Disease starts initially with the bends? (6)
I believe the answer is:
scurvy
'disease' is the definition.
(scurvy is a kind of health problem)
'starts initially with the bends?' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'with the bends?' becomes 'curvy' (having curves or bends).
The initial letter of 'starts' is 's'.
's'+'curvy'='SCURVY'
(Other definitions for scurvy that I've seen before include "Disease once associated with poorly-nourished sailors" , "Result of vitamin C deficiency" , "Condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin C" , "an old naval problem" , "Condition caused by lack of vitamin C" .)