B7 Non-communicable diseases

• What is a non-communicable disease?


  It is a disease that is NOT caused by a pathogen. It can not be transferred from one person to another.
• Name 3 examples of non-communicable diseases.


  Cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis
• What is cancer?


  It is a (usually) non-communicable disease which develops as a result of changes in cells that lead to their uncontrollable growth and division forming tumours.
• What is a benign tumour?


  Growths of abnormal cells which have not yet invaded other parts of the body.
• What is a malignant tumour?


  Growths of abnormal cells which have invaded neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body in the blood where they form secondary tumours.
• What could be a CAUSE of someone developing a non-communicable disease?


  - Deficiency diseases (e.g. lack of vitamin C causes scurvy).

  - Inherited disorder (e.g. cystic fibrosis)

  Body disorder (e.g. diabetes)

  Effect of a ‘bad’ lifestyle (e.g. lack of exercise, smoking)

  Exposure to mutagens (e.g. Ionisning/UV/X-ray radiation)
• What is a carcinogen?


  Something that causes cancer (e.g. tar in cigarette smoke).
• What is a correlation between two factors?


  Correlation is a link between two variables.

  
  

  | For e.g. as the number of cigarettes smoked increases, the risk of developing lung cancer also increases.
• What does causation mean?

  Causation implies a change in one variable directly results in the change of the other variable.

  E.g. an increase in blood cholesterol levels CAUSES an increase in the risk of CVD.
• Name 2 ways of treating cancer.

  1) Radiotherapy

  
  

  | 2) Chemotherapy
• Why is nicotine in cigarettes harmful?


  Nicotine is an addictive, stimulant drug, that speeds up the heart rate.
• What is the effect of carbon monoxide in cigarettes on the body?


  Carbon monoxide binds to red blood cells (where oxygen should bind). This reduces the amount of oxygen red blood cells can carry. This leads to higher blood pressure and shortage of oxygen.
• Obesity is caused by eating too many nutrients. The excess food is stored as.....?


  Fats
• Obesity can lead to more serious conditions such as ______________


  Type 2 diabetes
• How could someone begin to treat obesity?


  Regular physical exercise
• In some cases type 2 diabetes can be reversed by....


  - Regular physical exercise

  
  

  | - A diet low in carbohydrates
• What is the name of the drug found in alcohol?


  Ethanol
• If a woman smokes during pregnancy, what might be the effect on the foetus/baby?

  Smoking during pregnancy can pass into the developing foetus, the foetus may not get enough oxygen and not grow properly. This can lead to a low birth weight or a still birth.
• Why is alcohol a dangerous substance?

  Alcohol is addictive and in excess it can cause brain and liver damage.
• What type of damage does alcohol cause to the liver?

  - Alcohol can cause scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver, this destroys the liver tissue and it cannot work properly.

  - The person may also develop liver cancer.
• If a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, what might be the effect on the foetus/baby?

  Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can pass into the baby and cause miscarriage/still birth/low birth weight.