Health news is often dominated by lifestyle trends and breakthrough treatments, but behind the scenes, the body itself delivers constant stories of balance, crisis, and resilience. Unit 3 explores four key beats in the medical newsroom — haematological diseases, endocrine disorders, nervous system conditions, and gastrointestinal challenges. Each topic highlights how fragile yet adaptive human physiology can be.
Download UNIT 3 – The Human Body’s Hidden Headlines — Blood, Hormones, Nerves, and Digestion Notes
Get simplified revision notes for this unit:
Download Unit 3 Notes PDF
Haematological Diseases: When Blood Tells the Story
Blood, the lifeline of the body, carries oxygen, nutrients, and immunity. But when disorders strike, it can also become the site of serious medical drama.
Iron Deficiency Anemia — The Global Headline
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common blood disorder worldwide, often caused by poor diet, blood loss, or malabsorption. Patients suffer fatigue, weakness, and pallor, making it a silent but widespread crisis.
Megaloblastic Anemia — A Vitamin Shortage Alert
When Vitamin B12 or folic acid is lacking, red blood cells grow abnormally large, leading to megaloblastic anemia. The consequences are not only fatigue but also neurological symptoms in B12 deficiency, turning nutrition into a headline health issue.
Genetic Stories — Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia
Some disorders are inherited headlines. Sickle cell anemia alters the shape of red blood cells, causing pain crises and organ damage. Thalassemia, another hereditary anemia, results from defects in hemoglobin production, requiring lifelong medical coverage through transfusions or chelation therapy.
Hemophilia — The Bleeding Report
In hemophilia, a genetic lack of clotting factors turns minor injuries into major emergencies. While modern medicine has improved management, the condition remains a critical story of vigilance.
Endocrine Disorders: When Hormones Break the News
Hormones act like press releases, coordinating growth, energy, and reproduction. Disruptions in this system create ripple effects across the body.
Diabetes — The Chronic Crisis
Diabetes mellitus continues to dominate medical headlines worldwide. High blood sugar, resulting from insulin deficiency or resistance, leads to complications in the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. It is both a lifestyle and a genetic story, demanding daily attention.
Thyroid Diseases — The Metabolic Bulletin
The thyroid gland, a small structure in the neck, wields massive influence. Disorders like hypothyroidism slow metabolism, causing fatigue and weight gain, while hyperthyroidism accelerates it, producing nervousness and weight loss. These conditions remind us that even the smallest glands can command front-page coverage.
Disorders of Sex Hormones — Hidden but Impactful
Imbalances in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect reproductive health, bone density, mood, and metabolism. From infertility to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), these disorders underscore how hormones quietly shape personal health narratives.
Nervous System Disorders: Breaking News from the Brain
The nervous system, with its electrical signals and chemical messengers, is the newsroom’s control center. Disruptions here make for some of the most dramatic medical headlines.
Epilepsy — The Electrical Storm
Epilepsy results from abnormal bursts of brain activity, leading to seizures. The unpredictability of attacks makes it a headline that demands urgent reporting.
Parkinson’s Disease — A Slow-Building Story
This progressive disorder of movement arises from dopamine deficiency in the brain. Tremors, stiffness, and difficulty in movement make Parkinson’s disease a long-running health feature, often accompanied by emotional challenges.
Stroke — The Emergency Headline
A stroke is the sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, leading to disability or death. Every second counts, making it one of medicine’s most urgent breaking news events.
Psychiatric Disorders — Mental Health in Focus
Conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease are no longer hidden in back pages.
Depression affects millions, lowering quality of life and raising suicide risks.
Schizophrenia alters perception and thought, challenging both patients and caregivers.
Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, steals memory and independence, growing into one of the century’s most pressing health stories as populations age.
Gastrointestinal System: Peptic Ulcer in the Spotlight
The digestive tract may seem routine, but when peptic ulcers strike, they command attention. These painful sores in the stomach or duodenum are linked to Helicobacter pylori infection, stress, or long-term use of NSAIDs. Left untreated, they can cause bleeding or perforation, making them a front-page medical emergency.