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Health: The Ultimate Treasure Class 8 Notes

Science Chapter 3
August 12, 2025 by Bhagya Health supplements Science textbook

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Class 8 Science Chapter 3 Notes – Health: The Ultimate Treasure Notes Class 8
Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions

→ Health: Health is complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions
(WHO).
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths

→ Health Components: Involves physical fitness, positive mindset, and strong social relationships. NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Maths

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Maths

Science textbook Health supplements
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Maths
→ Ayurveda’s View: Health is a balance of body, mind, and surroundings via daily/seasonal routines, diet,
and yoga. NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Maths

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics

Fitness tracker Health supplements NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Chemistry

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics

→ Healthy Habits: Maintain hygiene, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and limit
screen time. NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry

→ Unhealthy Habits: Avoid excessive screen time, junk food, late sleep, and skipping meals.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 1
→ Environmental Health: Clean surroundings and air (monitored by AQI) reduce respiratory issues like
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 2
asthma.
Metals and Nonmetals Class 10
→ Symptoms vs. Signs: Symptoms are felt (e.g., pain); signs are measurable (e.g., fever, rash).
carbon and its compounds class 10

→ Communicable Diseases: Caused by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.) and spread via air, contact, food, Periodic Classification of Elements Class 10
or vectors, e.g., Typhoid, dengue, flu, chickenpox, COVID-19. Health supplements Fitness tracker
Life Process Class 10

→ Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Linked to lifestyle, diet, or environment; e.g., diabetes, cancer, NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 7
asthma.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 8

→ Deficiency Diseases: NCDs caused by nutrient deficiencies, e.g., anaemia, scurvy, goitre. NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 9

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10

→ NCD Prevalence: Diabetes and heart disease are rising in India due to processed foods and sedentary
lifestyles. NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 11

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 12

→ Disease Prevention: Hygiene, clean water, and sanitation (e.g., Odisha’s campaign) reduce communicable
diseases. NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 13

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 14

→ Vaccines: Train the immune system to prevent diseases like tetanus, polio, hepatitis, and measles, not
cure them. Fitness tracker NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 15

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 16

→ Immunity: The body’s natural defense; it varies among individuals; vaccines provide acquired immunity.

→ Antibiotics: Treat bacterial infections, not viral ones; overuse leads to resistant bacteria.

→ Antibiotic Resistance: Makes infections harder to treat; prevented by proper antibiotic use.

→ Traditional Medicine: Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani promote well-being but may not treat all diseases.
Herbal medicine Fitness tracker

→ NCD Management: Uses medication, lifestyle changes, and early diagnosis to control symptoms.

→ Key Scientists: Kamal Ranadive (cancer research), Maharaj Kishan Bhan (Rotavirus vaccine), Edward
Jenner (smallpox vaccine), Alexander Fleming (penicillin).

→ Health: A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease
(WHO).

→ Well-being: The condition of being healthy, happy, and comfortable in physical, mental, and social
aspects.

→ Pathogen: A disease-causing organism, such as worms, bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa.

Herbal medicine Health supplements

→ Communicable Disease: A disease caused by pathogens that can spread from one person to another
(e.g., flu, dengue).

→ Non-Communicable Disease (NCD): A disease not caused by pathogens and not transmissible, often
linked to lifestyle or environment (e.g., diabetes, cancer).

→ Immunity: The body’s natural ability to resist and fight diseases through the immune system.

→ Vaccine: A substance that trains the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens,
preventing diseases.

→ Acquired Immunity: Protection developed after exposure to a pathogen or vaccine, enhancing immune
response. Fitness tracker

→ Antibiotic: A medicine that kills or inhibits bacteria, used to treat bacterial infections but not viral ones.

→ Antibiotic Resistance: When bacteria survive and multiply despite antibiotic treatment, reducing drug
effectiveness.

→ Symptom: A subjective indication of illness felt by the patient, such as pain or tiredness.

→ Sign: An objective, measurable indication of illness, such as fever or a rash, observable by others.

→ Hygiene: Practices like handwashing and cleanliness that prevent the spread of diseases.

→ Lifestyle: Daily habits and behaviours (e.g., diet, exercise) that impact health and disease risk.

→ Environment: Surroundings, including air and water quality, that affect health (e.g., pollution causes
respiratory issues).

→ Vector: An organism, like a mosquito, that transmits pathogens causing diseases such as malaria or
dengue.

→ Prakriti: In Ayurveda, an individual’s unique body constitution that influences diet and health practices.

→ Dinacharya: Ayurvedic daily routine to maintain health through balanced habits like sleep and exercise.

→ Chronic Disease: A long-term condition (lasting over 3 months) like diabetes or asthma, requiring
ongoing management.

→ Sanitation: Measures like access to clean water and toilets that reduce disease spread, as seen in
community campaigns.

→ Health means complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.

→ Being happy helps us stay active and healthy, and good health also improves our mood. Health and
happiness are closely related.

→ A disease affects the normal working of the body or mind.

→ Symptoms are what we feel (like pain or tiredness); signs are what can be seen or measured (like fever
or rash).

→ Non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease are caused by lifestyle and environmental
factors, not germs. They can often be prevented with healthy habits, lifestyle changes, and regular exercise.

→ Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or worms cause infectious diseases.

→ Our immune system helps protect us from harmful pathogens.

→ Vaccines train the immune system using dead, weakened, or harmless parts of a germ to prevent
disease.

→ Diagnosis and treatment are important for managing and curing diseases.

Health: Is It More Than Not Falling Sick? Class 8 Notes

What do the news clippings on the notice board tell you about people’s health in our country? Is being
healthy just about not having diseases? Health also encompasses feeling physically well, maintaining a
positive outlook, and fostering strong relationships. A healthy person takes care of their body, maintains a
positive mindset, and enjoys social life. Let us now explore what it truly means to be healthy.

Activity 1: Let us read

A Grade 8 student moved to a new school in another city. With no friends in his new environment and busy
parents, he felt lonely. To cope, he spent more time on his phone and social media, but this made him feel
worse. He stopped trying to make friends, had headaches, lost weight, and could not sleep well. A doctor
advised less screen time and meeting a counsellor. The school counsellor arranged help to support him in
making friends and improving his health.

Think and Reflect: What was the cause of the boy’s health problems? How did his habits and surroundings
affect his well-being? As per the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as a ‘state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease’.

A healthy person can perform various tasks more efficiently and cope well in different and difficult
situations. A healthy person can adjust well with peer groups and other members of society. Let us
understand more about health.

Ayurveda teaches us that true health is a balance of body, mind, and surroundings. Following dinacharya
(daily routine) and ritucharya (seasonal routine) helps maintain this balance. Eating fresh, wholesome food
suited to one’s prakriti (body constitution) is essential. Regular exercise, cleanliness, restful sleep, and a
calm mind support overall well-being. This can also be achieved through practices like yoga, meditation,
and mindfulness.

How Can We Stay Healthy? Class 8 Notes

Staying healthy means eating nutritious food, maintaining hygiene, staying in a clean place, exercising
regularly, getting proper sleep, spending time with family and friends, and having a positive attitude. What
should we do and what should we not do to keep ourselves healthy?

Activity 2: Let us list

List some good habits that your parents, teachers, or elders often encourage you to follow. How many of
these are already a part of your daily routine? Which ones would you like to start following? Add to the list
below:

Keep yourself clean and maintain personal hygiene.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Exercise regularly.
Make time to relax or meditate every day.

Now, think about habits that are not good for your health. Add more to the list below:

Spending too much time on mobile phones or other digital screens.

Eating fast food and other junk food every day.
Sleeping very late or not getting enough sleep.
Skipping meals, especially breakfast.

Taking care of our body and mind is important. Healthy habits support a healthy body as well as a healthy
mind. Discuss your findings with your friends and teacher. From the activity you participated in and the
discussions, you may have realised that our health depends on many factors. These factors include our
lifestyle (how we live) and our environment (our surroundings).

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle Class 8 Notes

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid processed, fatty, or sugary food
and drinks. Stay physically active by playing outdoors, walking, running, cycling, or exercising. Limit screen
time and spend more time in nature. Get enough sleep to help your body and mind rest and recover.
Practice yoga or simple breathing exercises like pranayama regularly. Say ‘NO’ to harmful substances like
tobacco, alcohol, and addictive drugs.

Keep the Environment Clean Class 8 Notes

Activity 3: Let us compare
Look at Figures a and b. Which playground would you like to play in, and why?
Most of us would like to play in the playground shown in Figure A as it is clean, well-maintained, and looks
beautiful. The playground in Figure b is polluted, dirty, unhygienic, and full of flies and mosquitoes. People
living in such areas may fall sick more often.

In addition to inculcating good habits and adopting a healthy lifestyle, we must keep ourselves and our
surroundings clean. Have you ever found it hard to breathe in a place with a lot of smoke or dust? That is
because clean air and water are important for our health. In cities, air pollution from vehicles and factories
can cause problems like coughing or asthma. The Air Quality Index (AQI) helps us know how clean the air is.
A cleaner environment helps us stay healthy and feel better. But health is not only about the body. Our
feelings and relationships matter too. Even if we eat well and live in a clean place, we may not feel good if
we are lonely or upset. Spending time with friends and family, talking, laughing, and having fun helps keep
our minds healthy too.

How Do We Know That We Are Unwell? Class 8 Notes

Our body usually works in a certain way to keep us healthy. When we feel unwell, it means something inside
us may not be working as it should. We may have symptoms, such as pain, tiredness, or dizziness, and
signs like fever, rash, high blood pressure, or swelling that indicate we are unwell. A symptom is what we
feel (like pain), while a sign is something that can be seen or measured (like high body temperature when
we have a fever). These help doctors understand what might be making us unwell.

Diseases: What Are the Causes and Types? Class 8 Notes

A disease is a condition that affects the normal working of the body or mind. It can happen when one or
more organs or organ systems stop functioning properly. Some diseases are caused by germs like bacteria,
viruses, fungi, worms, or even by protozoa (single-celled organisms). These disease-causing organisms are
called pathogens. Other diseases may result from poor nutrition or an unhealthy lifestyle. Some diseases
last for a short time, while others can continue for a long time and need regular treatment or care. Diseases
can be grouped into two major types based on their causes and how they spread:

Non-communicable diseases: Some diseases, like cancer, diabetes, or asthma, are not caused by
pathogens and do not spread from one person to another. They are usually linked to lifestyle, diet,
and/or environment.
Communicable diseases: Diseases caused by pathogens are called communicable diseases. They
can spread from one person to another. Some examples of communicable diseases are typhoid,
dengue, flu, chickenpox, and COVID-19.

In recent years, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer have become
more common in India. This is happening because of changes in how people live such as eating more
processed food, getting less exercise, and living longer lives. Today, most deaths in India are caused by
NCDs. Understanding the difference between these two types helps us know how diseases spread and how
to prevent them.

How are Communicable Diseases Caused and Spread? Class 8

Notes
All communicable diseases are caused by pathogens. These pathogens can enter our body through the air
we breathe or by consuming contaminated food or water and more. But how do these pathogens spread
from one person to another? One common way is through air, when an infected person coughs or sneezes,
or through direct contact like shaking hands, or indirectly by sharing personal items of an infected person.
Some of the communicable diseases are spread through contaminated drinking water or food. Some
pathogens are also spread by insects like mosquitoes and houseflies. These insects are called vectors. By
understanding how diseases spread, we can take simple steps to protect ourselves and others. Let us find
out how these communicable diseases spread and how we can prevent them.

Activity 4: Let us find out

Grade 8 students listed some common communicable diseases in Table 1 during a community campaign
and a library survey. Check the information listed by referring to books, trusted websites, or asking your
science teacher. Add any missing details. Study the table and think about what simple steps can help
prevent each disease.

By studying Table 1, we can understand how infectious diseases spread and how to prevent them. Here are
some simple but important precautions:

Keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean.

Practicing basic hygiene every day.
Washing hands with soap and water to remove pathogens.
Covering our mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
Wearing a mask in crowded places provides protection.
Avoid sharing personal items like towels and handkerchiefs.
Keeping our home, food, and water clean.
Staying at home and resting when we are unwell helps the body recover and minimizes spreading the
disease to others.

Some infectious diseases are caused by worms that live inside our bodies, especially in the digestive
system. They feed on nutrients and live as parasitic organisms that live in or on another living being. These
worms usually spread through contaminated food, water, soil, or contact with infected people or animals.

How are Non-communicable Diseases Caused? Class 8 Notes

You learnt that non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and asthma are linked to lifestyle, diet,
and/or environment. They are the most common cause of death in India. In Grade 6, you also learnt about
diseases like scurvy, anaemia, and goitre, which are caused by a lack of specific nutrients in the diet. These
are called deficiency diseases and are also non-communicable.

Diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and asthma may often persist for a long time (more than 3 months) and
are referred to as chronic diseases. Diabetes is a common disease that is becoming more prevalent in
adults as well as children. India now has one of the highest numbers of people with diabetes in the world. It
often develops due to a combination of hormonal imbalances, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical
activity, being overweight or obese, and other reasons. Let us learn more about the causes of non-
communicable diseases and their prevention.

Activity 5: Let us survey

Find out the three most common lifestyle-related diseases in your neighbourhood. Talk to a doctor, nurse,
health worker, or even a family member who knows about health and what kind of lifestyle changes can
help prevent or manage these diseases. You can also consult trusted health websites, books, teachers, and
doctors. Fill in Table 2 and learn more about lifestyle-related diseases.

Dr. Kamal Ranadive (1917–2001) was a pioneering biomedical researcher. She studied how hormones and
certain viruses are linked to cancer, helping improve its treatment and prevention. Her work also showed
how tobacco, diet, and pollution can raise the risk of cancer, highlighting the importance of a healthy
lifestyle.

How to Prevent and Control Diseases? Class 8 Notes

You might have heard the phrase ‘Prevention is better than a cure.’ It is important to protect ourselves from
both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Activity 6: Let us read

Odisha – community-led sanitation campaign
In Bhadrak district, Odisha, a community sanitation campaign helped more people build and use toilets.
This reduced open defecation significantly and improved child health, with fewer cases of diarrhoea and
infections. What do you infer from this case study? Simple steps like good sanitation can greatly reduce the
spread of communicable diseases. Find out about such community campaigns held in your location. Share
in your class and discuss with your peers about the impact of such initiatives.

The ability of the body to fight diseases

You would have noticed that some people get sick more frequently than others, although living in a similar
environment. Do you know why? The natural ability of our body to fight diseases is known as immunity. Our
body has a special system called the immune system that helps fight against diseases. You might have
taken some drops or injections in your childhood to protect yourself from certain diseases, such as polio,
measles, tetanus, and hepatitis. These are vaccines that help prevent serious infections caused by viruses
and bacteria.

A vaccine helps our body fight certain diseases by training the immune system to recognise and attack
harmful germs. providing what is known as acquired immunity protection, developed after exposure to a
pathogen or a vaccine. Vaccines can be made in different ways from weakened or dead pathogens (like
viruses or bacteria), or from inactive or harmless parts of the pathogen. Some newer vaccines instruct our
body cells to make a harmless part of the germ, which our immune system then learns to fight. For
example, a tetanus shot, often given after an injury, protects against infection by the tetanus-causing
bacteria. It contains an inactivated bacterial toxin that helps the immune system develop protection without
causing the disease. Do you know when the first vaccine was discovered?

Edward Jenner and the Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox was a deadly disease that caused blisters and killed millions. A milder disease called cowpox,
seen in cows, could also infect humans. In the late 1700s, English doctor Edward Jenner discovered that
people who had cowpox did not get smallpox. This led to the invention of the first vaccine and helped
protect people from smallpox.

Long before modern vaccines, India had a traditional method called variolation to protect against smallpox.
It involved using material from a smallpox sore to scratch the skin and create a mild infection and build
immunity. People who performed this practice were known as teekedaars.

Think like a Scientist

Observations
Jenner observed that milkmaids who had cowpox did not catch smallpox, likely because the two viruses
are related.

Hypothesis
Content in the pus of cowpox blisters protected people from smallpox.

Experimentation
He tested this by injecting cowpox sap into a boy, who later showed no illness when exposed to smallpox.

Results
He found that people who were infected with cowpox sap were now resistant to smallpox.

Application
Mass vaccination eventually helped eradicate smallpox worldwide.

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, against
many serious diseases. They help prevent illnesses, reduce the spread of infections, and save millions of
lives every year. It is important to remember that vaccines are preventive, not curative. They can help
minimise serious diseases before they happen, but do not treat them once someone is already sick. Some
people may fear or doubt vaccines, but scientists and doctors carefully test them for safety. Getting
vaccinated not only protects you but also the people around you.

India’s Role in Vaccine Production

India is one of the world’s largest vaccine producers. It manufactures vaccines on a massive scale and
supplies them to many countries. Indian vaccine companies played a key role during the COVID-19
pandemic and continue to support global health efforts.

Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan was a well-known Indian doctor and scientist. As Secretary of the Department of
Biotechnology, he helped promote science and innovation in India. He played a key role in developing the
Rotavirus vaccine, which protects children from diarrhoea. He believed in using research to create
affordable healthcare and made a big difference in India’s health and biotechnology sectors.

Treatment of Diseases Class 8 Notes

If our immune system fails to protect us against an infectious disease, we fall ill and need to visit a doctor.
The doctor may give us medicines called antibiotics, which kill the bacteria that might have caused the
disease. Antibiotics work only against bacterial infections because they target parts of bacterial cells that
are different from human or other animal cells. They do not work against viruses or diseases caused by
protozoa.

Discovery of the first antibiotic, Penicillin

Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, a bacteriologist from London. While studying
harmful bacteria, he noticed that a mould on a discarded petri dish stopped the bacteria from growing. He
realized the mould released a substance that killed the bacteria. This chance discovery led to the discovery
of penicillin, the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

Though antibiotics are effective in protecting us against bacterial infections and have saved millions of lives
since their discovery, their indiscriminate use has led to a decline in their effectiveness.

Nowadays, there are news headlines about antibiotic resistance, a phenomenon where bacteria that were
earlier killed by a given antibiotic are found to survive and multiply despite treatment with that antibiotic.
This makes common infections harder to treat and increases the risk of complications, prolonged illness,
and even death.

Activity 7: Let us infer

Study the infographic given in Figure. How do you think the antibiotic resistance has been developed in
bacterial pathogens? What precautions may be taken to reduce antibiotic resistance? To tackle the problem
of antibiotic resistance, we must use antibiotics wisely, only when prescribed by a doctor, in the correct
dose, and for the right duration. Avoiding unnecessary use helps prevent the rise of resistant bacteria and
keeps antibiotics effective for future generations.

Traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani have been used in India for many years to
manage common health problems. They use natural substances like herbs, oils, and minerals for managing
illnesses and promoting recovery, and focus on a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet. While these systems
can help with some conditions and are useful for everyday well-being, they may not be effective for all
diseases and at all stages. Therapies for non-communicable diseases focus on managing symptoms and
improving quality of life through medication, lifestyle changes, and rehabilitation. Early diagnosis and
continuous care are key to controlling the disease progression and preventing complications.

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