At the same time, these diseases act as a barrier for economic growth to affected people and families caring for them which in turn results into increased poverty in the community.
Even before the time of vaccines and antibiotics, before 1796, it can be speculated that, leaders were adequately protected in their castles with decent food and standard accommodation, conversely, the vast majority of people were living in modest, unsanitary homes; cohabiting with their animals.
[6][7][8] During this time people were unknowingly dying of infectious diseases in an event that; they touched their sick animals, had cuts in their skins, drank something that was not boiled or ate food that was contaminated by microbes.
[10][11] Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, and tuberculosis (TB), also known as "the big three", have been acknowledged as infectious diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries.
[citation needed] The prevalence of unfavorable environmental and social factors that contribute to disease are highest among individuals living in poverty.
Physical activity is a protective factor against chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease.
[21] Expanded availability of local environments enabling exercise is associated with an increase in physical activity and a decrease in individuals with an overweight status.
[19][22] Children from low-income families are more likely to engage in sedentary, indoor activities due to challenges in obtaining adult supervision of outdoor play and parental concern for noise complaints.
Furthermore, individuals living in poverty are disproportionally exposed to air pollution, temperature extremes, and violence, which all negatively impact mental health.
[24] Each year many children and adults die as a result of a lack of access to clean drinking water and poor sanitation, which enables the spread of poverty-related diseases.
Contaminated water enables the spread of various waterborne-pathogens, including bacteria (E. coli, cholera), viruses (hepatitis A, norovirus), and protozoa (schistosomiasis).
Exposure to environmental toxins, like ambient particulate matter (or air pollution), has been linked to the development of diseases like cancer, immune system impairment, and reproductive dysfunction.
[38] According to the World Health Organization, 2.4 billion people are exposed to household air pollution through the use of open fire cooking and inefficient stoves.
[43] Higher educational achievement correlates with more opportunities for secure jobs, which enables individuals to generate wealth that can be used to improve factors that impact health outcomes.
Countries where open defecation is seen have higher levels of poverty, adverse health outcomes, and death in children due to diarrheal disease.
[citation needed] According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 10 percent of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean are affected by hunger and malnutrition.
Tuberculosis (TB) is closely related to lifestyles of poverty, overcrowded conditions, alcoholism, stress, drug addiction and malnutrition.
Because of a lack of clean water many people are plagued by intestinal parasites that significantly increase their chances of contracting HIV due to compromised immune system.
[96] Studies have shown that asthma morbidity and mortality are concentrated in inner city neighborhoods characterized by poverty and large minority populations and this affects both genders at all ages.
Poor diet, lack of exercise and limited (or no) access to a specialist were all factors related to poverty, thought to contribute to heart disease.
[104] Individuals living in LMIC have greater exposure to these risk factors in the setting of reduced access to health care services.
[105] People living in poverty have also higher levels of chronic stress, which also increases an individual's risk of cancer due to inflammatory changes.
[108] These points underscore the positive effect poverty alleviation has on improving health outcomes as it concerns obesity and other chronic NCDs.
[111] It is considered a disease of poverty because of its tendency to occur women in poor countries who do not have health resources comparable to developed nations.
Risk factors for dental caries includes living in poverty, poor education, low socioeconomic status, being part of an ethnic minority group, having a developmental disability, recent immigrants and people infected with HIV/AIDS.
[115] According to a report by U.S. health surveillance, tooth decay peaks earlier in life and is more severe in children with families living below the poverty line.
For example, malaria decreases GDP growth by up to 1.3% in some developing nations, and by killing tens of millions in sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS alone threatens "the economies, social structures, and political stability of entire societies".
[122] When HIV-positive women reveal their HIV status to their HIV-negative husbands, they are often accused of infidelity and face violence and abandonment from their family and community.
This area involves improving the lives of women and girls so that their children are born in healthy environments and placing an emphasis on early childhood health.
Increases in technology, medical innovation, and living conditions have led to the disappearance of diseases and other factors contributing to poor health.