risk factors for non-communicable diseases Flashcards
risk factor
something that increases the chance of developing a disease
what can risk factors be?
-aspects of a person’s lifestyle
-substances in the person’s body or environment
why are non-communicable diseases more common in developed countries?
more common as people generally have a higher income and can buy high-fat food, it is also more readily available
why is the risk of CHD, obesity and diabetes more in deprived areas of UK?
-more likely to smoke, have a poor diet and not exercise
smoking
-nicotine increases heart rate, which can cause cardiovascular disease
-lung disease and lung cancer
-damages walls of arteries and the cells in lining, increase blood pressure
-tar in tobacco can damage alveoli of lungs, and damage cells which line the lungs leading to lung cancer
obesity
-cause type 2 diabetes by making body less sensitive or resistant to insulin, meaning it struggles to control concentration of glucose
alcohol
-cause liver disease as liver breaks down alcohol but reaction can damage its cells
-liver cells may also be damaged when toxic chemicals leak from gut due to damage to intestines by alcohol causing liver cancer
-alcohol can affect brain function as damage nerve cells
smoking/drinking when pregnant
-carbon monoxide from smoking reduces amount of oxygen the baby receives and cause lots of health problems for the unborn baby, or even premature and still births
-alcohol passes across placenta and can damage baby’s cells, affecting development
carcinogens
things that cause cancer
e.g ionising radiation
correlations of risk factors
-don’t always cause disease but related to another risk factor that does
-e.g lack of exercise and high fat diet link to increased chance of cardiovascular disease but high blood pressure and LDL levels actually cause it
diet
high levels of LDL cholesterol causes arteries to become blocked, increasing blood pressure and risk of heart attack
exercise
lowers blood pressure, reducing strain on heart
