceptible to infectious diseases. There are so many agents in so many different places that it is impossible to avoid them. The following are two examples of bacterial disease: · Tetanus- Symptoms include sever muscle spasms. This disease can be spread through the exposure of wounds or cuts in the body with bacteria in the soil. · Meningitis- Symptoms include severe headache, fever, stiff neck, and nausea. This can be spread through contact with saliva or mucous from an infected person.

By Cody Walsh

The following are two examples of viral diseases: · The flu- Symptoms include headache, sore muscles and throat, fever, vomiting, fatigue, and cough. It is spread by contact with saliva or mucous from an infected person. · Mononucleosis- Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, and weakness. It is spread by contact with saliva or mucous from an infected person. There are several other kinds of agents in our environment, such as fungi, protists, and parasites that causes disease.

Common Infectious Diseases

Preventing Infectious Diseases

Each type of disease causing agent has its

own unique characteristics. Due to this

doctors will treat infectious disease based

on what agent made you sick.

The following are two different treatments

for infectious disease:

• Treating Bacterial Diseases:

Medicine, or antibiotics is administered to

kill or slow the growth of bacteria that are

causing the disease.

• Treating Viral Diseases: Viruses do

not grow as living cells. Due to this, viral

diseases cannot be treated through the

same type of medication as bacterial

diseases. Antiviral medication is used to

alleviate the symptoms and stop the

growth of the virus in human cells.

A potential problem in is the growth of

antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic Resistance

is a condition in which bacteria cannot be

killed by an antibiotic.

The following are two ways you can

prevent the development of antibiotic

resistant bacteria:

• You shouldn’t ask your doctor for

antibiotics if you have a viral disease.

• If you are given a prescription, be

sure to follow it and finish your

medication.

What are infectious diseases?

An infectious disease is any disease

that is caused by an agent entering

the body.

The following are five different

agents that commonly cause

infectious disease:

• Bacteria

• Viruses

• Fungi

• Protists

• Parasites

Knowing the methods of how agents

are spread can help you protect

yourself from infectious disease.

The following are four common ways

that infectious disease is spread:

• Person to person

• Food and water

• Environment

• Animals

The human body has multiple defenses against

infectious disease. Through the use of your skin

and bodily chemicals, your body can fight against agents. Furthermore, your body has more

advanced defenses such as your inflammatory response system or your immune system.

The following are five things a person can do to stay well:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet • Drink 8 to glasses of water a day

• Reduce your stress levels

• Exercise regularly • Get enough sleep

Getting vaccinated is one of the best methods of

disease prevention. Vaccines are materials that are introduce into the body to create immunity. When

a vaccine enters the body, the immune system

reacts by making white blood cells called memory cells.

When you are sick there are things you should do to alleviate your symptoms. The following are

three things you should do when you are sick:

• Drink plenty of fluids

• Stay home • Wash your hands frequently

In the United States infectious disease is common

and can be spread easily. The following are three things you can do to prevent the spread of

infectious disease: • Get vaccinated

• Keep clean

• Don’t share personal items

Protecting Yourself from Infectious Diseases