B7 - Non-communicable diseases Flashcards
Read BBC Bitesize pages on this for the graph analysis
What is a non-communicable disease
A non - infectious disease that affects people due to their genetics, lifestyle, age or environment
Factors that affect health
- Diet
- Stress
- Fitness levels
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- exposure to radiation
Examples of how diseases can interact
- Ill physical health can affect mental health
- Viruses can trigger cancer in cells
- Defects in the immune system leaves people more susceptible to infection
Difference between correlation and causation
- Correlation - a pattern between two different variables
- Causation - biologically proving how a factor directly causes a disease
Impacts of disease
- Loss of earnings if person can’t work
- Healthcare costs + strains
- Economy suffers
- National problem of treating illness
Causal mechanisms that have been proved for risk factors
- Obesity + type 2 diabetes
- Carcinogens + cancer
- Smoking + lung disease
- Exercise + cardiovascular health
Defenition of cancer
Mutations in the DNA which causes uncontrolled cell growth and division
What is a benign tumour and problems with one
- A slow growth of abnormal cells contained in one area, usually within a membrane
- They don’t spread but can put pressure on body parts
Describe what happens with malignant tumours
- They grow quickly and spread around the body invading other tissues (cancer)
- The small fragments travel through the blood
- These fragments settle and can form secondary tumours
Causes/risk factors for cancer
- Viral infections (HPV)
- Ionising radiation (radon + UV)
- Carcinogens
- Genetic disposition
Different treatments for cancer
- Radiotherapy - focuses dose of radiation
- Chemotherapy - chemicals that kill rapidly dividing cells
What is nicotine
Nicotine is an addictive drug in cigarettes that gives a feeling of calmness
What is carbon monoxide
- A poisonous gas in cigarattes
- This binds to haemoglobin instead of oxygen
- Leaves smokers breathless
Risks associated with smoking whilst pregnant
- Premature births
- Still births
- Low birth weight
Cased by carbon moxoide causing a lack of oxygen getting to baby
How does smoking affect the cilia and lungs
- Chemical anaesthesise cilia stopping them working
- Mucus builds up and dirt gets into lungs
- Increases risk of lung infection
