Civilisation diseases are diseases that have become commonplace in industrial countries due to the living conditions in those countries.
Human beings have adjusted their development in accordance with specific living conditions over millions of years, i.e. to a life in the midst of and alongside nature. Like any other living creatures human beings have particular requirements in terms of food (food that is appropriate to the respective species) and habitat. Human beings are extremely adaptable, but only within certain limits.
In modern industrial societies human beings move within mostly artificial, human generated systems, which often no longer meet the actual physical and mental requirements of human beings. If living circumstances deviate too far from these natural requirements diseases may occur (Main causes of civilisation diseases).
On the other hand, in allegedly 'healthy' previous times the infant mortality rate was much higher and general life expectancy was much lower than it is today. Consequently many clinical pictures are described as civilisation diseases, which first manifest themselves in old age (Known civilisation diseases).
Main causes of civilisation diseases