Our daily activities are hampered by physical and mental illness. This state of disorder is known as an illness or a disease. The diseases- es are caused by different internal and external factors. The symptoms and preventive measures differ according to the disease. We will study sexually transmitted diseases and non-communicable diseases in this unit.
Sexually Transmitted Infection
Read the conversation between Shushila and her mother with action and have a discussion.
Shushila: Mother, what happened to the neighbor's aunt? She is in a bad mood all day. She likes to stay alone. I also saw her walking with difficulty.
Mother: You're right, daughter. She is ill.
Shushila: What disease does she suffer from?
Mother: Your aunt is suffering from a sexually transmitted infection. Uncle took her to the hospital last week for a checkup. No need to be worried. She is getting treatment as per the doctor's advice. She will be well after the treatment according to the doctor.
Shushila: What type of disease is a sexually transmitted infection? Could you tell me something about it?
Mother: Why not. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person through sexual contact. AIDS, Syphilis, Human Papillomavirus, gonorrhea, etc. are some examples of STDs.
Shushila: How do these STDs spread, mother?
Mother: There are various ways, daughter. If a person has sexual intercourse with the infected person, it can be transmitted to that person. It can also pass to the infected through a non-sterile syringe used by the infected ones. It can spread through sharing the toilets used by the infected persons. Blood transmission, sharing sheets, towels, clothes, and used razors are the mediums of STD transmission.
Shushila: Can't these diseases be treated, mother?
Mother: Treatment is available for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but a cure is not possible for all. Some STDs can be cured with medicines. Although there is no cure for HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) and AIDs (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), medicine is available free of cost in health institutions to reduce their effect.
Shushila: What is the main cause of AIDS, mother? What are its symptoms?
Mother: HIV is the main cause of it. When it enters into the body, it damages the body's immune system. As a result, the person suffers from different diseases. The late stage of HIV infection is known as AIDS. There are no symptoms in the early stage. But, the symptoms can be noticed gradually. HIV-infected people can have a normal life if they get proper care and treatment.
Sushila: So, what are the preventive measures for these sexually transmitted infections?
Mother: There are some measures, daughter. Avoiding unsafe sexual intercourse, using condoms, getting tested on time, and using only sterile syringes are some preventive measures for this.
Sushila: Thank you, mother. I'll be careful about these things and try to make other people aware of them.
Mother: (patting the back of the daughter) I'm happy, daughter.
Non-communicable Disease
Have a discussion based on the following questions.
➣Can asth1na and high blood pressure transmit from one person to another?
➣What are the causes of these diseases? How can we be safe from these diseases?
Non-c01nmunicable diseases refer to diseases that cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung illness are non-communicable diseases. Wrong eating habits, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, envi- ron1nental pollution, genetic factors, and lack of exercise cause these diseases. The treatment of these diseases is difficult and expensive. A healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence can protect us from these problems. These diseases can be cured if they are diagnosed and treated in the early stages. We will learn about some non-communicable diseases in this unit.
A. Heart Diseases
The diseases related to the heart and blood vessels are known as heart diseases. Eating habits, lack of exercise, accidents, and other factors can cause heart disease.
a. High Blood Pressure
The heart supplies oxygen and nutrients to the whole body through the blood. The contraction and expansion of the heart create pressure on the heart and blood vessels. This is known as blood pressure. Ideal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 mmHg. Obesity, stress, excessive amounts of oil and salt, smoking and alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise are the risk factors of high blood pressure. Some people may suffer from age and genetic factors.
b. Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is a type of heart disease where the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It is caused by a buildup of fatty material in the wall of the arteries. Smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and lack of regular exercise are the risk factors for this disease. Diabetes patients are also at high risk. It can lead to a heart attack if not controlled in time.
Symptoms and Preventive Measures of Heart Diseases
Heart disease patients feel headaches, chest pain, tiredness, and dizziness. They became weak. There is sweating in the body. The heartbeat becomes irregular. To be safe from heart disease, smoking and alcohol consumption must be avoided. We should also avoid oily, spicy, salty, fried, and packaged food items. We should maintain the weight of the body according to our height. We have to do regular exercise. Regular checkups are also essential. We should pay attention to stress management in time. We should promote the habit of eating green vegetables and fruits.
B. Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is more common in school-age children, 5 to 15 years old. It is caused by bacteria called Group A Streptococcus. The bacteria cause infection in the throat. The body develops the immune system to fight against the infection. Rheumatic fever is an immune response to an early infection. As a result, it starts to affect the different parts of the body. Later it affects the joints, heart, brain, and skin. If it is not treated properly, it weakens the valves and the heart cannot work properly. It requires heart surgery and it can lead to death. This condition is known as severe rheumatic heart disease. In the beginning, there is a tickling sensation and pain in the throat. There is a pain in joints, especially in the knees, ankles, and wrists. The patients feel heart murmur and chest pain. They also suffer from fever, headache, and sweating on the body. We should keep the patients away from moisture, cold, and dirty places. The foods and cold drinks kept in the fridge should be avoided. If the patients have a sore throat, see a doctor. It should be treated promptly as per the doctor's advice.
C. Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition of having too high blood glucose. It is also known as sugar disease. The function of the pancreas gland is to produce the insulin. The insulin helps glucose from food gets into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes our body doesn't secrete enough insulin and glucose then stays in our blood and doesn't reach our cells. As a result, the amount of glucose increases in the blood. Unhealthy eating habits, obesity, and stress cause diabetes. Lack of physical exercise and genetic factors are also the causes of diabetes.
The symptoms and preventive measures of diabetes
Diabetes patients feel very thirsty and hungry. They urinate a lot, of- ten at night. They also feel very tired and sleepy. They lose weight. They have blurry vision and dry skin. They have numbing and tingling hands and feet. The wounds take a long time to recover. To be safe from diabetes, we should avoid fatty and salty food items. We should get enough rest and sleep then. We should do regular exercise. Stress should be managed timely. We should follow regular checkups and treatment as per the doctor's advice.
D. Asthma
Asthma is a major non-communicable disease, affecting both children and adults. The air passages in the lungs become narrow due to inflammation and tightening of the muscles around the small airways. The inflammation and narrowing of the nasal airways in the lungs cause asthma. As a result, the lungs cannot inhale sufficient oxygen. The most common factors of asthma are having a parent with asthma, having a viral respiratory infection, having an allergic condition, being exposed to air pollution, and industrial smoke and dust. Smoking and obesity are also the factors of it.
The symptoms and preventive measures of asthma
Asthma patients suffer from breathing difficulty. They face the problems of wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. They feel a fast heartbeat and breathe faster. The body becomes blue due to the lack of oxygen. To protect ourselves from this problem, we should save our bodies from the cold. During the cold season, we should wear warm clothes. We should have a timely checkup and identify the al- lergy factor. We should keep away from allergy factors. We should treat the common cold, pneumonia, and tuberculosis in time. We should avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, and drugs. We should escape the smoky and dirty places. It is better to wear a mask while we are staying or working in such places.
E. Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body's cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It is caused by unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug consumption, harmful chemicals or pesticides, and genetic factors. Human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer and helicobacter pylori causes stomach cancer. People of all ages can be affected by this disease. Cancer can start anywhere in the body. Some common cancers are neck, mouth, breast, and lung cancers. There are different types of cancers and they have different signs and symptoms.
There are several common symptoms. Unusual lumps seem on the body. New moles appear and the color and size of the n1oles change. People suffer from coughing for long periods of time and sometimes coughing up blood. There is a sore throat and hoarseness in the voice. It takes time for the wound to be cured. There is unexplained weight loss. There may be bleeding from the urethra and anus. We have to eat fresh and healthy food to prevent ourselves from cancer. We should avoid the food items in which chemicals and pesticides are used.
We should not consume alcoholic drinks and drugs. We should avoid smoking. If unusual lu1npsand moles appear, we should have a medical checkup. Cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively. Therefore, awareness is necessary.