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B2 O) Risk Factors
B2 O) Risk Factors
Non-communicable diseases have risk factors, which are factors that increase the likelihood of an individual developing a specific disease. An example of a risk factor is smoking and the development of lung cancer. A smoker has a greater chance of developing lung cancer compared to a non-smoker. The chances of developing lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes that an individual smokes each day. An individual who smokes 10 cigarettes a day has a 10 times greater chance of developing lung cancer compared with a non-smoker. A smoker who smokes 40 cigarettes a day has a 30 times greater risk of developing lung cancer compared with a non-smoker.
Risk factors do not mean that an individual will definitely develop the disease. Instead, risk factors mean that there is a greater chance of the individual developing the disease. Risk factors can be split into two different categories; unavoidable and lifestyle (avoidable). Examples of unavoidable risk factors are age, gender and genes that you inherit; you cannot change any of these risk factors. Lifestyle risk factors can be changed because an individual can change the activities that they undertake to decrease their chances of developing certain diseases. For example, a smoker could stop smoking, which would reduce their chances of developing lung cancer. In addition to lung cancer, a smoker is at a greater risk of developing other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, which may result in a blood clot, heart attack or stroke.
Risk factors do not mean that an individual will definitely develop the disease. Instead, risk factors mean that there is a greater chance of the individual developing the disease. Risk factors can be split into two different categories; unavoidable and lifestyle (avoidable). Examples of unavoidable risk factors are age, gender and genes that you inherit; you cannot change any of these risk factors. Lifestyle risk factors can be changed because an individual can change the activities that they undertake to decrease their chances of developing certain diseases. For example, a smoker could stop smoking, which would reduce their chances of developing lung cancer. In addition to lung cancer, a smoker is at a greater risk of developing other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, which may result in a blood clot, heart attack or stroke.
Several Risk Factors
The majority of non-communicable diseases are caused by several different risk factors interacting with one another. For example, cardiovascular disease has a variety of different risk factors. It is then the interaction of several of these risk factors that causes cardiovascular disease rather than a single risk factor. For example, the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are:
You can see from the above list that there are many different risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular disease. All of these risk factors will interact with each other, which may result in an individual developing cardiovascular disease.
The majority of non-communicable diseases are caused by several different risk factors interacting with one another. For example, cardiovascular disease has a variety of different risk factors. It is then the interaction of several of these risk factors that causes cardiovascular disease rather than a single risk factor. For example, the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Ethnicity
You can see from the above list that there are many different risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular disease. All of these risk factors will interact with each other, which may result in an individual developing cardiovascular disease.
Risk Factors Directly Causing Diseases
Other risk factors directly cause certain diseases.
For example, smoking is a direct risk factor for lung cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease from smoking is because of the nicotine that is present in the cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive substance that makes it hard for individuals to quit smoking. Nicotine increases an individual’s heart rate, which increases blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage the walls of arteries, which can cause fatty deposits to build up in arteries, which increases the risk of a blood clot, heart attack or stroke. In addition, smoking leads to carbon monoxide entering your body due to incomplete combustion. The red blood cells in our blood will combine with the carbon monoxide rather than oxygen, which reduces the body’s ability to take oxygen around the body. To overcome this, a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure increase. Both of these effects can put a greater strain on the heart, which increases the chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
Other risk factors directly cause certain diseases.
For example, smoking is a direct risk factor for lung cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease from smoking is because of the nicotine that is present in the cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive substance that makes it hard for individuals to quit smoking. Nicotine increases an individual’s heart rate, which increases blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage the walls of arteries, which can cause fatty deposits to build up in arteries, which increases the risk of a blood clot, heart attack or stroke. In addition, smoking leads to carbon monoxide entering your body due to incomplete combustion. The red blood cells in our blood will combine with the carbon monoxide rather than oxygen, which reduces the body’s ability to take oxygen around the body. To overcome this, a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure increase. Both of these effects can put a greater strain on the heart, which increases the chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
Another example of a direct risk factor is excessive drinking which is a direct risk factor for cirrhosis of the liver; cirrhosis of the liver is where the tissue in the liver is scarred. The body has enzymes that breaks down alcohol. The breaking down of alcohol produces products that are toxic, which can cause permanent damage if lots of toxins are produced over a long period of time – this would happen if an individual was regularly drinking excessively. Excessive drinking can also affect brain function, nerve cells and cause the brain to lose volume (shrink).
Obesity is a risk factor for many different diseases especially the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is where the body becomes resistant to the insulin that it produces, which means that individuals with type 2 diabetes cannot control their blood glucose levels effectively.
Smoking and drinking whilst pregnant can also affect the development of a baby and can even cause the baby to develop certain diseases.
Smoking and drinking whilst pregnant can also affect the development of a baby and can even cause the baby to develop certain diseases.
Proving Risk Factors
Scientists and doctors look for correlations between different activities and diseases. For example, they may look at data from the heath of smokers and non-smokers and see that a greater proportion of the smokers develop lung cancer compared to the non-smokers. However, when scientists/doctors are analysing the data, they need to make sure that there is causation as well as correlation; causation is where the variables/ activities actually cause an increased chance of developing the disease rather than just being correlated by chance. With the smoking example, there is causation between smoking and lung cancer because smoking causes an increased chance of developing lung cancer.
However, if we were to look at cardiovascular disease, we will notice that there will be a correlation with little exercise and the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. However, a lack of exercise does not cause cardiovascular disease. Instead, it is the build up of cholesterol in the coronary arteries and a high blood pressure that causes coronary heart disease. So, there would be a correlation between little exercise and cardiovascular disease, but not causation.
Scientists and doctors look for correlations between different activities and diseases. For example, they may look at data from the heath of smokers and non-smokers and see that a greater proportion of the smokers develop lung cancer compared to the non-smokers. However, when scientists/doctors are analysing the data, they need to make sure that there is causation as well as correlation; causation is where the variables/ activities actually cause an increased chance of developing the disease rather than just being correlated by chance. With the smoking example, there is causation between smoking and lung cancer because smoking causes an increased chance of developing lung cancer.
However, if we were to look at cardiovascular disease, we will notice that there will be a correlation with little exercise and the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. However, a lack of exercise does not cause cardiovascular disease. Instead, it is the build up of cholesterol in the coronary arteries and a high blood pressure that causes coronary heart disease. So, there would be a correlation between little exercise and cardiovascular disease, but not causation.
Issues with Non-Communicable Diseases
There are many issues associated with non-communicable diseases. These issues can be split into human and financial issues.
Human Issues
Non-communicable diseases can reduce the life expectancy of individuals and cause individuals to die; non-communicable diseases kill 36 million people per year. Also, many non-communicable diseases reduce the quality of life as suffers are in pain and may not be able to undertake normal daily activities. Furthermore, the death of individuals from a non-communicable disease doesn’t just affect the individual who dies; it also affects the family members and friends as they will be grieving for their loss. In addition, the family members will also be impacted when the individual is alive and suffering with the non-communicable disease.
Financial Issues
There are quite a few financial issues.
There are many issues associated with non-communicable diseases. These issues can be split into human and financial issues.
Human Issues
Non-communicable diseases can reduce the life expectancy of individuals and cause individuals to die; non-communicable diseases kill 36 million people per year. Also, many non-communicable diseases reduce the quality of life as suffers are in pain and may not be able to undertake normal daily activities. Furthermore, the death of individuals from a non-communicable disease doesn’t just affect the individual who dies; it also affects the family members and friends as they will be grieving for their loss. In addition, the family members will also be impacted when the individual is alive and suffering with the non-communicable disease.
Financial Issues
There are quite a few financial issues.
- A high level of non-communicable diseases in society can place pressure on hospital resources because individuals will need treatment for their diseases – beds, drugs, staff (doctors and nurses) etc. Treating non-communicable diseases is expensive and it means that there will be less resources available for everyone else.
- Sometimes individuals who have non-communicable diseases will be so poorly that they will be unable to work (they have to take sick leave). This can affect the economic activity of a country and the wellbeing of the individual (if they are unable to work, they will be unable to generate an income, which means that they may not have enough money to pay for everything that they need such as food, clothing, housing etc.). Therefore, non-communicable diseases may result in poverty/ a reduction in the quality of life for the individual with the non-communicable disease and their families.
- The family of the individual that has died from the non-communicable disease will experience a reduction in their family’s income as the individual who has passed away will not be working. This may cause the family to have a lower quality of life.