AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    Students should be able to describe the relationship between health and…

    Full specification wording

    Health issues: Students should be able to describe the relationship between health and disease and the interactions between different types of disease.

    Health is a state of physical and mental well-being.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 10
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Health is a state of physical and mental well-being. Disease can disrupt this state, and different diseases often interact. A communicable disease may weaken the body, making a non-communicable disease more likely or more severe. For example, defects in the immune system mean an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases. Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers. Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma. Furthermore, severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other mental illness. Understanding these interactions helps explain why treating one disease can improve overall health and why prevention is important.

    What earns the marks

    • Health is a state of physical and mental well-being, not just the absence of disease.
    • Defects in the immune system mean an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases.
    • Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers.
    • Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma.
    • Severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other mental illness.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Thinking that health is only about physical fitness.

      Put it right: Health includes both physical and mental well-being.

    • Reversing the causal link between physical and mental health.

      Put it right: Severe physical ill health can lead to mental illness, not just the other way around.

    • Assuming allergies cause immune reactions.

      Put it right: Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies.

    Exam tips

    • Use the definition of health to start your answer, then give a specific example of an interaction between two diseases.
    • When describing interactions, state clearly how one affects the other, such as physical ill health leading to mental illness.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Health issues: Students should be able to describe the relationship between health and disease and the interactions between different types of disease. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    A person has a non-communicable disease that damages the lining of the lungs. Which statement best describes how this disease can affect the person's health?

    Listen

    Health is a state of physical and mental well-being. Disease can disrupt this state, and different diseases often interact. A communicable disease may weaken the body, making a non-communicable disease more likely or more severe. For example, defects in the immune system mean an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases. Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers. Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma. Furthermore, severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other mental illness. Understanding these interactions helps explain why treating one disease can improve overall health and why prevention is important. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Health is a state of physical and mental well-being, not just the absence of disease. Defects in the immune system mean an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases. Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers. Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma. A common slip: Thinking that health is only about physical fitness. Instead, health includes both physical and mental well-being. Exam tip: Use the definition of health to start your answer, then give a specific example of an interaction between two diseases.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The top node reads 'Health: physical and mental well-being' and points down to 'Disease disrupts health'. From that node four branches lead to separate interactions. The first branch goes to 'Defects in immune system', which leads to 'More likely to suffer infectious diseases'. The second goes to 'Viruses living in cells', which leads to 'Trigger for cancers'. The third goes to 'Immune reactions caused by a pathogen', which leads to 'Trigger allergies: skin rashes, asthma'. The fourth goes to 'Severe physical ill health', which leads to 'Depression and other mental illness'.
    Shows how disease disrupts health and how different types of disease interact, including immune defects, viruses triggering cancers, immune reactions triggering allergies, and physical ill health leading to mental illness.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Health as physical and mental well-being

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Communicable and non-communicable diseases

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Interactions between diseases

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Health as physical and mental well-being
    A state of physical and mental well-being, not just the absence of disease.
    Communicable and non-communicable diseases
    A communicable disease may weaken the body, making a non-communicable disease more likely or more severe.
    Interactions between diseases
    Different diseases often interact, and understanding these interactions helps explain why treating one disease can improve overall health and why prevention is important.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The top node reads 'Health: physical and mental well-being' and points down to 'Disease disrupts health'. From that node four branches lead to separate interactions. The first branch goes to 'Defects in immune system', which leads to 'More likely to suffer infectious diseases'. The second goes to 'Viruses living in cells', which leads to 'Trigger for cancers'. The third goes to 'Immune reactions caused by a pathogen', which leads to 'Trigger allergies: skin rashes, asthma'. The fourth goes to 'Severe physical ill health', which leads to 'Depression and other mental illness'.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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