2.13 Risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases Flashcards
What is a risk factor?
Things that increase a person’s chance of getting that disease.
What are three examples of non-communicable diseases?
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancer
What are the two categories that risk factors fall into?
- Lifestyle
- Environment
Give an example of how environment can increase a person’s chance of getting a particular disease
A person’s work may mean they are more exposed to certain pollutants in the air, which could increase the risk of getting lung cancer.
Describe how exercise can affect the risk of non-communicable diseases (2)
1) Exercise increases the amount of energy used by the body and decreases the amount of stored body fat. It also builds muscle, which helps to boost your metabolic rate - a higher metabolic rate rate means that energy from your food is used more quickly. So people who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer from health problems such as obesity and CVD.
2) A lack of exercise increases the risk of CVD because it increases blood pressure.
Describe the importance of diet when minimising risk of non-communicable diseases (4)
1) Eating too much can lead to obesity. Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and CVD. It’s also a risk factor for some cancers.
2) Too much saturated fat in your diet can increase your blood cholesterol level. Too much of a certain type of cholesterol (known as ‘bad’ or LDL cholesterol) in the blood can cause fatty deposits to form on the inside wall of arteries, which can lead to coronary heart disease.
3) Eating too little can also cause problems. Malnutrition caused by a lack of food can lead to issues such as fatigue and poor resistance to infection. Some diseases (called deficiency diseases) can be caused by a lack of certain vitamins or minerals. E.g. scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C - it leads to problems with the skin, joints and gums.
4) However, eating a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables can reduce your risk of getting many non-communicable diseases, such as CVD and obesity.
Describe how alcohol increases the risk of getting non-communicable diseases (3)
1) Alcohol is poisonous. It’s broken down by enzymes in the liver and some of the products are toxic. If you drink too much alcohol over a long period of time these toxic products can cause the death of liver cells, forming scar tissue that stops blood reaching the liver - this is called cirrhosis.
2) Drinking too much alcohol increases blood pressure which can lead to CVD.
3) Many cancers including those of the mouth, throat, bowels and liver have all been linked to alcohol consumption because the toxic products damage DNA and cause cells to divide faster than normal.
Describe how smoking increases the risk of getting non-communicable diseases (4)
Burning cigarettes produces nicotine, which is what makes smoking addictive. They also produce carbon monoxide, tar, and particulates - which can all cause illness and other problems. E.g.
1) CVD - carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. If the cardiac muscle doesn’t receive enough oxygen it can lead to a heart attack. Nicotine increases heart rate. The heart contracts more often, increasing blood pressure, which also increases the risk of CVD.
2) Lung, throat, mouth and oesophageal cancer - tar from cigarette smoke is full of toxic chemicals, some of which are carcinogens (cause cancer). Carcinogens make mutations in the DNA more likely, which can lead to uncontrolled cell division.
3) Lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis - cigarette smoke can cause inflammation of the lining of the bronchi and bronchioles (tubes in the lungs), which can result in permanent damage. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a persistent cough and breathing problems.
4) Smoking when pregnant can cause lots of health problems for the unborn baby.
Describe how global factors cause different trends in the risk of getting non-communicable diseases (3)
Non-communicable diseases are more common in developed countries, where people generally have a higher income than in developing countries. However, these diseases are now becoming much more common in developing countries too. Different lifestyle factors contribute to these trends, but a lot of it is to do with income. For example:
- Lack of exercise and higher alcohol consumption is associated with higher income.
- Smoking varies massively between countries, but smoking-related deaths are more common in poorer countries.
- In both developed and developing countries, obesity is associated with high incomes as people are able to afford lots of high-fat food. However, obesity is now associated with lower incomes too, as people are eating cheaper, less healthy foods.
Describe how different lifestyle factors affect the risk of getting non-communicable diseases in the UK
Non-communicable diseases are the biggest cause of death in the UK. However, there are differences across the country. For example,
- People from deprived areas are much more likely to smoke, have a poor diet, and not take part in physical activity than those who are better off financially. This means that the incidence of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancers is higher in those areas. People from deprived areas are also more likely to suffer from alcohol-related disorders.
Smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2)
COPD is a lung disease characterised by irreversible lung damage and an obstructed airway. People suffering from COPD often find it very difficult to breathe. Smoking is the primary risk factor associated with COPD and the risk increases with the duration and intensity of smoking.
- COPD is actually used to refer to two different illnesses. However, people with COPD with often (but not always) have both of these diseases:
1) Bronchitis - inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles, leading to increased mucus production and coughing.
2) Emphysema - damage to the alveoli walls, leading to fewer larger alveoli, instead of many smaller ones. This reduces the surface area available for gas exchange.
What is bronchitis?
Inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles, leading to increased mucus production and coughing
What is Emphysema?
Damage to the alveoli walls, leading to fewer larger alveoli, instead of many smaller ones. This reduces the surface area available for gas exchange.
Risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) - (4)
- A lack of exercise
- Eating a diet containing too much saturated fat
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
Whether a person develops diabetes can be linked to their diet. Explain why eating too much food might lead to a person developing type 2 diabetes. (2m)
Eating too much may lead to obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
