B7 Non Communicable Disease Flashcards
How does Cancer occur?
Changes occur in the genes that tell cells when to divide, leading to uncontrolled growth and mitosis
What is a tumour?
An uncontrolled growth of cells
What are the 2 types of tumour?
Benign and Malignant
What is a Benign tumour?
Growths of abnormal cells found in one area, usually contained in a membrane - they stay in one place and don’t invade other body cells.
How are Malignant tumours different to Benign tumours?
They invade neighbouring tissue and move into the bloodstream.
- Malignant tumour cells are classed as a cancer, once
in the bloodstream the malignant tumour cells spread
to other parts of the body and form new tumours.
What do scientists call tumours made by tumour cells after being spread throughout the body?
Secondary tumours
What are some Cancers linked to genetics?
- Certain breast cancers
- Prostate cancer
- Large intestine cancer
What are some lifestyle risk factors for Cancer?
- Smoking can cause lung cancer
- Exposure to UV light can cause skin cancer
- Alcohol can cause mouth and throat cancer
How are certain cancers caused by substances in the environment, give an example.
Exposure to Radon can increase the risk of cancer, as Radon releases ionising radiation, which damages the DNA in our cells, causing cells to undergo uncontrolled cell division, causing Cancer.
Why can’t scientists carry out experiments on humans to determine the causes of non communicable diseases?
It’s unethical :(
What is epidemiology?
Studying the patterns of diseases to determine risk factors
What key fact must be remembered about correlation and causation?
Correlation doesn’t equal causation
What is a causal mechanism?
A scientific explanation as to why something happens
How can sampling be made more accurate?
Sample large numbers of people at random
What is a non communicable disease and give 3 examples
A disease that can’t be spread from person to person
e.g. Type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and some types of Cancer
Explain how diet can cause coronary heart disease
A diet high in fat and low in vegetables increases the levels of certain types of cholesterol in the blood, increases the rate that fatty materials build up in the arteries
What diseases/illnesses is poor diet linked to
- High fat - Coronary heart disease
- High salt - High blood pressure - increases risk of
developing cardiovascular illnesses
Give examples of diseases that smoking is a risk factor for
- Lung cancer
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Lung diseases e.g. emphysema & bronchitis
What are the chemicals in cigarette smoke that can trigger cancer called?
Carcinogens
What are the effects of smoking on an unborn baby?
- Can lead to miscarriages
- Can lead to baby being born with a low body mass
- Can lead to premature birth
What are the effects of drinking alcohol on an unborn baby?
-Can lead to “Fetal alcohol syndrome”
(Child has learning difficulties and other
mental/physical health problems)
Give examples of diseases that drinking is a risk factor for
- Liver cirrhosis
- Liver cancer
- Affects brain (addiction & memory loss)
- Obesity
What is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes?
Obesity
Give an example or how different risk factors can interact
e.g. Drinking alcohol can lead to obesity, which increases the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes
What is the difference between health and disease?
- Health is the state of physical and mental well-being
- Diseases are major causes of ill health
