Heredity, environment, and lifestyle factors contribute to what type of disease? A. Communicable B. Infectious C. Non-Infectious D. Contagious
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C. Non-Infectious
Non-infectious diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), are conditions that are not caused by infectious agents and are not spread from person to person. Heredity (genetics), environment, and lifestyle factors are significant contributors to the development of non-infectious diseases. Examples include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases. These diseases often result from a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, exposure to harmful substances, and personal habits such as diet, exercise, and tobacco use.
Understanding the differences between these types of diseases is crucial:
- Communicable diseases are those that can be transmitted from one individual to another through various means, including physical contact, body fluids, air, and contaminated food or water. Examples include influenza, the common cold, and COVID-19.
- Infectious diseases are caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. These diseases can be communicable, meaning they can spread from person to person, or non-communicable if the infection does not spread between people, like tetanus.
- Non-infectious diseases, as mentioned above, are not caused by pathogens and do not spread between individuals. These include chronic conditions that can develop and persist over a person's lifetime.