HEALTH AND IMMUNITY - Topic 3 Biology Notes Form One
Health and Prevention of Diseases
Definition: Health is a state of physical, mental and emotional well being, i.e. Being free from diseases.
This is the result of a steady state in the internal environment of the body. Disturbance and interference of this steady state may cause ill health characterized by body disorders.
Mental Health includes proper reasoning and rational thinking, i.e. think and act sensibly.
Emotional Health includes proper social interaction and respect for each other.
Physical Health includes proper physiological and anatomic functioning of the body.
Social Health is the ability to interact with other human beings and the surrounding environments happily and confidently.
Social Health is require us to live according to the accepted norms and values of the society, i.e.
- playing together
- making friends
- helping each other, etc.
Socially unaccepted behaviours are like:-
- prostitution
- stealing and
- homosexuality
What is Immunity?
Immunity is the ability of the body to resist against diseases. The most known defender is the white blood cells.
When pathogens enter the body, the phagocytes cells will engulf and digest them.
Lymphocytes cells defend the body against invading pathogens. Pathogens produce antigens and the lymphocytes will produce specific antibodies to act against the antigen, hence making pathogens harmless and easier to destroy.
Types of immunity
Basically there two main types of immunity namely:
i. Natural immunity.
ii. Artificial immunity.
HEALTH AND IMMUNITY - Topic 3 Biology Notes Form One