Noncommunicable Diseases (Lifestyle Diseases) Cardiovascular Diseases, Cancer, Diabetes,Allergies

Noncommunicable disease A disease that is not transmitted by another person, a vector, or the environment A disease caused by how you live your life

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) A disease that affects the heart or blood vessels Approximately 61 million Americans have a CVD CVDs are responsible for 40% of all deaths in the US = almost 1 million Americans If you are reading this say “Yo!”

Types of Cardiovascular Diseases Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Diseases of the Heart

Hypertension High blood pressure Can damage heart, blood vessels, and other body organs Can occur at any age, but more common for people over the age of 35 23% of Americans age 20-74 have hypertension “silent killer” – no symptoms at early stages Get BP checked regularly Management Medication, weight management, adequate physical activity, proper nutrition

Atherosclerosis The process in which plaques accumulate on artery walls Build up of plaque causes arteries to thicken and lose their elasticity Clots can form from plaque If blood flow is stopped to the heart = heart attack If blood flow is blocked to the brain = stroke

Heart Attack Blood flow is blocked to the coronary arteries Many are sudden and cause intense chest pain Common symptoms Pressure, fullness, squeezing, or aching in the chest area Discomfort spreading to the arms, neck, jaw, upper abdomen, and back Chest discomfort with shortness of breath, lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting Other symptoms Immediate response and treatment is needed to treat a heart attack

Congestive Heart Failure Heart gradually weakens Can result from high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart valve defect, or other factors Strategies for prevention – healthy lifestyle and sometime medication

Stroke Arterial blockage interrupts the flow of blood to the brain Severity of stroke depends on which part of the brain lost blood

Why am I at risk? The decisions you make now will affect your health later in life. Symptoms may not show up for years

Risk Factors for CVDs Controllable Tobacco Use High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Sedentary Lifestyle Excessive Weight Stress Drug and Alcohol Use Uncontrollable Heredity Gender Age

Diabetes A chronic disease that affects the way body cells convert food into energy

Symptoms of Diabetes Frequent urination Excessive thirst Unexplained weight loss Extreme hunger Sudden vision changes Tingling in hands or feet Frequent fatigue Very dry skin Sores that are slow to heal More infections than usual

Type 1 Diabetes The body does NOT make insulin – glucose builds up in the body (high glucose levels) Autoimmune disease – a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself, targeting the cells, tissues, and organs of a person’s own body Must take insulin

Type 2 Diabetes Noncommunicable Disease Linked with obesity and a diet high in fat, calories, and cholesterol Accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes The body is unable to make enough insulin or use insulin properly Treatment Weight management, regular physical activity, and monitoring their diet

Uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells Cancer Uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells

Cancer Vocabulary Tumor – abnormal mass of tissue that has no natural role in the body Benign – non-cancerous Malignant – cancerous Metastasis – the spread of cancer from the point where it originated to other parts of the body

Risk factors for Cancer Tobacco use Sexually Transmitted Diseases Dietary Factors Radiation

Detecting Cancer Self-examinations Biopsy – the removal of a small piece of tissue for examination

Skin Cancer - ABC's

CAUTION C – Change in bowel habits A – A sore that does not heal U – Unusual bleeding or discharge T – Thickening or a lump I – Indigestion or difficulty swallowing O – Obvious change in a wart or mole N – Nagging cough or horseness

Treating Cancer Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Remission – a period of time when symptoms disappear

Alzheimer’s Disease Destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Your brain works like a factory take in supplies, generate energy, construct equipment and get rid of waste keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen In Alzheimer’s disease, parts of the cell’s factory stop running well But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. The most common form of dementia Has no current cure

Asthma & Allergies

What is Asthma? Chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway, making breathing difficult Usually reversible, but not yet curable Can be fatal Not contagious Not the same as allergies

Should You Be Concerned? More than 22 million people in the U.S. have asthma, this includes about 6.7 million children Asthma is a leading reason for school absenteeism.

What Happens During an Asthma Episode? Breathing tubes swell up Muscles around these tubes tighten Tubes make large amounts of a thick fluid called mucus

Warning Signs of an Asthma Episode Coughing Wheezing Chest tightness Shortness of Breath

When Having a Severe Asthma Episode Go to the emergency room right away Signs of a severe episode Rescue or inhaler medicine doesn’t help within 15 minutes Person’s lips or fingernails are blue Person has trouble walking or talking due to shortness of breath

Asthma Triggers Pollen Dander Mold Dust Secondhand Tobacco Smoke

Other Common Asthma Triggers Cleaning products like furniture polish or dusting sprays Personal care products like hair spray or perfume Flu, Colds

What are Allergies? An unusual reaction to something, like a food or a plant, which is normally harmless. 40 to 50 million people have allergies. Breathing can be difficult.

Common Signs of Allergies Stuffy or runny nose Itching A rash

Common Allergens An allergen is something that causes allergy signs or allergic reaction. Many of the asthma triggers can also cause allergic reactions in people who don’t have allergies.

Some Other Common Allergens Foods Medicine Insect Stings and bites Contact allergens

Controlling Asthma & Allergies Know your triggers Healthy Housekeeping Keep Down Dust Mites Pets Check Appliances Smoking Mold Control Other Pests