Non-Communicable Diseases Flashcards

All 13 cards in this deck

What is a non-communicable disease?

A disease that cannot be passed from person to person. Most are caused by the interaction of several factors (lifestyle, genes, environment).

Name four types of non-communicable disease.

Cardiovascular disease, many forms of cancer, some lung diseases, some liver diseases (also diseases influenced by nutrition).

How can diet and lack of exercise lead to obesity?

If the energy taken in from food is greater than the energy used by the body, the excess is stored as fat and body mass increases.

What is the equation for BMI?

BMI = mass (kg) ÷ (height (m))²
A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is in the healthy weight range.

How is a waist : hip ratio worked out, and what does a high value show?

Waist measurement ÷ hip measurement. A high ratio means more fat is stored around the abdomen, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

What effect does drinking too much alcohol over a long time have on the liver?

Alcohol is toxic and damages/kills liver cells, causing liver disease such as cirrhosis (scarring) and liver cancer.

How does smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen the blood can carry, nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure, and chemicals damage artery linings so fatty deposits build up.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of treating cardiovascular disease with life-long medication such as statins.

Advantage: lowers blood cholesterol so fewer fatty deposits form in arteries. Disadvantage: must be taken for life and can cause side effects.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of treating cardiovascular disease with a surgical procedure such as fitting a stent.

Advantage: holds the narrowed coronary artery open so blood flow is restored quickly. Disadvantage: surgery carries risks (bleeding, infection, blood clots) and does not cure the cause.

Name three lifestyle changes used to treat or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Stop smoking, eat less saturated fat and salt, exercise more / lose weight. They are cheap with no side effects, but rely on the patient.

What causes malnutrition?

A diet with too much or too little of some nutrients, so it is not balanced. It is not just caused by eating too little food.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Any disease of the heart or blood vessels, e.g. arteries narrowed by fatty deposits.

What do anticoagulants do when used to treat cardiovascular disease?

They reduce the chance of blood clots forming, which lowers the risk of a heart attack or stroke.