Non Communicable Diseases

Question 1

Coronary heart disease

Answer 1

Occurs when coronary arteries become narrowed by build up of layers of fatty material within them
Reduces flow of blood, leads to less oxygen for heart muscle, can lead to heart attacks

Question 2

Treating cardiovascular disease: stent

Answer 2

Inserted into blocked coronary arteries to keep them open
Advantages: widens artery allows more blood to flow so more oxygen supplied to heart, less serious injury
Disadvantages: can involve major surgery- risk of infection, blood loss, blood clots, damage to blood vessels
Risks from anaesthetic used during surgery

Question 3

Treating cardiovascular disease: statins

Answer 3

Drugs that reduce blood cholesterol levels slowing down deposit of fatty material in arteries
Advantages: effective, no surgery, can prevent CHD from developing
Disadvantages: side effects- muscle pain, headaches, sickness
Can’t cure CHD so tablets must be taken for many years

Question 4

Treating cardiovascular diseases: replace faulty heart valves

Answer 4

Heart valves that leak or don’t open fully preventing control of blood flow through heart can be replaced with biological or mechanical valves
Advantages: allows control of blood flow through heart, long term cure for faulty heart valves
Disadvantages: involve major surgery- risk of infection, blood loss, blood clots, damage to blood vessels
Risk of anaesthetics used during surgery

Question 5

Treating cardiovascular disease: transplants

Answer 5

If heart fails a donor heart can be transplanted Artificial hearts can be used to keep patients alive whilst waiting for heart transplant
Advantages: long term cure for most serious heart conditions, treats problems that can’t be treated in other ways
Disadvantages: transplant may be rejected, lengthy process, major surgery, risk of anaesthetic used in surgery

Question 6

Risk factors (lifestyle)- diet and amount of exercise

Answer 6

Disease: type 2 diabetes
Effect: body doesn’t respond properly to production of insulin so blood glucose levels can’t be controlled
Disease: cardiovascular disease
Effect: increases blood cholesterol levels can lead to CHD

Question 7

Risk factor (lifestyle) : alcohol

Answer 7

Disease: impaired liver function
Effect: causes liver scarring meaning liver can’t remove toxins from body or produce sufficient bile
Disease: impaired brain function
Effect: damages brain, causes anxiety and depression
Disease: affected development of unborn babies
Effect: alcohol passes through placenta risking miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects

Question 8

Risk factor (lifestyle): smoking

Answer 8

Disease: lung disease and cancers
Effect: cigarettes contain carcinogens causes cancer
Disease: affected development of unborn babies
Effect: chemical can pass through placenta risking premature births and birth defects

Question 9

Risk factor(lifestyle): carcinogens such as ionising radiation and genetic risk factors

Answer 9

Disease: cancers
Effect: tar in cigarettes and ultraviolet rays from sun cause cancer
Genetic factors make individual more likely to develop certain cancers

Question 10

Cancer

Answer 10

Result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division by mitosis
Rapid division of abnormal cells can form tumours

Question 11

Malignant tumour
Benign tumour

Answer 11

Malignant: Cancerous tumours that invade neighbouring tissues and spread to other parts of the body in blood forming secondary tumours
Benign: non cancerous tumours that don’t spread in the body