Health

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental

  and social well-being and not merely the

  absence of disease or infirmity.
•  Communicable – these are

  infectious diseases caused by

  viruses, bacteria, protists and

  fungi and are spread in animals

  (and plants) e.g. malaria,

  measles, athletes foot
•  Non-communicable – these

  diseases are not caused by

  infection and cannot be spread

  e.g. heart disease, diabetes,

  Alzheimer's, asthma
•  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 to form
•  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
• Hazard- The potential source

  of harm e.g. smoking,

  lack of exercise
• Risk Factor - The combination of the chances

  of the hazard causing harm and

  the severity of that harm
• Harm - The damage to

  health or a disease

  that can occur
• There are other factors that can also affect health and increase the risk of getting a

  disease, these can be:

  • aspects of a persons lifestyle

  ▪ e.g. lack of exercise, stress levels, exposure to too much sunlight, exposure

  to ionising radiation (e.g. X-rays, gamma rays)

  • substances (chemicals) taken into:

  ▪ a persons body – e.g. high fat/sugar diet, cigarette smoke, alcohol

  ▪ in their environment - e.g. air/water pollution, asbestos, ionising radiation
• CARDIOVASCULAR disease:

  • Diet– a diet high in saturated fats can increase the levels

  of LDL (low density lipoproteins – cholesterol plus a

  protein that can cause atherosclerosis)
•  Smoking – tobacco smoke damages the lining of the

  arteries leading to atherosclerosis, carbon monoxide in

  tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen in the

  blood so the heart has to pump harder, the nicotine in

  tobacco smoke causes the heart to beat faster and raises

  blood pressure
•  Lack of exercise – exercising regularly lowers blood

  pressure and stress
• OBESITY is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes:

  • Type 2 diabetes – is where the cells in the body are less

  sensitive or resistant to insulin so the body cannot

  control the concentration of glucose in the blood

  correctly

  • Obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,

  the more fat you have around your abdomen (tummy)
• Alcohol is a risk factor for Liver disease and Brain damage:

  • Liver disease – the liver breaks down toxins in alcohol, if

  you have too much alcohol the first stage of liver disease

  is when the liver becomes fatty and eventually cirrhosis

  of the liver develops if you continue to drink too much

  alcohol

  • Brain function damage – alcohol affects the way the

  nerve cells in the brain work and the cells then become

  damaged. The brain mass may also shrink
• SMOKING is a risk factor for Lung disease:

  • COPD – describes a group of lung diseases that

  make it difficult for people to move air in and out

  of the lungs

  Two examples of these are:

  • Bronchitis – the bronchi and bronchioles are

  inflamed (swollen) and excess mucus is

  produced

  • Emphysema – this affects the alveoli, the

  walls are broken down and they then trap

  excess air

  COPD narrows the airways and makes it difficult to

  get rid of CO2 and get in the O2 needed for

  respiration. Smoking is the main cause of COPD and

  is responsible for 9 out of 10 cases. 
• For what condition is smoking considered a risk factor?

  Lung cancer
• In the UK, approximately how many people are diagnosed with lung cancer annually?

  44,500
• What are some common symptoms of lung cancer?

  • A persistent cough
  • Frequent chest infections
  • Coughing up blood
  • Breathlessness
• What percentage of lung cancer cases are linked to smoking, according to the NHS?

  85%
• How many toxic chemicals does tobacco smoke contain?

  Over 60
• What is the property of some of the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke?

  Carcinogenic
• How much more likely are people who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day to get lung cancer than non-smokers?

  25 times more likely
• Can people who have never smoked get lung cancer?

  Yes
• How would you describe lung cancer in terms of its prevalence and severity?

  Common and serious
• Approximately how many chemicals are found in tobacco smoke?

  Over 4000
• What toxic gas found in tobacco smoke reduces oxygen to the unborn baby?

  Carbon monoxide
• How does carbon monoxide affect an unborn baby?

  It reduces the amount of oxygen available
• What is one potential risk associated with smoking during pregnancy?

  Miscarriage
• What is one potential risk associated with smoking during pregnancy?

  Premature births
• What is one potential risk associated with smoking during pregnancy?

  Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• What is the advice regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy?

  Pregnant women should not drink any alcohol
• During which period of pregnancy is alcohol consumption most likely to increase the risk of miscarriage?

  First 3 months
• During which period of pregnancy is alcohol consumption most likely to increase the risk of premature birth?

  First 3 months
• What condition can heavy drinking during pregnancy cause in children?

  Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
• Which of the following is a characteristic of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

  Poor growth
• Which of the following is a characteristic of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

  Facial abnormalities
• Which of the following is a characteristic of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

  Learning difficulties
• What is the level of certainty among medical experts regarding safe alcohol consumption during pregnancy?

  They are still unsure