Final answer:
In a balance theory of health and disease, disease results from homeostatic imbalances due to various causes, including pathogens, genetic factors, environmental influences, and chronic stress, highlighting the complexity of health as a biopsychosocial phenomenon.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a balance theory of health and disease, disease (illness) results from a disruption in homeostasis, which is the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment. When homeostatic imbalances occur, the body's cells may not get everything they need, or toxic wastes may accumulate, leading to disease. Disease can be understood as a biological abnormality, while illness refers to the individual's sociocultural experience of their health status. Moreover, stress and lifestyle factors can also contribute to the onset of illness emphasizing the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to health.
Disease arises from various sources such as pathogens like bacteria and viruses, genetic disorders, noninfectious environmental factors, or inappropriate immune responses. The physiological systems evolved to handle acute stressors can, when activated chronically contribute to stress-related diseases. As noted by Robert Sapolsky, prolonged activation of stress responses can lead to health issues such as hypertension and heart disease. From a functionalist perspective, health is essential for societal stability, with sickness seen as a form of deviance that disrupts social functions. An understanding of the sick role helps in grasping how societies view and manage sickness and its effects on daily life and expectations.