Intro to Non-Communicable Diseases

• Non-communicable diseases

  • diseases that do not pass from person to person
  • it typically goes on for a long duration and develops slowly among humans.also called chronic diseases
  • also called chronic diseases
  • have been the cause of over 60% of death around the world
  • it is now a common challenge for public health among different countries, regardless of its economic status.
  • have accounted for more and more deaths globally due to physical inactivity and unhealthy lifestyle.
• Diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory diseases were once recognized as problems of high-income countries before.
• Physical inactivity

  • refers to not having the recommended level of regular physical activities of a person
  • this and having an unhealthy lifestyle come about with the advancement of technology-use among young adolescents like you.
• Types of Non-Communicable Diseases

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Respiratory Diseases
  • Diabetes
• Cardiovascular diseases

  • like hypertension and stroke, are diseases that mainly affect the heart
  • Having heart problems can lead to numerous complications since this body organ has the most vital role of circulating blood and oxygen to the whole body.
  • It affects the heart and inhibits its functions which can, later on, cause severe complications to one’s health.
• Cancer

  • This non-communicable disease develops when an abnormal mass of cells grow inside the body, called a tumor
  • Developing this disease will lead to serious health problems like constant pain, organ failure, and death.
• Tumor

  • abnormal growth
  • one of the first signs that cancer has transpired within the organ and spread to the rest of the body.
• Chronic Respiratory Diseases

  • diseases that affect the lungs, specifically the airways, and its other parts.
  • asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • this type affects people of different ages and is mostly chronic, an illness persistent for an extended period or regularly recurring in one’s lifetime.
• Diabetes

  • is an illness that impacts how the body uses sugar, or what is called glucose.
  • Diabetes develops when there is an increase in blood sugar in the body and in turn will lead to adverse effects on one’s health.
• Glucose

  • the sugar taken from the various foods that we eat or consume
  • essential to have a specific amount of glucose in our blood since it is responsible for having adequate energy to perform daily activities.
• People of all ages may be affected by the different types of non communicable diseases. Although these conditions are associated with the older generation, teenagers like you are also at risk due to many factors.
• risk factors


  factors that raise the possibility of being affected by a particular disease
• Types of Risk Factors

  • modifiable
  • non-modifiable
• modifiable


  it can be changed by taking numerous measures
• non-modifiable

  • it cannot be changed at all
  • can also be regulated and the effects reduced by changing one’s lifestyle.
• Modifiable Risk Factors listed by the World Health Organization

  1. Smoking
  2. Physical Inactivity
  3. Unhealthy Diet
  4. Alcohol Consumption
• Smoking

  • Tobacco use is accounted for more than 7.2 million fatalities every year.
  • These statistics include the effects of exposure of a second-hand smoke around you and is predicted to increase in numbers in the coming years
  • increase the risk of developing cancer and respiratory diseases.
  • something that one can avoid doing or being exposed to
  • teenagers should not let peer pressure push you into smoking that will lead to developing non-communicable diseases.
• Physical Inactivity

  • incidence of most non-communicable diseases has been due to not having regular exercises or not using our body as much as it needs to.
  • speeds up the aging process of a lot of people, while active lifestyle slows it down and so produces better benefits throughout their lifetime.
  • Stress has also been linked to this modifiable risk factor.
  • causes people to adopt negative habits like smoking, eating unhealthy, and just keeping a lazy lifestyle by staying inactive.
• Being Physically Active


  Studies have shown that physical activity will increase anyone’s

  lifespan regardless of any inherited conditions. Being physically active can protect an individual from developing a multitude of non-communicable diseases at any age.
• Unhealthy Diet

  • It is one of the critical factors that an individual can change and will entirely impact all the other risk factors.
  • The duty of diet is vital in acquiring and preventing non-communicable diseases.
• Excessive salt intake has been identified as one of the many things that causes an unhealthy diet.
• Also having a diet high in fat and cholesterol leads to an increased risk of heart diseases.
• Teenagers and even young children are more encouraged nowadays to adopt a habit of eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as food low in saturated fats.
• Healthy eating habits must start as early as preschool age, and once they reached puberty, it is relatively normal that it will change since they would need to eat more and experiment on the different food and eating.
• It is best advised that by young adolescence, parents and guardians guide teens in adopting a healthy diet.
• Alcohol Consumption

  • Just like smoking, alcohol consumption has also been noted as one of the risk factors leading to getting non-communicable diseases, and it is something that can be avoided.
  • Excessive drinking of alcohol is globally identified as solely responsible to about 2.5 million deaths and a large percentage of diseases.
  • Alcohol intake among young teens and adults alike are due to peer pressure and brought about the many stressors in life.
  • It is always best to keep in mind the long-term benefits and consequences of avoiding drinking alcohol to a person’s physical health and wellness.
• Effects of Alchohol Consumption

  • Constant alcohol use daily can increase hypertension and even cancer among individuals.
  • increase in blood pressure, stroke, cirrhosis of the liver and even mood swings that lead to violence and suicide.
• Types of Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

  • Age
  • Ethnic Background
  • Family Medical History
• Age

  • The older a person gets, the more like he or she is to develop cardiovascular diseases.
  • Aging is simply a risk factor in adopting many health problems for anyone
• Ethnic Background

  • An individual’s ethnic origins and influence may also be responsible for developing certain types of non-communicable diseases
  • African and Asian people have higher risks of developing cardiovascular diseases than other ethnicities.
  • Still, one can reduce the risk as much as possible by controlling the modifiable risk factors mentioned above.
• Family Medical History

  • Some of the risk factors are related to lifestyle habits passed on from the parents to their children.
  • it may also be that genes are accountable for passing these risks on to the younger generations.
  • Coronary heart diseases, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels are some of the conditions that can be passed on by the parents’ genes, and the parents before them.
  • If you have a family background of cardiovascular diseases, it is best for you to avoid smoking, discontinue eating unhealthy that leads to obesity, and be more physically active instead.