Chapter 5 - Health And Disease - Non-communicble Diseases Flashcards
What is a non-communicable disease?
A disease that can’t be caught/spread between people
Why is blood in the arteries under pressure?
Because of the contraction of heart muscles, and so that it reaches all parts of the body
What are some factors that decrease blood pressure?
~ regular exercise
~ balanced diet
What are some factors that increase blood pressure?
~ being overweight
~ stress
~ high alcohol intake
~ smoking
What are veins?
Blood vessels returning blood to the heart
What are arteries?
Blood vessels taking blood away from the heart
What does systolic mean?
Heart contracts, blood pressure rises, blood moves out along vessels (arteries)
What does diastolic mean?
Heart relaxes, blood pressure falls, blood fills heart (veins)
What are the two types of thins that cause strokes?
Rupture or a blockage
Describe how a rupture causes a stroke:
A blood vessel supplying the brain bursts (haemorrhage) due to high blood pressure. This leads to damage of brain cells - oxygen/blood can’t get to them
Describe how a blockage causes a stroke:
An artery supplying the brain becomes blocked with cholesterol or blood clot (thrombosis). Brain cells don’t receive enough oxygen and are damaged - can affect movement
What is cholesterol?
A type of lipid - fatty substance
What can high blood pressure cause? (Greater than 140/90 - normal = 120/80)
~ stroke
~ heart attack
~ kidney damage
What can low blood pressure cause? (Less than 90/60 - normal = 120/80)
~ dizziness
~ fainting
~ poor circulation
What is tar?
A chemical sludge of carcinogenic and other poisonous substances
What is carbon monoxide?
Produced when things don’t burn properly - stops oxygen getting into your blood
What is nicotine?
Addictive chemical in cigarettes - increases heart rate and stimulates brain
What is the (basal) metabolic rate?
The rate at which our bodies tick over. It gets set at birth and has effect on the amount of energy your body uses at rest
What type of disease is alcoholic liver cirrhosis and why?
Non-communicable disease because it cannot be passed from person to person
What is the function of the liver?
To break down toxic substances including alcohol - therefore is likely to be damaged by alcohol
