health Flashcards
What is health?
Health is the state of physical and mental wellbeing
What is a communicable disease?
A disease caused by a pathogen which can be transmitted from one person to another eg. the flu.
What is a non-communicable disease?
A disease which can not be transmitted from person to person eg. cancer.
How can diet affect health?
● Too little food / lack of nutrition - anaemia, vitamin deficiencies.
● Too much food / too much unhealthy food - obesity, type 2 diabetes.
How can stress affect health?
Prolonged stress is linked to a wide range of health problems including heart diseases, cancers and mental health issues.
Give examples of how health problems can interact
● Infection with certain viruses can lead to cancer eg. hepatitis infections can lead to liver cancer.
● A compromised immune system (eg. due to cancer) can lead to a higher risk of infection with communicable diseases.
● Immune reactions caused by a pathogen can trigger allergic reactions.
● Problems with physical health can lead to mental health issues.
What is a risk factor?
A risk factor is an aspect of a person’s lifestyle or a substance found in the body or the environment which can increase the risk of a disease.
What is a causal mechanism?
A mechanism which demonstrates how one factor biologically influences another.
How do diet, smoking and exercise affect the development of cardiovascular disease
● Diet: high levels of LDL cholesterol causes arteries to
become blocked, increasing blood pressure and the risk of a heart attack.
● Smoking: nicotine increases heart rate; other chemicals damage the artery lining and increase blood pressure.
● Exercise: lowers blood pressure, reducing strain on the heart.
How does obesity affect the development of Type 2 diabetes?
● Obesity is strongly linked with the onset of type 2 diabetes - a disease in which the body stops responding to insulin.
How does alcohol affect liver and brain function?
● Excessive long-term alcohol use may lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
● Increases risk of liver cancer.
● Damages brain tissue and nerve cells.
How does smoking affect the development of lung disease and lung cancer?
● Tar in tobacco can damage the alveoli of the lungs, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
● Tar also damages the cells which line the lungs, leading to lung cancer.
How do smoking and alcohol affect unborn babies?
● Carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke reduces the
amount of oxygen the foetus receives, which can lead
to premature birth or stillbirth.
● Alcohol passes across the placenta and damages the
developing foetus. Once born, the baby may have a
number of deformities and health problems as part of
foetal alcohol syndrome.
How do carcinogens affect the development of cancer?
Ionising radiation is a type of carcinogen which can cause mutations in DNA, potentially leading to cancer.
What is cancer?
Cancer is the development of a tumour as a result of uncontrolled cell division.
