Risk Factors and Non-Communicable Diseases

• Risk factors are linked to an increased rate of a disease.
• Risk Factors can be:

  • aspects of a person’s lifestyle

  • substances in the person’s body or environment.
• A causal mechanism has been proven for some risk factors, but not in others.
• • The effects of diet, smoking and exercise on cardiovascular disease.
  • Obesity as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
  • The effect of alcohol on the liver and brain function.
  • The effect of smoking on lung disease and lung cancer.
  • The effects of smoking and alcohol on unborn babies.
  • Carcinogens, including ionising radiation, as risk factors in cancer.
• Many diseases are caused by the interaction of a number of factors.