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Lec 8, Health

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's are now the leading causes of death worldwide. They are conditions that last over a year and require ongoing medical care. Social, economic, and environmental factors as well as unhealthy behaviors influence chronic disease development. Prevention focuses on early detection, risk factor management, and lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, eating nutritious foods, and exercising regularly. Common chronic diseases discussed in more detail include cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes.

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Ahmed Haji
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54 views11 pages

Lec 8, Health

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's are now the leading causes of death worldwide. They are conditions that last over a year and require ongoing medical care. Social, economic, and environmental factors as well as unhealthy behaviors influence chronic disease development. Prevention focuses on early detection, risk factor management, and lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, eating nutritious foods, and exercising regularly. Common chronic diseases discussed in more detail include cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Haji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Lec8 2023-2024 Health Care Education

Chronic Diseases of Public Health


Importance
Chronic Diseases

•The early successes of public health against infectious diseases led to a

change in the major causes of illness and death beginning in the 1920s.

• Chronic diseases, especially heart disease and cancer, are now the

leading causes of death around the world.

• Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or

more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily

living or both (Occur across the lifespan and long term effects on the

quality of life).
Examples of chronic diseases of Public Health Importance

• Cardio-vascular disease, hypertension


• Diabetes
• Renal disease
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (Mental illness)
• Arthritis
• Depression
• Asthma
Determinants of Chronic Disease
The development of a chronic disease or chronic disease is influenced by:
• Social, economic & environmental factors e.g. living diseases, working
environments, education, income, food quality, water & air quality, social
support, age, and geographic location.

• Health behaviours and risk factors - unhealthy lifestyles


e.g. smoking, risky alcohol drinking, poor nutrition, lack of physical
activity, unsafe sex, poor social & emotional health.
Prevention of Chronic Diseases (Care)
• Early Detection
• Management – management of risk factors.
Cardiovascular Disease
• Atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty deposits within arterial walls,
Narrowing of arteries supplying blood to the heart).
• Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
• Diet, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking interact to cause injury
of artery walls and raises risk.
Heart Disease: Risk Factors:
• High serum cholesterol levels: Total cholesterol level – low is better
– Low density lipoprotein (LDL) – low is better (Bad Cholesterol)
– High density lipoprotein (HDL) – high is better (good cholesterol)
• Genetics are a major factor.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Exercise lowers total cholesterol and increases
HDL.
• Smoking lowers HDL.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
Hypertension-- High Blood Pressure
• Important risk factor for cardiovascular disease
• Obesity, smoking, stress may be risk factors
• Role of salt
• 140/90 was considered borderline of high blood pressure; guidelines
have been lowered to 120/80.
• Prevention is effective
Cancer
• 2nd leading cause of death in U.S.
• Incidence increases with age--Why?
• Most forms of cancer have a long latent period; initiating
factors start during youth
• Increasing age and accompanying physiological changes
make one more susceptible to actions of carcinogens.
• Not one disease, but many; each has different risk
factors, treatments, etc.
• Arises from mutations in DNA
• Mutations caused by chemicals, viruses, radiation
• Diet and hormones play a role
• Tobacco use causes one-third of cancer deaths
Diabetes
• Prevalence is rising in US along with obesity
• Deficiency in the body’s ability to metabolize sugar
• Type 1 diabetes – childhood onset; failure of insulin-
producing cells of pancreas
• Type 2 diabetes – “adult onset;” insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes closely correlated with obesity
• Treatable, but need long-term monitoring; need good
access to medical care.

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