B7 NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Flashcards
Risk factors for non communicable diseases.
diet
lifestyle factors
stress
enviroment/situation
What is correlation?
Scientists look for patterns in data and links between
variables. If links or patterns are found this is called correlation as one variable changes, so does the other.
What is a causal mechanism?
The reason why there is a link or correlation between two variables. It is usually found by carrying out scientific experiments.
What is the cost of non communicable disease?
Human costs – non-communicable diseases can cause great suffering to those suffering and those around them, with their life expectancy and quality of life lowered. This can affect mental well-being too.
Financial costs – a huge proportion of the NHS’s budget is spent on chronic illness. Families often have to give up jobs or move in order to provide the necessary healthcare for these patients. This can cause a huge financial strain on those involved.
What is cancer?
Cells grow then divide by mitosis only when we need new ones – when we’re growing or need to replace old or damaged cells.
When a cell becomes
cancerous, it begins to grow and divide uncontrollably. New cells are produced – even if the body does not need them.
A group of cancerous cells produces a growth called a
tumour
The difference between a benign and malignant tumour
Benign:Grows slowly; usually grow within a membrane, so can easily be removed; does not invade other parts of the body
Malignant:Grows quickly; invades neighbouring tissues and can spread to other parts of the body in the bloodstream; as the tumour grows, cancer cells detach and can form secondary tumours in other parts of the body - this is called metastasis.
How do carcinogens work?
Chemicals and other agents that can cause cancer are called
carcinogens.
Carcinogens cause cancer by damaging
DNA. Carcinogens cause
mutations to occur. A single mutation will not cause cancer – several are required. For this reason, we are more likely to develop cancer as we get older.
What are the risk factors leading to cancer?
Lifestyle factors:
viruses linked with cancer, such as the human papilloma virus (HPV), being spread from person to person through sexual intercourse
the chemical carcinogens in cigarette smoke increasing the risk of lung cancer
alcohol intake is linked with certain cancers
exposure to
ultraviolet radiation, part of which is
ionising, during sunbathing or outdoor activities, leading to the development of skin cancers
Industrial and environmental factors at work:
exposure to ionising radiation increases the risk factor
exposure to chemical carcinogens
What are the two main ways to treat cancer?
by
chemotherapy
- using chemicals to kill cancerous cells
by
radiotherapy
- using x-rays to kill cancerous cells
they both damage cells
chemotherapy may damage other rapidly dividing cells
How does smoking affect the cardiovascular disease?
Smoking damages the lining of the
arteries
, including the
coronary
arteries. The damage encourages the build-up of fatty material in the arteries. This can lead to a
heart attack
or a
stroke
.
Inhalation of
carbon monoxide
in cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the blood.
The nicotine in cigarette smoke increases the heart rate, putting strain on the heart and is addictive.
Chemicals in cigarette smoke increase the likelihood of the
blood clotting, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
How may a person develop COPD?
A person may develop
COPD
– chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This condition includes the diseases chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In COPD:
smoking damages the
bronchioles and can eventually destroy many of the alveoli in the lungs the airways become inflamed and mucus, which normally traps particles in the lungs, builds up
the patient becomes breathless, and finds it more and more difficult to obtain the oxygen required for respiration
Effect on smoking for babies.
For mothers who smoke during pregnancy:
smoking increases the risk of miscarriage
the babies and children are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections and an increased risk of
asthma
the long-term physical growth and intellectual development of the baby/child is affected
there is an increased risk of birth defects as the foetus becomes deprived of oxygen which it needs to grow and develop into a baby
the birthweight of the baby is reduced
After smoking a cigarette how much percent of the blood carries carbon monoxide?
10%
How much stillbirths are because of smoking during pregnancy?
20% so around 700
Example question?
The bar chart shows that when mothers smoke more than ten cigarettes a day, the birthweight of their babies is reduced.
Suggest two pieces of additional information that would need to be collected before drawing firm conclusions about the effect of mothers smoking on the birthweight of babies.
Carry out a similar study of mothers of different age groups to see if similar results could be obtained.
Check to ensure that other factors – for instance, related to lifestyle factors of the experimental group – could not have affected birthweight.
