B7 - non-communicable diseases

what is a non-communicable disease?

a non-communicable disease is a disease that cannot be passed from one organism to another.

what are the three risk factors for disease?

• inherited factors: the genes inherited which cannot be changed/modified

• lifestyle factors: eg diet and exercise

• environmental factors: eg exposition to ionising radiation, pollution

what is a causal mechanism?

• a causal mechanism is something that explains how one factor influences another

• for instance, there is a clear link between smoking tobacco and lung cancer

what are the impacts of non-communicable diseases?

• individual/family: loss of income, cost of treatment

• local: cost of providing support services

• national: cost of NHS, loss of tax revenue, increase in welfare bill n reduction in national productivity (GDP)

• global: reduction in trade n aid budgets especially when diseases affect working-age populations

what is correlation?

correlation is an apparent link or relationship between 2 factors

what is cancer?

cancer is when cell division goes wrong, which causes the cells to divide rapidly, which can form a tumour

what are the differences between benign tumour n malignant tumour cells?

• benign tumours: they are less serious as they are not cancerous n cannot spread, they can cause pressure or damage to an organ

• malignant tumours: they are cancerous, can break apart n move around the body

• can start new cancers through a process called metastasis

what are the causes of cancer?

• genetic risk factors

• communicable diseases

• obesity

• mutations caused by exposure to

  • carcinogens

  • ionising radiation

how is chemotherapy used to treat cancer?

• treatment using drugs

• stops mitosis in cancer cells/makes them “self-destruct”

• can have very unpleasant side effects

how is radiotherapy used to treat cancer?

• electromagnetic waves (gamma rays) are used to stop mitosis

• can damage neighbouring tissues

what are the effects of nicotine?

• addictive

• feeling of calm

• increases heart rate

what are the problems caused by nicotine?

• addiction

• CVD (cardiovascular disease)

what is the effect of carbon monoxide?

prevents uptake of oxygen

what is the problem caused by carbon monoxide?

breathlessness due to reduced blood oxygen

what are the effects of tar?

• irritates the lining of the respiratory system

• damages alveoli

• carcinogen

what are the problem cause by tar?

• lung infections

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

• lung cancer

what happens if a pregnant woman smokes?

during pregnancy, a woman is carrying oxygen for both herself n the fetus.

if the mother’s blood has carbon monoxide, the fetus will not be able to get enough oxygen.

what happens if a fetus’ mother smokes?

• premature births

• low birthweight babies

• stillbirths

what is malnutrition?

malnutrition is the lack or excess of one or more type of nutrients in the diet leading to health problems

what is lack of nutrients caused by?

lack of nutrients is caused by not eating enough or lacking certain nutrients in the diet

what can lack of nutrients cause?

• lack of energy

• reduced resistance to disease

• loss of periods in women

• specific diseases depending on the lacking nutrient

what is obesity caused by?

obesity is caused by eating more food than is necessary, increased intake of fatty foods and lack of exercise

what can obesity cause?

• type 2 diabetes

• high blood pressure

• cardiovascular disease

• cancer

what is BMI n what is it used for?

body mass index is used to see if someone is overweight or underweight

what is the formula for BMI?

body mass (kg) / (Height)^2 (m)

what is the range of BMI?

what are some problems with BMI?

• it does not distinguish between fat, muscle or bone mass

• it does not indicate the distribution of fat

• cannot be used for athletes, children/younger people and pregnant women

what are the benefits of exercise?

more muscle tissue:

→ higher metabolic rate (speed of reactions inside your body)

fitter heart and lungs:

→better oxygen supply to your cells.

lower blood cholesterol levels:

→ reduces the risk of fatty deposits building up and blocking arteries

stronger bones:

→ less risk of osteoporosis later in life

what causes type 2 diabeties?

• the body not making enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.

• cells stop responding to insulin

what are symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

• circulation problems

• kidney function

• eyesight

• death

what is in alcoholic drinks?

ethanol

what is the chemical formula of ethanol?

C₂H₆O / C₂H₅OH

what are the ethanol’s short term effects?

high doses:

• unconsciousness

• coma

• death

low doses:

• risky behaviour

• vomiting

• loss of control

what are ethanol’s long term effects?

• addictive

  • chemical dependency can develop

• liver

  • cirrhosis (a disease that destroys liver tissue

  • cancer

• brain

  • long-term use can lead to loss of large areas of brain - can cause death

how does alcohol affect pregnancy?

alcohol passes across the placenta n affects the development of the fetus.

what can consumption of alcohol during pregnancy lead to?

• miscarriage

• stillbirths

• premature birth

• low birth weight

• foetal alcohol syndrome