non-communicable diseases

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):


  A lung disease from lung damage & an obstructed airway. People would find it very difficult to breathe.

  • Smoking is the primary risk factor with COPD & the risk increases with the duration & intensity of smoking.
• COPD is used to refer to two different illnesses.

  However, people with COPD will often (but not always) have both of these diseases:

  • Bronchitis
  • Emphysema
• Bronchitis:


  Inflammation of the bronchi & bronchioles in the lungs, leading to increased mucus production & coughing.
• Emphysema:


  damage to the alveoli walls, leading to fewer larger alveoli, instead of many smaller ones.

  • This reduces the surface area available for gas exchange.
• Risk factors usually fall into one of two categories:

  • Aspects of a person's lifestyle
  • Substances in the person's body / environment
• Diabetes:


  Inability to control blood sugar levels.
• Chronic respiratory diseases:


  Diseases that affect the lungs.

  E.g.

  • asthma
  • COPD
• Arthritis:


  Disease of the joints marked by painful sweat & stiffness.
• Allergies:


  Extreme sensitivity to a substance.
• Risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD):

  • Smoking
  • poor diet
  • lack of exercise
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • exposure to carcinogens
  • UV light
  • genes
• Correlation:


  A link or association between two factors.

  • does NOT mean "cause".

  
• Causal mechanism:


  Explains how one factor affects another, using biological reasoning.