Tag Archives: diseases of civilization

Diseases with ancient roots that still impact us today

Today when one thinks of the health conditions that they are most likely to encounter within their lifetime, diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer come to mind.  These conditions are often described as modern ‘lifestyle diseases’ but there are a host of others that have risen to prominence over the course of human history and traditionally referred to as ‘diseases of civilization’ due to their development as lifestyle practices changed (e.g., settlement and farming styles) and populations became increasingly dense.

Many of these enduring diseases, such as gonorrhea, malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis, continue to impact a large proportion of the global population and represent a significant challenge to public health.  For example, whooping cough (also known as pertussis) has risen in prominence in the United States in recent years, in part due to vaccination avoidance.  For more information about these killers with ancient roots, visit: http://news.discovery.com/human/gonorrhea-plague-ebola-and-others-wont-quit-120810.html.