Final answer:
Disease impairs normal body functions and has measurable signs and subjective symptoms; it is an objective experience of ill health unlike 'illness', which is subjective.
Step-by-step explanation:
A disease is a condition that impairs the normal functioning of the body or alters its structure. It can be due to various causes such as infections, genetics, environmental factors, or immune response malfunctions. Diseases have signs and symptoms; signs are objective and measurable, while symptoms are subjective and experienced by the patient. The term illness refers to the sociocultural experience of ill health, and sickness is the social perception of ill health. On the other hand, malady is a broader term that includes disease, illness, and sickness. Health is the state most likely to ensure an organism's survival and successful reproduction. In the context of the options provided, disease is best described as an objective experience of ill health, as the subjective experience would be termed 'illness'.