Topic 2: Non-communicable disease

What are riskfactors

They affect the likelihood to get a non-communicable disease

Risk factors that affect the likelihood to get a non - communicable diseases

• Genes = these are inherited and cannot be changed

• Aspects of a person’s lifestyle = eg smoking, lack of exercise, overheating

• Substances in the person’s body or environment = eg ionising radiation, exposure to carcinogens (UV light, second - hand smoke)

• The effects of diet, smoking and exercise on cardiovascular disease.

• Obesity as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

• The effect of alcohol on the liver and brain function.

• The effect of smoking on lung disease and lung cancer.

• The effects of smoking and alcohol on unborn babies.

• Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, as risk factors in cancer.

The cost of non-communicable diseases

Human Cost:

• Tens of millions of people around the world die from non-communicable diseases per year. People with these diseases may have a lower quality of life or a shorter lifespan. This not only affects the sufferers themselves, but their loved ones too.

Financial Cost:

• The cost to the NHS, other health services, and organisations around the world of researching and treating these diseases is huge

• Families may have to move or adapt their home to help a family member with a disease, which can be costly

• If the family member with a disease has to give up work or dies, the family’s income will be reduced. A reduction in the number of people able to work can also affect a country’s economy

Tumours

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division. This uncontrolled growth and division is a result of changes that occur to the cells and result in the formation of a tumour (a growth of abnormal cells). Not all tumours are cancerous. They can be benign or malignant

Benign tumours:

• Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in

  one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of

  the body. This type isn’t normally dangerous, and the tumour isn’t cancerous

Malignant tumours:

Malignant tumour cells are cancers. They invade neighbouring tissues

and spread to different parts of the body in the blood, where they invade healthy tissues elsewhere in the body and form secondary tumours. Malignant tumours are dangerous and can be fatal.

Risk factors for cancer

Lung Cancer:

Risk factor - smoking, air pollution, family history

The area of the body/people it affects - lungs

Ways to reduce this cancer - do not smoke, a healthy diet, exercise

Skin Cancer:

Risk factor - age, fair skin, sunbed, sunburn, red hair

The area of the body/people it affects - skin, fair-skinned people

Ways to reduce this cancer - high-factor sunscreen, stay out of the sun

Cervical Cancer:

Risk factor - HPV virus, smoking, overweight, sexually transmitted infections, family history, oral

The area of the body/people it affects - in a woman’s cervix

Ways to reduce this cancer - using condoms, HPV vaccinations, smear tests, for women over 25, don’t smoke

Breast Cancer:

Risk factor - Age, women, genes, race

The area of the body/people it affects - Breasts, age 45 and up

Ways to reduce this cancer - exercise, breastfeeding, screening

Brain Cancer:

Risk factor - age, medical radiation, previous cancer, genetic, overweight, smoking

The area of the body/people it affects - growth of cells in the brain, drinkers, smokers

Ways to reduce this cancer - don’t drink or smoke, healthy diet + exercise, go to GP if any symptoms

Testicular Cancer:

Risk factor - middle-aged men, tall men, smoking, infertility, family history

The area of the body/people it affects - age 15-49 men, testicles

Ways to reduce this cancer - safe sex, don’t smoke, check at G-P reguarly

Ways to treat cancer

• Radiotherapy: Cancer cells are targeted with radiation, this stops mitosis (cell division) but can damage healthy cells

• Chemotherapy: Chemicals are used to stop the cancer cells dividing or to make them self destruct but can harm other rapidly dividing healthy cells eg hair

• Surgery: Removes the cancerous cells

Describe the link between ionising radiation and cancer.

Ionising radiation causes cancer by damaging DNA within cells, leading to mutations that can cause cells to divide uncontrollably

For example UV can cause skin cancer

Effect of smoking on the lungs

• Tar causes emphysema

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)

• It is also a carcinogen

Effect of smoking on the heart

• Nicotine narrows blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster (it is an addictive stimulant)

• This makes coronary heart disease more likely

• Increases the rick of blood clots

• Smoking increases the blood pressure

Smoking during pregnancy

• During pregnancy the mother is supplying blood to her body and the fetus

• If the mothers blood is carrying carbon monoxide, the baby may not be able to get enough oxygen to grow properly

Calories

• A calorie is a unit of energy

• Excess calories are stored in the body as fat

• Fat is essential as it cushions vital organs and is a quick source of energy

• Regularly consuming too many calories can lead to a person becoming overweight

Health problems associated with obesisty

• Type 2 diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

Type 2 diabetes

• Your pancreas makes insulin, which helps your body use glucose

• Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or your cells stop responding to it

The biggest risk for diabetes is being overweight or obese

What can a build up of glucose cause

• Problems with circulation

• Kidney failure

• Eyesight

Describe the short and long term effects of drinking alcohol

Short:

• It is a depressant, so it makes reactions slower. It can make people feel relaxed, cheerful, and reduces inhibitions

• A large amount can lead to a lack of self-control and poor judgment

Long:

• Long-term alcohol use can make the brain soft and pulpy

• It damages brain structures, so it cannot function properly

• Liver cells are replaced with scar tissue, causing cirrhosis of the liver

• Alcohol is a carcinogen which can develop liver cancer

The effects of alcohol on unborn babies

• Alcohol passes to the baby through the placenta (Fetal alcohol syndrome)

• Development is badly affected by drinking alcohol, as the developing liver can’t cope with alcohol

• The baby may have facial deformities, problems with teeth, jaw, or hearing, kidney, liver, and heart problems