Chapter 3 Health and Diseases

Part 3:Types of diseases

Which diseases causes more deaths in DCs and LDCs?

• Degenerative diseases• Infectious diseases• Generally, Degenerative diseases

cause higher proportion of deaths in DCs• Infectious diseases cause higher

proportion of deaths in LDCs

Degenerative diseases• Affects tissues or organs• Caused by lifestyle choices• Not contagious• Allowed to set in partially due to enhanced life

expectancy– Coronary heart disease– Cancer– Stroke– Alzheimer’s disease & dementias– Lower respiratory infection

Infectious diseases

• Caused by microorganisms–Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi

• Common among poverty, poor diet & limited health care infrastructure.

• Highly common in LDCs.• Spread by vectors, from person to person–Aids/HIV, Dengue, etc

Consider this• Longevity leads to larger lead time

for virus, bacteria and other diseases breaking down the human body.• Is better medical care that leads to

longevity then the potential cause for the advent of degenerative and infectious disease?

Thank you