Medical is the branch of knowledge about disease and the health care of humans and animals. Medicine includes the diagnosis and treatment of illness, injury and other abnormalities, and may include surgery. The medical profession encompasses a wide range of healthcare activities and is regulated in most countries by licensing laws or equivalent systems. These restrict the practice of medicine to physicians who have been educated to a recognised standard and are accredited as fit for their particular specialisation.
Medical sciences include epidemiology, genetics and the study of the structure and function of the body’s cells. Other disciplines include pharmacology, photobiology and radiology. Medicine also covers the medical aspects of public health.
Throughout history, people have tried to understand and treat illness in different ways. Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, established the Hippocratic Oath and based his approach on observation and reason. He grouped illnesses into four categories and described the stages of sickness as exacerbation, relapse and resolution.
A person with a chronic illness often feels overwhelmed, especially when first diagnosed and starting to cope with their condition. It can be difficult to keep up with friends, favourite activities and everyday things. Getting support from loved ones can help them to put their illness into perspective and to remember that they are not just their health condition.