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Biology Topic 1 > Health risk factors > Flashcards

Health risk factors Flashcards

1
Q

What factors contribute to health risks?

A

• Age
• Heredity
• Physical environment
• Social environment
• Lifestyle and behaviour choices

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2
Q

What are risk factors for CVD?

A

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Blood cholesterol and other dietary factors
• Smoking
• Inactivity
• Genetic inheritance

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3
Q

What is the basal metabolic rate (BMR)?

A

The energy needed to maintain your essential body processes such as the pumping of the heart, breathing and maintaining a constant body temp. These processes go on all the time, even at complete rest.

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4
Q

What type of people have a higher BMR?

A

• Males
• Heavier people
• Younger people
• More active people

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5
Q

What is a negative energy balance?

A

If you eat fewer kilojoules per day than you use

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6
Q

How does a negative energy balance affect the body?

A

Energy stored in the body will be used to meet the demand. A regular shortfall in energy intake will result in weight loss.

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7
Q

What is a positive energy balance?

A

If you routinely eat more energy than you use

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8
Q

How does a positive energy balance affect the body?

A

The additional energy will be stored and you will put on weight

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9
Q

What is body mass index (BMI) used for?

A

Classifying body weight relative to a persons height

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10
Q

How is BMI calculated?

A

BMI = body mass (kg) / height^2 (m^2)

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11
Q

What is the BMI of an underweight and overweight person?

A

Underweight = <18.5
Overweight = 25<

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12
Q

What is waist-to-hip ratio used for?

A

A better measure of obesity than BMI and shows a highly significant association with risk of heart attack

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13
Q

What were the results of the INTERHEART study? (BMI and waist-to-hip ratio)

A

BMIs in men and women who had previously had a heart attack were only slightly higher than those of the control group. However, their waist-to-hip ratios were much higher than the control groups.

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14
Q

What correlation is there between waist-to-hip ratio and heart attacks?

A

There is a continuous positive correlation between waist-to-hip ratio and heart attack

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15
Q

How is waist-to-hip ratio calculated?

A

Waist-to-hip ratio = waist circumference / hip circumference

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16
Q

What are the consequences of obesity?

A

• Increases your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
• Increase your risk of type II diabetes which in turn increase your risk of CHD and stroke
• Increase your blood pressure and blood lipid levels

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17
Q

How is cholesterol transported in the bloodstream?

A

Cholesterol is insoluble so it is combined with proteins to form soluble lipoproteins

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18
Q

What are the two major transport lipoproteins?

A

• Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs)
• High-density lipoproteins (HDLs)

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19
Q

How are LDLs formed?

A

Triglycerides from fats in our diet combine with cholesterol and protein

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20
Q

What do LDLs do?

A

They transport the cholesterol to body cells

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21
Q

How do LDLs transport cholesterol?

A

LDLs circulate in the bloodstream and bind to receptor sites on cell membranes before being taken up by cells

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22
Q

What do excess LDLs do?

A

Overload these membrane receptors, resulting in high blood cholesterol levels. This LDL cholesterol may be deposited in the artery walls forming atheromas.

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23
Q

How are HDLs different from LDLs?

A

HDLs have a higher percentage of protein and less cholesterol compared with LDLs

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24
Q

How are HDLs made?

A

When triglycerides from fats combine with cholesterol and protein

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25
What do HDLs do?
They transport cholesterol from the body tissues to the liver where it is broken down. This lowers blood cholesterol levels and helps remove the fatty plaques of atherosclerosis.
26
What does saturated fat in the diet increase and reduce?
Increases LDL and HDL cholesterol, however, the increase in LDL cholesterol is greater. Also reduces the activity of LDL receptors so LDLs are not removed from blood.
27
What will eating a low-fat diet that avoids saturated fats do?
It will help reduce total blood cholesterol, and especially LDL cholesterol, which increases risk of CVD
28
What will eating a low-fat diet that avoids saturated fats do?
It will help reduce total blood cholesterol, and especially LDL cholesterol, which increases risk of CVD
29
How does carbon monoxide affect the circulatory system?
It binds to the haemoglobin instead of oxygen which reduces the supply of oxygen to cells. This will result in an increased heart rate as the body reacts to provide enough oxygen for cells.
30
How does nicotine affect the circulatory system?
It stimulates the production of the hormone adrenaline. This hormone causes an increased heart rate and also causes arteries to constrict, both of which raise blood pressure.
31
How do chemicals in smoke affect the circulatory system?
They can cause damage to the lining of the arteries, triggering atherosclerosis
32
How does exercise affect the circulatory system?
Moderate excessive helps prevent high blood pressure and can help to lower it. It also raises HDL cholesterol without affecting LDL levels.
33
What is apolipoprotein A?
The major protein in HDL, which helps in the removal of cholesterol to the liver for excretion.
34
What will a mutation of APOA result in?
Mutations of APOA are associated with low HDL levels and reduced removal of cholesterol from the blood, leading to increased risk of CHD.
35
What is apolipoprotein B?
The main protein in LDL, the molecule that transfers cholesterol from the blood to cells.
36
What will a mutation in APOB result in?
Mutations of APOB gene result in higher levels of LDL in the blood and a higher susceptibility to CVD.
37
What is apolipoprotein E?
A major component of HDLs and very low density lipoproteins, which are also involved in removal of excess cholesterol from the blood to the liver.
38
What will a mutation of APOE result in?
APOE4 slows the removal of cholesterol from the blood and therefore having the E4 allele may increase the risk of CHD.
39
What are other risk factors of CVD?
The role of antioxidants Salt Stress Alcohol Coffee
40
How is the role of antioxidants a risk factor?
High levels of antioxidants seemed to protect against heart disease
41
How is salt a risk factor?
A high salt diet causes the kidneys to retain water. Higher fluid levels in the blood result in elevated blood pressure with the associated CVD risks.
42
How is stress a risk factor?
In stressful situations the release of adrenaline causes arteries and arteriolar to constrict, resulting in raised blood pressure
43
How is alcohol a risk factor?
Heavy drinking raises blood pressure, contributes to obesity and can cause irregular heartbeat. Also, excess alcohol consumption can result in direct tissue damage.
44
How is coffee a risk factor?
Some studies suggest coffee increased CVD risk but others suggest moderate consumption may have health benefits
45
What ways can you reduce the risk of CVD?
- Stopping smoking - Maintaining resting bp below 140/85 mmHg - Maintaining low blood cholesterol level - Maintaining a normal BMI - Regular physical exercise - Moderate use of alcohol
46
What are the 3 main types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure?
- ACE inhibitors - Calcium channel blockers - Diuretics
47
What do ACE inhibitors do?
They prevent the hormone being produced from the inactive angiotensin I, therefore reducing vasoconstriction and lowering blood pressure
48
What are problems with taking ACE inhibitors?
Side effects including a dry cough, dizziness, abnormal heart rhythm and a reduction in the function of the kidney
49
What do calcium channel blockers do?
They block the calcium channels in the muscle cells in the lining of arteries
50
How do calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure?
For muscles to contract, calcium must pass through these channels into muscle cells. Failure of calcium to enter the cell prevents contraction of the muscle and blood vessels do not constrict.
51
What are problems with taking calcium channel blockers?
Side effects including headaches, dizziness, swollen ankles, abnormal heart rhythms and flushing red in the face
52
What do diuretics do?
They increase the volume of urine produced by kidneys and therefore rid the body of excess fluids and salt. This leads to a decrease in blood plasma volume and cardiac output.
53
What are problems with taking diuretics?
Side effects including dizziness, nausea or muscle cramps
54
What is the main type of drug that lowers cholesterol levels?
Statins
55
How do statins work?
By inhibiting an enzyme involved in the production of LDL cholesterol by the liver
56
What are problems with taking statins?
Side effects including tiredness, disturbed sleep, feeling sick, vomiting or headaches. They can also increase the risk of developing particular cancers.
57
What will a diet that offers protection against CVD include?
- Reduced saturated fat - More polyunsaturated fats - Reduced cholesterol - Reduced salt - More non starch polysaccharides - Includes oily fish - More fruit and veg
58
What are the 3 types of drugs that prevent formation of a blood clot in an artery?
- Platelet inhibitory drugs - Anticoagulant drugs - Aspirin
59
What does aspirin do?
Reduces the stickiness of platelets and the likelihood of clot formation
60
What are the problems with taking aspirin?
Some people are allergic or there is a high risk of serious bleeding. This risk may outweigh the benefits.
61
How do anticoagulant drugs (warfarin) work?
Warfarin interferes with the production of vitamin K and therefore it affects the synthesis of clotting factors.
62
What are the problems with taking anticoagulant drugs?
The benefits may be greater than with aspirin for some patients but the risk of bleeding is higher than with aspirin

Biology Topic 1 (10 decks)

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