Chapter B7- Non-communicable Diseases Flashcards
What are risk factors for disease?
Aspects of your lifestyle- smoking, lack of exercise, overeating
Substances that are present in the environment or in your body such as ionising radiation, UV light, second hand tobacco smoke
Genes you inherit
Age
What are carcinogens?
Agents that cause cancer or significantly increase the risk of cancer
What is a causal mechanism?
Explains how one factor may influence another through a biological process
Give an example of a causal mechanism
Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer as carcinogens are taken into your lungs
What are impacts of non communicable diseases?
Human impact- impact on individual or on family members
Financial cost- individual may not be able to work
What is a tumour?
A mass of abnormally growing cells that forms when the cells do not respond to the normal mechanisms that control growth, and when the cell cycle has lost control
What is a benign tumour?
Growth of abnormal cells, contained in one place, but does not invade other parts of the body
Are benign tumours dangerous?
Yes, as they can cause pressure on your organs, for example, benign rumours on the brain as there is no space for them to grow
What are malignant tumours?
Growth of abnormal cells that can spread around the body invading healthy neighbour tissues. This is often referred to as cancer
How does a malignant tumour spread?
The initial tumour may split up, releasing small clumps of cells into the bloodstream, which circulate, and spread to others organs. They continue their uncontrolled division and form secondary tumours
What are traits of cancer cells?
Divide more rapidly than normal cells
Live longer than normal cells
What are the causes of cancer?
Genetic risk factors
Mutations due to chemicals- such as asbestos and tar found in tobacco
Ionising radiation- UV light and X-rays, can interrupt the cell cycle, causing tumours to grow
Virus infections- HPV causes cervical cancer
How do we treat cancer?
Radiotherapy- cancer cells are destroyed by targeted dosages of radiation
Chemotherapy- chemicals are used to stop the cells dividing or make them self destruct
Why is cancer hard to treat?
Due to the way cancer spreads through your body
What is a problem of radiotherapy?
Can damage healthy cells
How many smokers are there world wide?
1.1 billion smokers
What is the addictive drug in cigarettes?
Nicotine
Is nicotine harmful?
It is relatively harmless, however it is addictive which causes smokers to continue smoking the other harmful substances
What is a poisonous gas found in tobacco smoke?
Carbon monoxide- takes up some of the oxygen carrying capacity in your blood
What does smoking during pregnancy cause?
lack of oxygen to the foetus- Can lead to premature births, low birthweight babies and still births
What effect does tobacco smoke have on cilia?
Causes it to be anaesthetised, allowing dirt and pathogens into the lungs and increasing risk of infections
What toxic chemical accumulates in your lungs due to smoking?
Tar- turns lungs from pink to grey
What effects does tar have on the lungs?
More likely to have bronchitis ( infection of the bronchus)
Breakdown to the alveoli structure (this causes the surface area of the alveoli to decrease, leading to severe breathlessness and eventual death)
Is a carcinogen- acts on delicate cells of the lungs and others in the breathing system- pharynx, larynx, trachea
How does smoking affect the heart?
Smokers are more likely to suffer cardiovascular systems
Smoking narrows the blood vessels in your skin, ageing it
Nicotine makes the heart rate increase whilst other chemicals damage the lining of the arteries
Increases risk of clot formation
Increase in blood pressure
Increases risk of heart attacks and strokes
