Chronic Diseases and Prevention

Flashcards about Chronic Diseases and Prevention

Burden of Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S. and represent 75% of medical care costs.

Smoking-Related Deaths

In the U.S., smoking causes significantly more deaths than AIDS, alcohol, motor vehicle accidents, homicide, illicit drugs, and suicide combined.

Characteristics of Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases are non-communicable, develop over a long period, and don't have a single pathogen, requiring understanding of underlying factors for primary prevention.

Types of Chronic Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke), cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders (Alzheimerʼs, Parkinsonʼs), and mental illness.

Heart Disease and Stroke

Leading causes of death for both men and women, affecting approximately ¼ of the population (61 million), leading to premature disability, and incurring $351 billion in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity.

Key Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke

Hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors based on the Framingham study.

Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Focuses on behavioral change, including smoking cessation and improving diet and exercise.

Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Involves treatment of essential hypertension (ACE inhibitors) and statin drugs (cholesterol control).

Cancer

Cell mutations that disrupt cellular genes regulating proliferation (oncogenes) and growth suppression (tumor suppressor genes).

Susceptibility to Cancer

Genetic predisposition, including inherited genetic alleles, as described by Knudson's "2 hit hypothesis."

Causes of Mutations Leading to Cancer

Chemicals, viruses (Chronic Hepatitis B, HPV, HIV), and radiation.

Factors Promoting Tumor Progression

Hormones, UV irradiation, tobacco carcinogens, chemicals in foods, and environmental toxins/pollutants.

Cancer Prevention Strategies

Early diagnosis for secondary prevention of breast, prostate, colorectal, and cervical cancers; minimizing known risks like UV exposure; and preventing infections using HepB and HPV vaccines.

National Program of Cancer Registries

A program fundamental to research in epidemiology and the efficacy of diagnosis and treatment.

State Cancer Registries

Monitor trends in cancer incidence and patterns in the population, collect survival data, and contribute to a national database of cancer incidence.

Molecular Diagnosis of Genetic Changes in Cancers

Utilize human genome sequences to identify informative polymorphisms via genome-wide screens using microarrays.

HER2+ Breast Cancers

Overexpression of the receptor in some breast cancers increases sensitivity to HEGF and is treated with Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody.

Diabetes

Affects >17 million Americans, causing 200,000 deaths per year due to complications, and is manageable and preventable.

Public Health Dimension of Diabetes

Number of people with diabetes is projected to double by 2050 due to an aging population and increasing incidence in children.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 involves insulin deficiency, while Type 2 involves resistance to insulin action on cells and is linked to obesity and physical inactivity.

Diet and Activity Patterns Related to Diabetes

Influenced by the type and availability of foods, snacking habits, community design, changes in occupations and leisure activities, and family lifestyles.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

Genetic factors, prediabetes, gestational diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, overweight/obesity, diet, and lack of physical activity.

Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group

A three-year intervention study showing that a lifestyle-intensive intervention was more effective than drugs at reducing diabetes risk.

Diet and the Microbiome

New foods require adjustment of the microbiome to digest new energy substrates, leading to selection through competition in the gut environment.

FDA and Food Research

Addresses the danger of acute toxicity and mutagenesis and the long-term consequences of additives that act through altering the microbiome.

Hunger and Obesity in the U.S.

¼ children and 1/6 adults will go to bed hungry, yet obesity and malnutrition co-exist due to the types of calories consumed.

Health Challenges for Young People

Tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol and other drugs, sexual behaviors and risk of STDs/HIV, and unintentional injuries or violence.

Public Health of Healthcare

Access to healthcare through Medicare, Medicaid, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and Emergency Room Care.