Risk Factors

Question 1

What is a risk factor

Answer 1

An aspect of a persons lifestyle or a substance present in the persons body or environment that have been shown to be linked to an increased rate of disease.

Question 2

What is a casual mechanism

Answer 2

A proven link between a risk factor and disease

Question 3

What is a correlation

Answer 3

Relationship but not necessarily a cause

Question 4

What is smoking a risk factor for? Who is it a risk factor for in particular?

Answer 4

Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, COPD, cardiovascular disease.

Women who smoke during pregnancy are also at risk of premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth

Question 5

What chemicals does tobacco contain that can affect the body

Answer 5

Tar
Carbon monoxide
Nicotine

Question 6

What is COPD

Answer 6

A lung disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Question 7

What damage is caused by COPD

Answer 7

-damages the bronchioles, destroy alveoli

-airways inflamed, mucus builds up, patient becomes breathless, harder to obtain the oxygen required for respiration

-permanent

-cannot be cured, can result in death

-prevent progression

Question 8

How does smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Answer 8

-damages the lining of the arteries (including coronary), encourages built up of fatty material, could lead to heart attack or stroke

-inhaling carbon monoxide reduced the amount of oxygen carried by the blood

-nicotine increases the heart rate, strain on the heart

-chemicals increase risk of blood clotting, could have heart attack or stroke

Question 9

Name three risk factors other than smoking, what diseases do they cause?

Answer 9

Diet and exercise: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes

Alcohol: liver disease, liver cancer, changes to brain function, fetal alcohol syndrome

Ionising radiation: UV light ~> skin cancer