Health 2.6.10-2.6.19

• Non-Communicable Disease (NCD)


  A disease that is not passed from one organism to another. They are not infectious.
• What can NCD be?

  • Inherited
  • Caused by lifestyle factors including: a poor diet, lack of exercise, overexposure to the sun, misuse of drugs
• How does poor diet lead to NCD?

  1. Eating too much sugar and fat can cause obesity

  2. Obesity can cause cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes

  3. It can also mean the individual is not getting a balanced diet and is missing out on essential vitamins and minerals
• How does lack of exercise lead to NCD?

  1. If an individual takes in more energy than they use during exercise they can become obese

  2. Exercise is beneficial as it strengthens our bones and heart and can help improve our mood
• How does overexposure to the sun lead to NCD?

  1. Too much UV radiation from the Sun or sunbeds can cause mutations in the skin that can lead to skin cancer

  2. This is preventable by spending less time in the sun and using sunscreen
• How does alcohol lead to NCD?

  Binge drinking can damage the liver and affect foetal development
• Harmful effects of Tar

  • Bronchitis-Narrowing of Bronchi and Bronchioles
  • Emphysema-Damages alveoli reducing SA available for gas exchange
  • Lung Cancer-abnormal cell division
• Harmful effect of Nicotine

  Addictive and affects heart rate
• Harmful effect of Carbon monoxide

  Combines with red blood cells reducing their oxygen carrying capacity
• What causes heart disease?

  1. Caused by the buildup of cholesterol and other fatty substances within the body's arteries

  2. Cholesterol causes an artery to become narrow, restricting blood flow to the organ it is supplying

  3. If this happens in the coronary arteries it is known as coronary heart disease
• How do Heart attacks happen?

  1. Cholesterol builds up in a coronary artery

  2. The artery becomes narrower as a blockage/clot forms

  3. Blood flow is restricted

  4. The heart muscle is starved of glucose and oxygen

  5. Respiration is reduced or stopped

  6. Heart cells die
• How do Strokes happen?

  1. Cholesterol builds up in an artery in the brain

  2. The artery becomes narrower as a blockage/clot forms

  3. Blood flow is restricted

  4. Part of the brain is starved of glucose and oxygen

  5. Respiration is reduced or stopped

  6. Brain cells die

  7. A stroke can cause reduced brain function (e.g. paralysis)
• Blood restriction


  Less oxygen and glucose reaching cells=resulting in reduced cell respiration=cell death
• How are Angioplasty's and Stents used?

  1. An angiograph allows doctors to see inside a blood vessel

  2. Dye is added to the blood providing the contrast necessary to view the affected blood vessel

  3. Balloon-like structures are inserted to hold the blood vessel open and a stent is inserted to keep the blood vessel open
• How are drugs used?

  1. Statins reduce blood cholesterol levels

  2. Aspirin 'thins' the blood, making it less 'sticky'

  3. These drugs reduce the risk of a clot and therefore a heart attack or stroke

  4. They are given to individuals at risk of a heart attack or stroke or who have already had one
• Cancer


  A disease where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of the body
• Types of tumour


  • Benign
  • Malignant
• Benign tumour


  • Encapsulated – surrounded by a boundary or capsule
  • Do not spread
• Malignant tumour


  • Less likely to be encapsulated
  • Capable of spreading because groups of cancer cells can break off the primary tumour causing secondary tumours around the body
  • Usually more dangerous
• Lifestyle choices and cancer

  • HPV vaccine – given to 12-13 year old girls to protect against cervical cancer
  • Stop smoking because it can cause lung cancer
  • Reduce exposure to UV light because it can cause skin cancer
• Early detection of cancer

  1. The early detection of cancer can improve survival rates because the tumour may be smaller and may not have spread

  2. Screening programs are in place to detect cancer as early as possible

  3. Women over a certain age or with a particular medical history are screened for breast and cervical cancer

  4. Males and females over 60 are given the opportunity to be screened for bowel cancer

  5. Testicular and skin cancer can be identified by self-examination
• Radiotherapy


  • X-rays are used to kill cancer cells
  • Very accurate at targeting even small tumours
  • Normal cells can also be killed on exposure to the X-rays
• Chemotherapy


  • Drugs are used to kill cancer cells anywhere in the body
  • Normal cells can also be killed
  • Side effects (e.g. hair loss)
• Immunotherapy


  • Antibodies that attach to cancer cell antigens are injected into the body
  • Phagocytes can then locate and destroy cancer cells
  • A targeted treatment with fewer side effects than other treatments