Health and Disease Basics
Health isn't just about not being sick - it's having complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. Your lifestyle choices like diet, sleep, exercise, stress levels and drug use all play a massive role in keeping you healthy.
When harmful microorganisms called pathogens invade your body, they can cause disease. These tiny troublemakers come in four main types: bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists.
Diseases spread through five main routes: vectors (like mosquitoes), contaminated water, direct touch, infected food, and through the air when people cough or sneeze.
Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that you can't see without a microscope. They're more complex than viruses and contain structures like ribosomes, chromosomal DNA, cell membranes, and sometimes flagella for movement. When bacteria invade your body, they release harmful toxins that make you feel unwell.
Quick Tip: Remember that not all bacteria are bad - many are actually helpful and live naturally in your body!