Lesson 58 - Lung disease and correlations

Question 1

What are some risk factors that increase the probability of someone suffering from lung disease or COPD.

Answer 1

• Smoking - 90% of COPD patients are or have been heavy smokers
• Air pollution - particulates and gases
• Genetics
• Infections
• Occupation - workers exposed to harmful chemicals and dust

Question 2

If data shows a correlation between number of cigarettes smoked and premature death, what can we conclude?

Answer 2

It doesn’t definitely mean that smoking causes early death - it could but this would need to be looked into further.
A correlation doesn’t always mean causation.

Question 3

What would we need to do to show causation?

Answer 3

It is necessary to establish a hypothesis and test it through experiments.

Question 4

What is the difference between causation and correlation?

Answer 4

Correlation - when a change in one of two variables is reflected by a change in the other variable.

Causation - when you can claim that the one variable actually CAUSES the other variable to change.

Question 5

What are some restrictions to reduce risk factors of smoking/breathing problems?

Answer 5

• Banning smoking in public places & workplaces (2007)
• Ban on tobacco advertising (2002/2003)
• Increased cigarette tax
• Minimum age to buy tobacco - 18 (increased in 2007)
• Plain packaging or graphic images
• Health warnings on packages
• NHS free support to give up - nicotine patches/vaping as alternatives
• Various air pollution controls
• Promotion of electric vehicles, reducing diesel cars

Question 6

What are some measures of lung function?

Answer 6

Tidal volume: Volume of air in each breath.
Ventilation rate: Number of breaths per minute.
Forced expiratory volume: Maximum volume of air breathed out in 1 second.
Forced vital capacity: Maximum volume of air it’s possible to breathe forcefully out of the lungs after a really deep breath in.

Question 7

Types of lung diseases:

Answer 7

Tuberculosis
Fibrosis
Asthma
Emphysema

Question 8

What is the effect of lung disease on gas exchange?

Answer 8

• Rate of gas exchange in alveoli is reduced.
• Less O2 able to diffuse into bloodstream.
• Body cells receive less O2, rate of aerobic respiration reduced
• Less energy released, so patients may feel tired and weak