9: Non-Communicable Disease Prevention

• Non-Communicable Diseases


  Lifestyle-related diseases, chronic diseases (long duration), result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors, cannot be passed from one person to another via direct or indirect means
• Causes of Non-Communicable Diseases

  • Lifestyle
  • Hereditary
  • Environmental
• Lifestyle


  Result of unhealthy habits, behavioral and modifiable risk factors like smoking, alcohol abuse, consuming too much fat, salt and sugar and physical inactivity
• Hereditary


  Passed from parent to child, involves the genetic origin of an individual, as to how traits are passed from the parent towards his/her child
• Environmental


  Where you live or work
• Diabetes Mellitus


  A group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both
• Fasting glucose level

  126 mg/dL or higher
• Types of Diabetes Mellitus


  • Type I Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
  • Type II Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
• Type I Diabetes Mellitus


  Insulin dependent, juvenile-onset, autoimmune condition caused by the body attacking its own pancreas with antibodies
• Type I Diabetes Mellitus

  • Risk factors: Genetic, Environment, May be acquired due to viruses and chemical toxins
• Type II Diabetes Mellitus


  Non-insulin dependent, most common type, results from insufficient amount of insulin (hyposecretion) or insulin resistance (inability of cells to use the insulin hormone)
• Risk Factors for Type II Diabetes Mellitus

  • Family history
  • Overweight
  • Sedentary Lifestyle
  • Hypertension
  • Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides
  • History of gestational diabetes or delivery of a baby weighing 9 lbs
  • Previously identified to have impaired glucose tolerance
• Impaired glucose tolerance


  Resistance of the body in terms of insulin production
• Gestational Diabetes


  Occurs in pregnancy and is caused by pregnancy hormones, insulin is not working effectively, usually goes away when the baby is born, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes for the mother later in life
• Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus


  • Polyuria (Excessive urination)
  • Polydipsia (Excessive thirst)
  • Polyphagia (Excessive hunger)
  • Weight loss
• Beta Cells


  of the Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas produce insulin.
• Glucose


  serves as a primary energy source for cells, and insulin facilitates its uptake into cells for utilization.
• Hyperglycemia


  In cases of insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream. Which disrupts the cells ability to access it for energy leading to disruption sin cellular function and metabolic processes
• Cause of Increased Blood Viscosity

  High blood glucose levels impeding efficient circulation and contributing to the development of heart and kidney diseases.
• Types of Non-Communicable Diseases

  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Hypertension
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Cerebrovascular Disease or Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Screening for Diabetes Mellitus

  • Ask about diagnosis, family history, signs and symptoms, assess risk factors
  • Fasting Blood Sugar Test
  • 2-Hour Blood Sugar Test/Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Random Blood Sugar Test/Casual Blood Glucose Test
• Glucose solution - 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water
• Normal random blood sugar level: 70-125 mg/dl
• Key Areas for Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus

  • Maintain body weight and prevent obesity
  • Encourage proper nutrition
  • Promote regular physical activity and exercise
  • Smoking cessation for active smokers and prevent exposure to secondhand smoke
• Cardiovascular Diseases


  A group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels which include: Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease and Cerebrovascular Accident
• Diastolic Blood Pressure


  The minimum pressure recorded just prior to the next contraction
• Classification of Hypertension

  • Primary or Essential or Idiopathic Hypertension
  • Secondary Hypertension
• Primary Hypertension


  Has no clear cause and is thought to be linked to genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity
• Secondary Hypertension


  Usually caused by another medical condition
• Risk Factors for Hypertension

  • Family history
  • Age
  • High salt intake
  • Obesity
  • Excessive alcohol intake
• Key Areas for Prevention and Control of Hypertension

  • Encourage proper nutrition
  • Prevent becoming overweight or obese
  • Smoking cessation
  • Identify people with risk factors and encourage regular checkups for possible hypertension and modification of risk factors
• Coronary Artery Disease


  Ischemic heart disease caused by impaired coronary blood flow
• Types of Obstruction


  • Occlusion (blockage of blood vessel)
  • Stenosis (narrowing of blood vessel)
• Cause of Coronary Artery Disease

  Atherosclerosis which usually occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol in the blood
• Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease

  • Elevated blood lipids/cholesterol
  • Hypertension
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity/sedentary lifestyle
  • Stress
  • Heredity/family history
  • Gender
  • Increasing age
• Key Areas for Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease

  • Promote regular physical activity and exercise
  • Encourage proper nutrition
  • Maintain body weight and prevent obesity
  • Smoking cessation: active and passive smoking
  • Early diagnosis, prompt treatment, control of diabetes and hypertension
• Cerebrovascular Disease or Stroke


  Loss or alteration of bodily function that results from an insufficient supply of blood to some parts of the brain, one of the leading causes of disability
• Causes of Stroke

  • Thrombotic Stroke (caused by a thrombus that develops in the arteries supplying blood to the brain)
  • Embolic Stroke (caused by a blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain)
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke (bleeding into the brain by the rupture of a blood vessel)
• Ischemia is when blood flow to a tissue decreases, causing low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Infarction is more severe; it's when blood flow stops completely, leading to tissue death (necrosis).
• Risk Factors for Stroke

  • Increasing age
  • Sex
  • Heredity & race
  • Hypertension
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • High RBC count
  • Season and Climate
  • Socio-economic Factors
  • Excessive alcohol intake
  • Certain kinds of drug abuse