B7 - Non Communicable Disease

Question 1

What is a ‘communicable’ disease?

Answer 1

Diseases that are infectious - can be transmitted from one person to another.

Question 2

What is a ‘non-communicable’ disease?

Answer 2

Diseases that cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

Question 3

Both communicable and non-communicable diseases can be affected by a range of other factors, including…

Answer 3

• Diet
• Lifestyle factors such as alcohol and other drugs
• Stress
• Situations that may occur in a person’s life
• Genetics
• UV radiation
• Education
• Financial status

Question 4

Any factor that increases the risk of someone getting a disease is called a ___ factor.

Answer 4

Risk factor

Question 5

Some risk factors have been identified as causing a disease. This is described as ___

Answer 5

Causation

Question 6

Some risk factors are known to be linked to a particular disease, but do not actually cause the disease. These risk factors are described as showing a ___

Answer 6

Correlation

Question 7

What causes a tumour to form?

Answer 7

Some tumours are caused by communicable diseases (e.g. agrobacterium tumefaciens and human papilloma virus (HPV)

Question 8

What is a benign tumour?

Answer 8

Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells contained in one place, usually within a membrane.

Question 9

What is a malignant tumour?

Answer 9

Malignant tumour cells can spread around the body, invading neighbouring healthy tissues. A malignant tumour cell is often referred to as cancer.

Question 10

What are some causes of cancer?

Answer 10

• There are clear genetic risk factors for some cancers including early breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• Most cancers are the result of mutations - changes in the genetic material. Chemicals such as asbestos and the tar found in tobacco smoke can cause mutations that trigger the formation of tumours. These cancer-causing agents are called carcinogens.
• Ionising radiation, such as UV light and X-rays, can also interrupt the normal cell cycle and cause tumours to form. For example, melanomas appear when there is uncontrolled growth of pigment-forming cells in the skin as a result of exposure to UV light from the sun.

Question 11

What are the main ways of treating cancer?

Answer 11

• Radiotherapy, when the cancer cells are destroyed by targeted doses of radiation. This stops mitosis in the cancer cells but can also damage healthy cells. Methods of delivering different types of radiation in very targeted ways are improving cure rates.
• Chemotherapy, where chemicals are used to either stop the cancer cells diving or to make them ‘self-destruct’. There are many different types of chemotherapy and scientists are working to make them as specific to cancer cells as possible.

Question 12

What is a carcinogen?

Answer 12

Chemicals and other agents that can cause cancer.

Question 13

What is the main carcinogen in cigarette smoke?

Answer 13

Tar

Question 14

How does smoking affect the cardiovascular system?

Answer 14

Inhalation of carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the amountof oxygen that can be carried by the blood.

The noctine in cigarette smoke increases the heart rate, putting strain on the heart.

Chemicals in cigarette smoke increase the likelihood of the blood clotting, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Question 15

What are the effects of smoking on babies?

Answer 15

• Increases the risk of miscarriage
• The babies and children are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections and increased risk of asthma
• Long term physical growth and intellectual development is stunted
• Increased risk of birth defects
• Birthweight of your baby is reduced