I don't fully understand the following subject, just what I've heard here and there. But the definition of what is a disease is interesting. It's not just some deviation from the norm. Because genetic deviations from the norm are how humans and other animals evolve. Even the ones that seem to cause harm or seem to be a problem. For example, maybe having an extra finger in your village is a good thing. It helps you plow the fields for some reason. Physical injuries aren't always bad. When a doctor removes an abscess tooth, it's a good thing obviously. Or a gangrenous limb. And some people, it has been reported, have gotten a bullet to their brains. And it made them smarter, or gave them a new ability. Paul Kern got a bullet to his brain during World War I. And he never required sleep again. Even things like infections aren't always bad. Being infected by the cowpox virus may not sound like fun. It can lead to symptoms like lesions and fatigue, a headache and a fever sometimes. But in 1796 an English physician discovered that cowpox could protect people from the deadly smallpox virus. In the 1930's Al Capone was infected with malaria by prison doctors at Alcatraz Federal penitentiary. They did it as an experimental treatment to combat his advanced syphilis. He still died in 1939 though.
A disease is a condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism or any of its parts. It is typically characterized by specific signs (observable effects) and symptoms (subjective experiences reported by the affected individual). Diseases can result from various causes, including: Infections: Caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Genetic factors: Inherited conditions or mutations in DNA. Environmental factors: Exposure to harmful substances or adverse living conditions. Lifestyle factors: Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, or harmful behaviors such as smoking. Autoimmune responses: The body mistakenly attacking its own tissues. Degenerative processes: Gradual loss of function in tissues or organs, often due to aging. Diseases can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), contagious or non-contagious, and mild or life-threatening. They are studied and treated within the field of medicine.
