Chapter 12: Lesson 12.2 NonCommunicable Diseases

Understanding Noncommunicable Diseases

diseases, also called diseases, cannot be spread among living things and objects. Instead, a the possibility of developing a noncommunicable disease. A person’s environment and lifestyle choices may also contribute to its development. Figure 12.8 shows common noncommunicable diseases.

Many noncommunicable diseases are . This means they are long-term diseases that may not heal for years. In fact, they might even cause permanent disability or health complications.

When evaluating a patient with a noncommunicable disease, doctors may give a . A prognosis is a prediction ( ) of how likely a person is to recover from the disease. A prognosis means something is , but it is not a sure guarantee that it will. Prognosis includes the chances for full recovery, disability, or death. Diseases that will end in death are terminal.

Sometimes, a disease enters , which is a time without signs and symptoms associated with that disease. may last for weeks, years, or an indefinite period. The refers to the recurrence of a disease, in which signs and symptoms return after a period of remission (Figure 12.9). Certain cancers can return after remission in an even more way than before. A complication is a new condition or second disease that arises in a person who already has one disease. For example, a serious complication of diabetes is loss of eyesight.

Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases

Noncommunicable diseases develop as a result of , , and factors. Heredity is the passing of or diseases from one generation to the next. Heredity and are important factors in a person’s risk of developing noncommunicable diseases. For example, some can develop due to heredity, even without environmental or lifestyle factors. In contrast, for heart disease and some types of cancer, heredity mainly affects risk. Inheriting an for these diseases is not a guarantee someone will develop them.

can play a role in the development of some noncommunicable diseases. Living in a major city with lots of can increase your risk of developing chronic . Exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol may also increase your risk of developing breathing conditions.

A person’s and behaviors can increase or decrease risk of developing a noncommunicable disease. For example, behaviors such as using tobacco products, , and eating an unhealthy diet can lead to breathing conditions, heart disease, and cancer.

In most cases, a combination of lifestyle factors, environment, and heredity determines a person’s overall risk for developing certain diseases (Figure 12.10). As a result, you can reduce your risk of developing some of these diseases. Although family history is an important risk factor, behavior and environment also often contribute to risk. Changing your lifestyle and behaviors can potentially reduce your risk of developing certain noncommunicable diseases.

Common Noncommunicable Diseases

, , chronic lung disease, , arthritis, and are important health concerns in many countries, including the United States. In the following sections, you will learn about the risks these diseases pose to your health. Education and awareness about these diseases can help you and others make healthy decisions and get needed help.

Heart Disease The heart, blood vessels, and blood make up the body’s . The heart adapts to the changing needs of your body. It speeds up when your body requires more oxygen and slows down when your body is at rest. The transport blood and oxygen throughout your body. Heart disease causes damage to the heart and blood vessels, meaning they cannot perform their . This can result in serious health outcomes, including death.

Common diseases of the blood vessels include and . In atherosclerosis, fatty deposits called plaque develop in the walls of blood vessels. These fatty deposits can build up and block the normal flow of blood through blood vessels (Figure 12.11). In arteriosclerosis, the walls of the blood vessels thicken, harden, and become inflexible. As a result, the blood vessels cannot stretch to allow blood to pump through them.

Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis can result from tobacco use, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet. can change the blood vessels, making them more likely to develop fatty deposits. Physical inactivity and an can lead to obesity, which contributes to heart disease in various ways.

The of important blood vessels can stop the flow of blood to the heart. When blood flow to the heart stops, and the heart cannot get enough oxygen, a heart attack occurs. During a heart attack, the heart beats irregularly and inefficiently. Pain arises partly because the heart is not receiving enough oxygen. A is a medical emergency, and immediate help can save lives (Figure 12.12).

A blockage of blood vessels can also cause a stroke. During a , blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted, injuring or killing brain cells. A stroke can result in paralysis, inability to speak, and . Lifestyle choices that contribute to atherosclerosis increase a person’s risk of experiencing a stroke.

There are several treatment options for heart disease. One option is surgery to insert a stent, a small tube made of a fine mesh that pushes aside fatty deposits. Doctors may also prescribe medications to increase blood flow.

Cancer

is a complex disease, and different forms of the disease have different characteristics. All forms of cancer involve an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Healthy cells control their growth, dividing only when needed. cells divide rapidly and produce abnormal cells that do not function like normal cells. Scientists call a of abnormal cells a tumor. Tumors fall into two categories—malignant and benign. Malignant tumors are cancerous, while benign tumors are not.

There are more than of cancer, but certain forms are more common than others. Cancers of the , , , and are some of the most common types of cancer (Figure 12.13). Together, these four types of cancer make up most of the reported cases in the United States.

As with other diseases, heredity, environment, and lifestyle are all risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of . For example, some people inherit the risk of developing cancer from their parents and grandparents. Environmental exposure to carcinogens, such as those found in tobacco smoke, may also increase your risk of developing cancer. can lead to obesity, which can cause certain types of cancer. Making healthy lifestyle choices and forming healthy habits now can reduce your risk of developing cancer later in life.

of cancer allows for early treatment and better chances for recovery and survival. There are common signs and symptoms of cancer, which are summarized by the acronym C.A.U.T.I.O.N. (Figure 12.14). Other symptoms of cancer include tiredness, easy bruising, ongoing pain in a part of the body, and loss of appetite or unplanned weight loss.

People who have cancer often see a doctor who specializes in cancer care, called an oncologist, for treatment. Cancer treatment may include specific methods, which include the following:

• . Doctors remove the cancerous tissue from a person’s body.

• . Machines deliver powerful X-rays to the part of the person’s body affected by cancer. The goal is to shrink cancerous tissues or eliminate them completely. Side effects include fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

• . Medicines are delivered to patients through an IV, by mouth, or by injection to kill cancer cells. Side effects include weight loss, hair loss, nausea, and loss of appetite.

• . Medicine is delivered into the body to stimulate the body's defense to attack the cancer.

Treatments are tailored to specific cancers and the needs of individual patients, since each patient and type of cancer are different. A combination of treatments is often more effective than any one treatment. For example, chemotherapy and radiation both shrink the amount of cancerous tissue in a person’s body. Surgery is more likely to be effective if the cancer is confined to a small area. Therefore, a patient may receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy before surgery, to make the surgery simpler.

Chronic Respiratory Diseases

The includes the nose, throat, voice box, windpipe, and lungs. Chronic respiratory diseases cause damage to these structures, meaning that they no longer work properly. Although respiratory diseases can damage all structures of the respiratory system, they are often called chronic lung diseases for short. Examples of chronic lung diseases include the following:

• (COPD)

• respiratory allergies

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease in which a constrict and fill with mucus, making it difficult to breathe (Figure 12.15). Membranes in the airways also swell, blocking airflow even more and trapping stale air in the lungs. This triggers the wheezing that often occurs in asthma. Asthma cannot be , but medications can reduce the amount and severity of attacks. It may develop due to genetics or environment.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of that limit the amount of air that can flow through the lungs. These diseases include , , and asthma. (To review information on emphysema and chronic bronchitis, see Chapter 9.)

People with COPD often experience , as well as a cough that lasts a long time and produces a lot of mucus. Causes of COPD include tobacco use, air pollution, and exposure to dusts or chemicals in the workplace. Goals of COPD treatment include managing the condition and its symptoms, as well as preventing the condition from getting worse.

Respiratory Allergies

are those that specifically affect a person’s ability to breathe. The main example of a respiratory allergy is allergic rhinitis, commonly known as . Hay fever occurs when someone breathes in a substance that the person is allergic to, known as an allergen. This causes inflammation and swelling inside the nose. Indoor and outdoor can cause hay fever (Figure 12.16). Hay fever usually goes away on its own, but it can cause irritating symptoms that may require medication.

Diabetes

mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a disease that results from the body’s inability to . Glucose is a sugar found in foods that the body converts into energy. In someone who does not have diabetes, glucose enters the bloodstream through food. The , an organ that helps with digestion, creates a hormone called insulin that transports glucose to the body’s cells. Diabetes disrupts this process.

There are two types of diabetes— diabetes mellitus (often called juvenile diabetes) and diabetes mellitus. Each type disrupts the body’s use of glucose in a different way. Both types result in high blood sugar, which can lead to other health conditions. Some potential long-term health complications of diabetes may include heart disease, nerve damage, vision damage, hearing impairment, foot damage, and kidney damage.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an , or a condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack and kill healthy tissues. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreas and kills cells that make insulin. This means there is no insulin to to the body cells. Instead, glucose stays in the blood, resulting in a high blood sugar level. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but usually first appears between 10 and 14 years of age.The main risk factor for type 1 diabetes is family history of the condition. The most common symptoms include , , hunger, and (Figure 12.17).

Type 1 diabetes is incurable, but people can manage the condition by regularly checking their blood sugar level and giving themselves injections of insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must also control the amount of sugar in their blood by controlling the amount of food and the sugars they eat. Moderate physical activity also helps regulate blood sugar.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 diabetes mellitus usually develops and is associated with . In this condition, the pancreas creates insulin, but the body does not respond to it normally. Although insulin is present, the body's cells cannot take up glucose from the blood. The pancreas continues to create insulin, however, because it detects the in the body. This can wear out the pancreas, resulting in an inability to produce enough insulin to meet the body's needs.

Arthritis

means of the joints, which causes slow and stiff movement. Multiple joints within the body can be affected by arthritis (Figure 12.18). Two common types of arthritis include and arthritis. Each type of arthritis has different causes, treatments, and outcomes.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among adults. It is caused by the wearing down of that pads the surfaces of bones that meet at the joints. The bones then come into contact with each other, triggering , , and . Osteoarthritis can be treated with anti-inflammatory medicine, pain relievers, and mild physical activity. Severely damaged joints may require surgery or replacement with an artificial joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system the joints, causing severe arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the same joints often swell painfully on opposite sides of the body. The pain and swelling often come and go, repeatedly becoming worse, then improving. Over time, the damage from this disease causes in the joints and even affects other organs in the body.Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers, and mild physical activity. Certain medications target the immune system and block its attack on the joint tissues.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy, also called , is a chronic noncommunicable disease that affects the brain. Epilepsy may be the most common noncommunicable disease of the brain. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( ) estimates more than five million people in the US have epilepsy. Often, the cause of epilepsy is unknown, although epilepsy can develop due to other conditions that .

Epilepsy , or interruptions in the usual signaling among brain cells (Figure 12.19). Severe epilepsy can interfere with and affect school performance. Epilepsy might also interfere with driving or walking. Often, the seizures associated with epilepsy can be managed with medications. Having awareness of and being informed can help you know how to respond.

Treating Noncommunicable Diseases

When , such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy, occur, people should see a doctor for treatment. Treatment for noncommunicable diseases usually involves a . Sometimes, treatment requires a person to change behaviors or their environment. Medications can also help the body return to a state of internal balance. can help a person maintain or improve strength, balance, and mobility. Some people need , which helps them learn skills to maintain an active lifestyle at home or work.

Some treatments are meant to a disease. Treatment may also work to fix the causes of disease. Sometimes, the goal of treatment is to get rid of or and symptoms. For chronic diseases, treatment may allow a person to manage the disease and live a productive, active life for as long as possible.

When people or their loved ones receive a diagnosis of a noncommunicable disease, many turn to strategies. These may include self-medication with tobacco, alcohol, medication, or drugs, which can harm health. can help people understand and cope with stress and challenges related to the disease (Figure 12.20). This can have a more positive outcome.