Wasting Disease
Definition:
"Wasting disease" is a term used to describe a medical condition that causes a person to gradually lose weight, strength, and overall health. This condition often affects the body by wasting away muscle and fat, leading to a thin and frail appearance. It can be related to various illnesses, including those affecting the lungs.
Usage Instructions:
- "Wasting disease" is a noun phrase. You can use it to talk about specific illnesses that cause severe weight loss and weakness. - It is often used in medical contexts or discussions about health.
Example Sentence:
- "The doctor diagnosed him with a wasting disease, which made it difficult for him to gain weight."
Advanced Usage:
In a more advanced context, you might encounter discussions about specific types of wasting diseases, such as "cachexia," which is a syndrome associated with severe chronic illnesses like cancer or AIDS that leads to muscle and fat loss.
Word Variants:
- Wasting (noun): The act of losing weight or muscle mass. - Wasted (adjective): Referring to someone who has lost a lot of weight or health.
Different Meanings:
- "Wasting" can also refer to the act of using resources carelessly (e.g., wasting time or money), but in the context of "wasting disease," it specifically relates to health and physical deterioration.
Synonyms:
- Cachexia - Emaciation - Malnutrition (in broader terms)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "wasting disease," you might encounter phrases like: - "Waste away" (meaning to gradually lose weight or health, e.g., "He began to waste away after the illness.") - "In bad shape" (referring to poor health, e.g., "After months of illness, she was in bad shape.")
Conclusion:
"Wasting disease" is a serious condition that reflects a decline in health, characterized by significant weight loss and weakness.