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29 Nov 2025
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GCSE Biology: Comprehensive Health and Disease Study Notes
Nila Heartin
@nilaheartin_tmsl
1 / 6
Health and Disease Basics
Health isn't just about avoiding illness - it's feeling amazing both physically and mentally. Think balanced diet, regular exercise, positive mental health, and making good lifestyle choices that set you up for success.
There are loads of different types of diseases you need to know about. Communicable diseases are the contagious ones caused by bacteria and viruses (like chicken pox or cholera) that spread from person to person. Non-communicable diseases like cancer or eczema can't be passed between people.
Chronic diseases stick around for ages (think arthritis), whilst congenital disorders like Down syndrome are present from birth. Degenerative diseases gradually break down your body's cells and tissues - Alzheimer's is a prime example.
Quick Tip: Remember that diseases can be triggered by loads of factors including food, weight, exercise, sleep, stress, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, your genes, age, gender, and environment!
Drug Testing and Development
Drugs are substances that change how your body works - some help, others harm. Creating new medicines is a massive process that takes years and involves rigorous testing to make sure they're safe and actually work.
The testing starts with scientists studying diseases and finding targets (like protein molecules that cause problems). Then thousands of chemicals get tested using computers and cell samples to see what might work.
The most promising treatments move to clinical trials - first on healthy volunteers, then on patients with the disease. These trials use control groups (some people get the real drug, others get a fake one called a placebo) to make sure any improvements are actually due to the medicine.
Remember: All this testing happens before any medicine reaches your local pharmacy - it's designed to keep you safe!
Clinical Trials and Scientific Methods
Double blind trials are the gold standard for testing medicines. Neither the patients nor the doctors know who's getting the real drug versus the placebo until the trial ends. This prevents the placebo effect - where people feel better just because they think they're taking medicine!
Randomisation ensures patients are split into groups fairly, preventing doctors from accidentally introducing bias. Large sample sizes are crucial because small groups might show differences just by chance rather than because the drug actually works.
Scientists look for correlations in their data - positive (both variables increase together), negative (one goes up, the other down), or none at all. But here's the crucial bit: correlation doesn't prove causation. Just because two things happen together doesn't mean one causes the other.
Exam Tip: Always consider other factors like genetics, lifestyle, diet, and environment when analysing data - examiners love students who think critically!
Risk Factors and Data Interpretation
Risk factors increase your chances of developing diseases. Age, genes, smoking, weight, UV exposure, diet, and lifestyle choices all play a part. The key is understanding that having risk factors doesn't guarantee you'll get ill - they just increase the likelihood.
When you're analysing graphs and data in exams, ask yourself some crucial questions. Is the statement too generalised? What other factors might be involved? Could there be bias in the study? Is the sample size big enough to draw reliable conclusions?
Look out for anomalies (weird results that don't fit the pattern) and check whether claims are backed up by proper statistics or just opinions. Single studies are less reliable than multiple studies showing the same results.
Smart Move: Always quote actual numbers from graphs to support your answers - it shows you can read data properly and makes your arguments much stronger!
Effects of Lifestyle Choices
Smoking absolutely hammers your body - lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chest problems, and breathing difficulties are just the start. Your immune system weakens, making you more susceptible to colds and pneumonia.
Obesity brings its own set of problems: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and reduced life expectancy. It's not just about appearance - it genuinely affects how your body functions.
Alcohol messes with your brain (affecting control, judgement, speech, and memory) and destroys your liver through fatty tissue buildup and potentially cirrhosis. Type 2 diabetes damages organs and blood vessels, leading to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes.
Serious Stuff: Smoking and alcohol during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, developmental problems, and conditions like foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Cancer: When Cells Go Wrong
Cancer happens when cells grow completely out of control due to genetic mutations. Carcinogens increase the chances of these dangerous mutations occurring.
Benign tumours are the good news - they're not cancerous, grow slowly, don't spread, and can usually be removed successfully. Malignant tumours are the dangerous ones - they're cancerous, grow rapidly, invade nearby tissues, and can spread throughout your body.
The scary bit about malignant tumours is metastasis - cancer cells break off, travel through your bloodstream, and start new tumours elsewhere in your body. This is why early detection and treatment are so important.
Key Point: Understanding the difference between benign and malignant tumours is crucial - one's manageable, the other requires immediate serious medical attention.
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
GCSE Biology: Comprehensive Health and Disease Study Notes
Nila Heartin
@nilaheartin_tmsl
Your body's health depends on way more than just not being ill - it's about feeling brilliant physically and mentally! Understanding different types of diseases, how new medicines are tested, and what increases your risk of illness will help you... Show more
Health and Disease Basics
Health isn't just about avoiding illness - it's feeling amazing both physically and mentally. Think balanced diet, regular exercise, positive mental health, and making good lifestyle choices that set you up for success.
There are loads of different types of diseases you need to know about. Communicable diseases are the contagious ones caused by bacteria and viruses (like chicken pox or cholera) that spread from person to person. Non-communicable diseases like cancer or eczema can't be passed between people.
Chronic diseases stick around for ages (think arthritis), whilst congenital disorders like Down syndrome are present from birth. Degenerative diseases gradually break down your body's cells and tissues - Alzheimer's is a prime example.
Quick Tip: Remember that diseases can be triggered by loads of factors including food, weight, exercise, sleep, stress, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, your genes, age, gender, and environment!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Drug Testing and Development
Drugs are substances that change how your body works - some help, others harm. Creating new medicines is a massive process that takes years and involves rigorous testing to make sure they're safe and actually work.
The testing starts with scientists studying diseases and finding targets (like protein molecules that cause problems). Then thousands of chemicals get tested using computers and cell samples to see what might work.
The most promising treatments move to clinical trials - first on healthy volunteers, then on patients with the disease. These trials use control groups (some people get the real drug, others get a fake one called a placebo) to make sure any improvements are actually due to the medicine.
Remember: All this testing happens before any medicine reaches your local pharmacy - it's designed to keep you safe!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Clinical Trials and Scientific Methods
Double blind trials are the gold standard for testing medicines. Neither the patients nor the doctors know who's getting the real drug versus the placebo until the trial ends. This prevents the placebo effect - where people feel better just because they think they're taking medicine!
Randomisation ensures patients are split into groups fairly, preventing doctors from accidentally introducing bias. Large sample sizes are crucial because small groups might show differences just by chance rather than because the drug actually works.
Scientists look for correlations in their data - positive (both variables increase together), negative (one goes up, the other down), or none at all. But here's the crucial bit: correlation doesn't prove causation. Just because two things happen together doesn't mean one causes the other.
Exam Tip: Always consider other factors like genetics, lifestyle, diet, and environment when analysing data - examiners love students who think critically!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Risk Factors and Data Interpretation
Risk factors increase your chances of developing diseases. Age, genes, smoking, weight, UV exposure, diet, and lifestyle choices all play a part. The key is understanding that having risk factors doesn't guarantee you'll get ill - they just increase the likelihood.
When you're analysing graphs and data in exams, ask yourself some crucial questions. Is the statement too generalised? What other factors might be involved? Could there be bias in the study? Is the sample size big enough to draw reliable conclusions?
Look out for anomalies (weird results that don't fit the pattern) and check whether claims are backed up by proper statistics or just opinions. Single studies are less reliable than multiple studies showing the same results.
Smart Move: Always quote actual numbers from graphs to support your answers - it shows you can read data properly and makes your arguments much stronger!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Effects of Lifestyle Choices
Smoking absolutely hammers your body - lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chest problems, and breathing difficulties are just the start. Your immune system weakens, making you more susceptible to colds and pneumonia.
Obesity brings its own set of problems: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and reduced life expectancy. It's not just about appearance - it genuinely affects how your body functions.
Alcohol messes with your brain (affecting control, judgement, speech, and memory) and destroys your liver through fatty tissue buildup and potentially cirrhosis. Type 2 diabetes damages organs and blood vessels, leading to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes.
Serious Stuff: Smoking and alcohol during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, developmental problems, and conditions like foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Cancer: When Cells Go Wrong
Cancer happens when cells grow completely out of control due to genetic mutations. Carcinogens increase the chances of these dangerous mutations occurring.
Benign tumours are the good news - they're not cancerous, grow slowly, don't spread, and can usually be removed successfully. Malignant tumours are the dangerous ones - they're cancerous, grow rapidly, invade nearby tissues, and can spread throughout your body.
The scary bit about malignant tumours is metastasis - cancer cells break off, travel through your bloodstream, and start new tumours elsewhere in your body. This is why early detection and treatment are so important.
Key Point: Understanding the difference between benign and malignant tumours is crucial - one's manageable, the other requires immediate serious medical attention.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user