Lifestyle factors and respiratory disease

Question 1

The common cold and its effects

Answer 1

It is the most common URI, caused by over 200 viruses.

Has a very massive economic impact on society.

UTIs account for 50% of all acute illnesses- major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Question 2

Being cold and developing the cold

Answer 2

There isn’t a simple cause-effect link between them.

Could be because reflex vasoconstriction in nose and upper airways inhibits respiratory defence.

Question 3

Sleep and developing the cold

Answer 3

Sleep quality may be an important predictor of immunity.

Sleep duration and efficiency may affect development of a cold.

Question 4

Vitamin C (megadose) and its effects on the cold:
Incidence
Duration

Answer 4

Incidence:
Does not reduce incidence significantly in the general public- but it does in those who are under a lot of physical stress (i.e athletes)

In prophylaxis for cold duration it decreased significantly in child and adults.

Did not decrease significantly for therapy.

Question 5

Effects of echinacea and the cold:
Prophylaxis and incidence
Prophylaxis and duration

Answer 5

Showed 10-20% reduction in incidence in pooled results but not individual trials.

No significant effect on the duration of the cold.

Question 6

Stress and risk of the common cold

Answer 6

Chronic stress linked with developing cold (stress >1 month)
Especially interpersonal stress.

Chronic stress AND smoking increases risk of developing a cold significantly.

Other risks:
Smoking
Lack of exercise 
Poor sleep
Increased alcohol

Question 7

Sociability and risk of developing colds

Answer 7

Low sociability saw increase in development of cold.

Those of higher Socioeconomic class have less prevalence of colds.
- Poorer sleep and health behaviours seen in those with lower SES

Question 8

Hand washing and the risk of respiratory infections

Answer 8

Reduces risk respiratory infections.

Increase in usage of other interventions like alcohol gel dispensers also decreases incidence.

Question 9

Physical aspects that influence the onset of asthma

Answer 9

Genetic vulnerability

Question 10

Demographic factors that influence the onset of asthma

Answer 10

Age- seen in younger people.

Sex- more common in men

SES- more common in lower SES

Ethnic minority

Young maternal age

Question 11

Lifestyle factors that influence the asthmatic onset and episodes

Answer 11

Onset:
Maternal smoking during pregnancy.

Maternal anxiety

Smoking at home

Violence at home.

Episodes:
Smoke
Pollution
Intense exercise

Question 12

Physical factors that influence asthmatic episoders

Answer 12

Allergens

Food allergies

Chest infections

Chemical fumes

Cold weather.

Question 13

Psychosocial factors in asthma

Answer 13

Asthma symptoms exacerbated by stress- since stress affects immune system, this may be the correlation.

Underlying RTI can be exacerbated by acute stress and cause asthma.

Dysregulation of cortisol response to stress may be important in chronic asthma.

Anxiety disorders= worse asthma symptoms

Asthmatics are not good at monitoring minor symptoms.

Question 14

Smoking cessation methods

Answer 14

Nicotine replacement

Bupropion

Smoking cessation group

Education

Buddy systems

Hypnotherapy

Self-helf

Question 15

NHS smoking cessation programmes evaluation

Answer 15

They are effective in stopping smokers quit in the short and long term.

Group interventions and buddy systems more effective than one-on-one

For relapse and recovery, the strongest interventions focused on identifying and managing tempting situations.