Non-Communicable Diseases

 

Health and Disease

• HEALTH is a state of complete physical and mental well-being.
• DISEASES disrupt this state and are classified as either COMMUNICABLE or NON-COMMUNICABLE. 

Communicable Diseases

• These are infections that SPREAD between organisms, often caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
• Examples include MEASLES, SALMONELLA and MALARIA. 

Non-Communicable Diseases

• These diseases do NOT spread from person to person and typically progress slowly. They include conditions like CANCER, DIABETES and CORONARY HEART DISEASE.

 

Interaction Between Disease Types

Diseases can INTERACT, where one may aggravate symptoms or lead to the development of another. For example:

• If someone had a DEFECTED IMMUNE SYSTEM, that person is more likely to suffer from infectious disease.
• Some VIRUSES living in cells can be the trigger for CANCERS.
• Immume reactions initially caused by a PATHOGEN can trigger ALLERGIES such as SKIN RASHES and ASTHMA.
• Mental health can also be affected by physical health issues, influencing a person’s overall well-being.

 

Health and Lifestyle

Various certain lifestyle choices can significantly impact health, particularly non-communicable diseases. These include:

1. Balanced Diet

A BALANCED DIET is crucial. It should provide all the necessary nutrients in the correct amounts. Lack of a balanced diet leads to health issues like OBESITY, MALNUTRITION, and even MENTAL HEALTH struggles due to deficiencies in essential nutrients.

 

2. Stress Management

STRESS is a silent contributor to many health problems. Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues, including HYPERTENSION, HEART DISEASE, and a WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM. Effective stress management strategies are essential for maintaining good health.

 

3. Life Situation

Access to healthcare and preventive measures plays a significant role in one's health. Factors like access to MEDICINES, HEALTHY FOOD, and preventive tools like CONDOMS can prevent diseases and improve the quality of life.

 

Lifestyle and Non-communicable Diseases

Lifestyle has a profound effect on non-communicable diseases. Here's how:

• DIET: Poor diet can lead to diseases like TYPE 2 DIABETES and CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES.
• ALCOHOL and SMOKING: A major risk factor for numerous diseases, including CANCER and HEART DISEASE. Quitting smoking can drastically reduce these risks.
• EXERCISE: Regular physical activity can help prevent and manage diseases like HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, and OBESITY.

 

The Wider Impact

Understanding how lifestyle factors affect non-communicable diseases isn't just about personal health. It's also about the HUMAN COST and FINANCIAL BURDEN these diseases place on communities and healthcare systems globally. 

HUMAN COST:

• Non-communicable diseases claim millions of lives annually, affecting not only the individuals' health but also their QUALITY OF LIFE.
• Those afflicted may face a shortened lifespan and significant day-to-day challenges. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

• The economic burden of non-communicable diseases is substantial. The NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (NHS) spends a significant amount MONEY on RESEARCH and TREATMENT of these diseases.
• Families often bear a personal financial strain due to these diseases. They may need to RELOCATE or MODIFY HOMES to support a family member with a chronic illness, leading to HIGH EXPENSES.
• Loss of income can occur if the family member with the disease is UNABLE TO WORK, further stressing family FINANCES and potentially impacting the ECONOMY at large due to reduced workforce participation.

Risk Factors

What are Risk Factors?

• RISK FACTORS are factors that increase the chances of a person developing diseases.
• They include the person’s lifestyle choices and the environment the person is exposed to.

 

Direct and Indirect Causes of Disease

Certain risk factors, can lead to other diseases and problems. Here are some examples:

1. Smoking

• SMOKING can directly cause diseases such as CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE and various cancers such as LUNG and MOUTH CANCER.
• Smoking when PREGNANT can cause many health problems for the unborn baby.

2. Obesity

• OBESITY can make the body less responsive to insulin, leading to TYPE 2 DIABETES.

3. Alcohol

• ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION is linked to LIVER DISEASES and can impact brain function.

 

4. Carcinogens

• Exposure to specific substances or radiation, known as CARCINOGENS, can directly cause cancer. For instance, ionising radiation from X-RAYS is a well-known carcinogen.

 

CANCER 

Cancer is a condition characterised by UNCONTROLLED CELL GROWTH AND DIVISION.

This can lead to the formation of TUMOURS, which are classified as either BENIGN or MALIGNANT.

BENIGN TUMORS are growth of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body and are NOT CANCEROUS.

MALIGNANT TUMORS, are CANCEROUS. They invade neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body in the blood where they form SECONDARY TUMOURS.

 

Risk Factors for Cancer

The risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing cancer can be LIFESTYLE-RELATED or GENETIC.

 

Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors

• Smoking: A leading cause of lung cancer and also linked to other types, including mouth and cervical cancer.
• Obesity: Increases the risk of several cancers such as breast, liver, and kidney.
• UV Exposure: Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer.
• Viral Infections: Some viruses, like human papillomavirus (HPV), can increase the risk of cancers like cervical cancer.

 

Genetic Risk Factors

• Inherited genes can make individuals more susceptible to cancer. For instance, mutations in the BRCA genes significantly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.