NONINFECTIOUS DISEASES

In contrast to infectious, or extrinsic, diseases, noninfectious, or intrinsic, conditions are neither contagious nor communicable. They arise from inside the body as a result of hereditary conditions or other causes, such as dietary deficiencies. Although infectious forms historically have been the most life-threatening varieties of disease and remain so even today in much of the world, non-infectious disease is a far more serious concern in industrialized nations, such as the United States. Some categories of intrinsic diseases include stress-related, dietary, and autoimmune conditions as well as diseases of unknown origin. Additionally, there are several other categories we examine in this essay: hereditary diseases, such as hemophilia; glandular conditions, of which diabetes mellitus is a powerful example; and cancer, of which there are approximately 100 different varieties.