Unit 2 - Health issues + correlating risk factors Flashcards
State two types of diseases
Diseases, both communicable and non-communicable
Give an example of communicable diseases
measles
State the differences between communicable and non-communicable diseases
Communicable diseases are spread by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.
Non-communicable diseases cannot be passed from person to person e.g. coronary heart disease
Define health
Health is the state of physical and mental well-being.
What can ill health be caused by
Ill health can be caused by communicable and non-communicable diseases
Apart from diseases what can have an effect on both physical and mental health and cause ill health
Other factors including diet, stress and life situations e.g. working with harmful chemicals
may have a profound effect on both physical and mental health and cause ill health
Give examples on non-communicable diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (includes CHD)
Type 2 diabetes
Most types of cancer
Coronary Heart Disease
Stroke
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD)
Autoimmune diseases
Skin cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes
Explain how different types of diseases can interact
Defects in the immune system mean that an individual is more likely
to suffer from infectious diseases.
- Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers.
- Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies
such as skin rashes and asthma. - Severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other mental
illness.
Describe how we can determine whether a risk factor is linked to a non-communicable disease
Scientists look very closely at people’s lifestyle habits to see if they could link any of these with a disease
Define epidemiology
Studying the patterns of disease to determine risk factors is called epidemiology
What does correlation not prove
Correlation does not prove cause.
A graph that shows the risk of developing lung cancer and the number of cigarettes smoked per day does not prove that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. It simply suggests that they might be linked
Define causal mechanism
A causal mechanism is something that explains how one factor influences another
Define risk factor
Risk factors are aspects of a person’s lifestyle, or substances present in a person’s body or environment, that have been shown to be linked to an increased rate of a disease
State some risk factors for disease
Genetic
Age
Family history
Gender
Ethnicity
Environmental
Second hand smoke
Ionising Radiation
UV light
Lifestyle
Diet
Obesity
Smoking
Blood pressure
Alcohol consumption
Lack of exercise
Describe how sampling can be used to determine correlation
Scientists sample a group of people and then try to draw conclusions about the whole population
Scientists sample populations to determine risk factors
Scientists present their findings in graphical and numerical forms to identify if there are relationships between risk factors and certain disease
Scatter diagrams are used to identify correlations between two variables to determine if a factor - does increase the risk of developing a disease
Define correlation
Similarities that may suggest a link or relationship between the two is known as a correlation
How to avoid bias when sampling
To avoid bias, we need to take as large a sample as possible and it must be as random as possible
What types of graphs are used to identify correlations
Scatter graphs are used to identify correlations between two variables to determine if a factor does increase the risk of developing a disease
Describe and explain some risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
A diet high in fat and low in vegetables increases the levels of certain types of cholesterol in the blood. This increases the rate that fatty material build up in the arteries.
A diet high in salt can increase blood pressure, increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is massively increased in people who smoke. This is because chemicals in cigarette smoke (such as tar and nicotine) damage the alveoli in the lungs and the endothelial lining of the arteries
But the risk is decreased in people who exercise regularly.
Describe and explain the risk factor for lung disease and lung cancer
Smoking massively increases the risk of lung cancer. This is because cigarette smoke contains a number of chemicals which can trigger cancer. These are called carcinogens.
Also the chemicals in the cigarette smoke (such as tar and nicotine) damage the alveoli in the lungs and the endothelial lining of the arteries
Smoking also increases the risk of other lung diseases e.g. emphysema. These diseases are extremely unpleasant and lead to a very poor quality of life
Describe and explain the effects of smoking on when pregnant (effects on unborn baby)
Smoking when pregnant increases the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. It can also lead to the baby being born with a low body-mass. This is because the carbon monoxide in the cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen transported around the mother’s body, reducing the oxygen delivered to the foetus which will cause the foetus not to develop properly
State lifestyle factors that can harm unborn babies
Drinking alcohol
Smoking
Describe and explain the effects of drinking alcohol on the unborn baby
Drinking alcohol when pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome can have learning difficulties and other mental or physical problems. This is because the neurones of the brain are damaged by alcohol, reducing brain function.
What are pregnant women advised to do
Pregnant women are advised not to smoke or drink any alcohol
Describe and explain the effects that drinking alcohol has on adults
Adults who drink alcohol excessively increase their risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. This is because the breakdown of alcohol by cells of the liver produces substances which can be toxic to the liver cells in high concentrations.
Alcohol can also affect the brain, leading to addiction and memory loss.This is because the neurones of the brain are also damaged by alcohol, it reduces the brain function.
What do people with type 2 diabetes struggle to do
People with type 2 diabetes struggle to control their blood glucose levels
What can type 2 diabetes lead to
Type 2 diabetes can lead to blindness or require the amputation of a limb
State a risk factor for type 2 diabetes
Obesity caused by a poor diet
Obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is because the excess consumption of sugar as a result of poor diet reduces the body’s sensitivity to insulin
Explain how risk factors can interact
Drinking excess alcohol can lead to obesity and then that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes
Give an example and explain of an environmental risk factor
Radon is a radioactive has which increases your risk of developing lung cancer
Define carcinogens
Carcinogens are agents that cause cancer or significantly increase the risk of developing cancer
State the three components of tobacco smoke
nicotine
carbon monoxide
tar
Explain the effect of nicotine on the human body
nicotine: is addictive /produces sense of calm/increases heat rate
Explain the effect of CO on the body
carbon monoxide: poisonous/taken up by blood instead of oxygen
Explain the effect of tar on the human body
tar: carcinogenic/damages lung tissue causing COPD
Name three different carcinogens
tar from cigarette smoke,
* sunlight,
* X‑rays,
* alcohol.
