non-communicable diseases Flashcards
bbc bitesize
alcohol
definition
A depressant that can be found in wines, spirits and beers. Also known as ethanol.
alloy
definition
An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal.
alveoli
definition
Tiny air sacs in the lungs, where gas is exchanged during breathing.
Alzheimer’s disease
definition
A disease in which the brain degenerates and short term memory is lost.
What are arteries?
Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
What is blood pressure?
The force of blood against the artery walls.
What are bronchioles?
The many small, branching tubules into which the bronchi subdivide.
bronchitis
definition
Inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles.
cancer
definition
A disease caused by normal cells changing so that they grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. The uncontrolled growth causes a lump called a tumour to form.
What is carbon monoxide?
Poisonous gas produced during incomplete combustion.
What does cardiovascular mean?
Relating to the heart and the blood vessels.
What is the cervix?
Ring of muscle at the lower end of the uterus.
chemotherapy
definition
The use of chemicals to treat cancer. The chemicals used are highly toxic to cells that divide rapidly.
cholesterol
definition
A type of lipid (fatty substance).
What is cirrhosis?
Scarring of the liver, which can be caused by alcoholism or hepatitis.
What is a clot?
A clump of platelets and blood cells that forms when a blood vessel is damaged.
What is COPD?
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the name to several lung diseases that restrict air flow in the lungs and cause breathing difficulties for a patient.
What does coronary mean?
Referring to the heart and the blood vessels which serve the heart tissues.
coronary heart disease
definition
A form of heart disease in which one or more of the coronary arteries become blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen.
correlation
definition
A relationship between two sets of data, such that when one set changes you would expect the other set to change as well.
diabetes
definition
A serious disease in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar.
What is a donor?
A person or organism providing an organ or tissue for transplant.
element
definition
A substance made of one type of atom only.
What is emphysema?
Disease in which the walls of the alveoli break down, reducing the surface area for gas exchange in the lungs.
epidemiology
definition
The study of the distribution and patterns of health and disease.
What is a heart attack?
When the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.
heart disease
definition
A wide range of conditions that affect the heart.
heart faliure
definition
A condition where the heart is failing to pump sufficient blood around the body at the appropriate pressure.
What is a heart transplant?
An operation to replace a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor.
What is hepatitis?
Inflammation or swelling of the liver, for example because of infection by a virus or drinking too much alcohol.
What is a histogram?
A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data.
immune system
definition
The body’s defence system against entry of any foreign body, including pathogens and agents such as pollen grains. The role of the immune system is to prevent disease.
immunosuppressant drug
definition
A type of drug that prevents a patient’s immune system from rejecting a transplant.
What is insulin?
A hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and can be produced by genetically modified bacteria.
ionising radiation
definition
Radiation that is able to remove electrons from atoms or molecules to produce positively charged particles called ions.
lipid
definition
Fat or oils, composed of fatty acids and glycerol.
What is the liver?
The large organ, beside the stomach, which has many functions, including processing substances absorbed by the digestive system and a role in the storage of the body’s carbohydrate.
monoclonal antibody
definition
Identical copies of an antibody produced by fusing a spleen cell with a cancerous white blood cell which can be designed to bind to many different substances.
mucus
definition
Slimy white protein, which lines the respiratory tract and alimentary canal.
neurological
meaning
To do with the nervous system.
What is nicotine?
The addictive substance found in tobacco and tobacco smoke.
non-communicable disease
definition
A disease that is not transferred between people or other organisms.
obesity
definition
The medical term for being very overweight, owing to the excessive accumulation of body fat.
organ
definition
A group of different tissues that work together to carry out a particular function, eg heart and lungs.
oxygen
definition
Gaseous element making up about 20% of the air, which is needed by living organisms for respiration.
palliative care
definition
Health care that focuses on relieving and preventing suffering, typically near the end of a patient’s life when they are terminally ill.
qualitative
definition
Results that are not expressed as numbers or numerical data, eg they can be expressed as present or absent, or as colours.
quantitative
definition
Results that can be expressed using numerical values.
radioactive
definition
When unstable atoms give off particles that can be harmful to humans.