A disease is an
alteration of the mental and, or physical structure of the human body or mind.
Diseases can have numerous causes: biological (like viruses), chemical (like
drugs or heavy metals), genetics, physical agents (like temperature extremes),
and alterations in immunity or metabolism (like allergies or hormonal
disturbances.) With disease comes specific signs and symptoms that manifest
themselves, allowing physicians or medical experts to diagnose their patients. While an illness refers to
the human response to disease. It could also be described as poor health resulting from the effect of disease to the body and the mind. Disease and illness are not the same thing. While the former attack the body, the latter is the response of the body system as a result of the effect to the body by the former. In 1972, Dr
Anthony Suchman defined what we know today as the four stages illness:
-Experiencing signs and symptoms
-Assuming the sick role, or validating the sickness
-Seeking medical care
-Assuming dependent role while recovering