4.2.2.6 The Effect of Lifestyle on some Non-comminucable Diseases

Question 1

What are risk factors?

Answer 1

• things that are linked to an increase in the likelihood that a person will develop a certain disease

Question 2

What are examples of risk factors?

Answer 2

• often aspects of someone’s lifestyle (like how much exercise they do)
• presence of certain substances in environment (air pollution)
• substances in body (abestos fibres)

Question 3

What can lifestyle factors have different impacts on?

Answer 3

• locally (individual choices affect local)
• nationally (developed countries can buy high-fat food)
• globally (deprived areas are more likely to smoke and not exercise)

Question 4

What are some risk factors that directly cause a disease?

Answer 4

• smoking
• obesity
• too much alcohol intake
• smoking when pregnant
• exposure to some substances/radiation
• some are heavily linked but no direct cause

Question 5

How does smoking directly cause a disease?

Answer 5

• damages walls of arteries and cells in lining of lung
• leads to cardiovascular disease, lung disease/cancer

Question 6

How does obesity directly cause a disease?

Answer 6

• makes body less sensitive/resistant to insulin meaning it struggles to control concentration of glucose in blood
• leads to Type 2 diabetes

Question 7

How does too much alcohol intake directly cause a disease?

Answer 7

• damages nerve cells in brain, causing brain to lose volume
• leads to liver disease, lack of brain function

Question 8

How does smoking/drinking when pregnant directly cause a disease?

Answer 8

• leads to lots of health problems for baby

Question 9

How does exposure to some substances/radiation directly cause a disease?

Answer 9

• carcinogens (something that causes cancer)
• ionising radiation
• leads to cancer

Question 10

What is the human cost of non-communicable diseases?

Answer 10

• millions die from them per year
• lower quality of life
• shorter lifespan

Question 11

What is the financial cost of non-communicable diseases?

Answer 11

• cost to the NHS and other health services for research and treatment
• have to give up work or die, leading to family income decrease
• reduction in number of working people, affects country’s economy