B7 Non-communicable diseases/ cancer etc

Non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases are diseases that are not contagious.

Risk factors for disease include life aspects (smoking and diet, for example) and substances in your body or in the environment.

A causal mechanism is how one factor influences another through a biological process and shows a link.

Disease affects the affected individual and their family, financial cost, and the global economy.

A tumour forms when mitosis goes out of control and cells grow abnormally with little time to grow in between. 

Benign tumours are contained in one place and do not invade other parts of the body, but they can grow large rapidly and cause pressure or damage to organs.

Malignant tumours spread around the body and divide and release small clumps of cell into the bloodstream, which circulates around the body and forms secondary tumours, which disrupts tissues.

Cancer is caused by genetics, mutations, ionising radiation, and viruses.

Radiotherapy is when cancer cells are destroyed by targeted radiation doses, stopping mitosis but affecting healthy cells too.

Chemotherapy stops cancer cell growth or causes them to self-destruct

Tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive and gives a sense of reward; and carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas which is odourless and causes oxygen shortage.

Smoking causes cilia, which move dirt away from the lungs, to stop functioning; this causes dirt and mucus to build up, increasing infection.

Tar causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and bronchitis.

Smoking causes cardiovascular disease. Blood vessels narrow and heart rate and blood pressure are increased causing coronary heart disease due to the substances in tobacco. This casues strokes and heart attacks.

Overeating causes excess fat, obesity, and health issues.

Exercise affects the amount of respiration in the muscles and how much food you need. Exercise causes an increase in muscle tissue and metabolic rate, reducing obesity and other health risks like arthritis. The heart is fitter and develops a better blood supply. Blood cholesterol levels drop and different cholesterol types are balanced. Heart disease is reduced.

With type 2 diabetes, the body is not producing enough insulin. Which is caused by genes, age, obesity and little excercise. But it can be restored if the perosn introduces chnages to diet. (See B11)

Alcohol is absorbed into the blood by the gut and passes into body tissues.

Alcohol causes liver cirrhosis, in which liver tissue is destroyed and active liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue; liver cancer, and brain damage, in which the brain structure is lost.

Alcohol also causes problems with giving birth, like premature birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, and low birth weight. Alcohol passes across the placenta into the developing baby and the developing liver can not handle the alcohol, so affecting the baby, causing FAS.

Radioactive materials penetrate the cells and damage chromosomes, causing a mutation in the DNA.

Ionising radiation sources include: the Sun's UV light, causing skin cancer and melanomas; radioactive material from the soil, water, and air; and nuclear power generation accidents, like the one in Chernobyl, Ukraine.