Illness can be a synonym for disease or it can be a person's perception of having poor health. Disease is an actual physical, pathophysiological process which can cause an abnormal condition of the body or mind. Illness and disease are not necessarily the same. Most people who have a disease will feel they have an illness, while others will feel perfectly healthy. A third group (although small) may claim illness although they do not actually have a disease.
People could have dangerously high blood pressure (hypertension) and be in danger of having a fatal heart attack or stroke, yet they feel perfectly well and believe they do not have an illness.
The biopsychosocial model draws a distinction between the actual pathological processes that cause disease, and the patient's perception of their health and the effects on it, called the illness.
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Illness - Example Usage
Napsolan: RT @Arsenal: TEAM NEWS: Benayoun replaces Walcott in squad. Diaby faces fitness test, Rosicky available after illness: http://t.co/GSf6ot5I
DPHPC: Horrific crimes, such as the Anders Breivik case, illustrate the misconceptions the public has about mental illness: http://t.co/egtmwl7i
KarenCollum: @reebee01 He is very switched on emotionally - which may be just who he is or possibly because of going through a significant illness?
theedgeofdesire: Today i will get work done but take it easy. This weekend is my end of illness phase back to real life on monday
nickolaaguilarv: http://t.co/8YytMHqg My Workout: Athlete fights to stay active despite illness
