2. Organisation (non-communicable diseases) Flashcards
What are non-communicable diseases?
Diseases which cannot pass from one individual to another
What are risk factors?
Something that increases your likelihood of developing a disease
What is smoking a risk factor for?
lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, damaging the cell linings and arteries
What is alcohol consumption a risk factor for?
liver disease, damaging the nerve cells in the brain
What is high cholestrol a risk factor for?
Coronary heart disease
What is high blood pressure a risk factor for?
Kidney disease
What are examples of some risk factors for disease?
- obesity
- lack of exercise
- age
- diet high in fats/sugar
What is cancer?
Uncontrollable cell division
What is a tumour?
A mass of cells
What are the different types of tumours?
- Benign tumours
- Malignant tumours
What is a benign tumour?
Growths of abnormal cells, which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body
What is a Malignant tumour?
A cancerous tumour, they invade neighbouring tissues and may spread to different parts of the body, where they form secondary tumours
What are 3 features of a Malignant tumours?
- Maligant tumours invade neighbouring cells
- These tumours split up, releasing small clumps of cells into the bloodstream
- This tumour divides more rapidly, it disrupts normal tissue, if left untreated it can be severly life threatening
What are 3 features of Benign tumours?
- They do not invade other parts of the body
- The tumour begins to grow very large, very quickly
- This causes pressure damage to an organ and can be life threatening
What are the possible causes of cancer?
- Gentic risk factor for some cancers
- Mutations
- Ionizing radiation(UV light and X-rays)
- Melonomas
- Virus infections
What are some genetic cancers?
Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer
What are examples of chemicals that can cause mutations?
asbestos and tar, found in tobacco smoke
How are mutations a possible cause for cancer?
Most cancers are the result of mutations. Chemicals like asbestos and tar, can cause these mutations, which increases the likelihood of developing tumours, so devloping cancer
What are carcinogens?
Cancer-causing agents
How can ionizing radiation cause cancer?
UV light and x-rays can interrupt the normal cell cycle, which causes tumours to form
What are 2 examples of ionizing radiation?
UV light and X-rays
What are Melonomas?
Malignant tumours, which are often caused from exposure to UV radiation
When do melonomas appear?
When there is an uncontrolled growth of pigment forming cells in the skin, as a result of UV light from the sun
What percentage of human cancers are caused by virus infections?
15%
