Non-Communicable Diseases and Risk Factors
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are health conditions that cannot be transmitted from one person to another. This section explores the concept of NCDs, risk factors, and causal mechanisms, with a particular focus on cancer.
Definition: A non-communicable disease is a condition that cannot be transmitted between individuals, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer.
Risk factors play a crucial role in the development of NCDs. These can be categorized into two types:
- Uncontrollable risk factors: age, gender, and inherited genes
- Controllable risk factors: diet, smoking, fitness levels, alcohol consumption, and obesity
Vocabulary: A risk factor is an element that increases the likelihood of a harmful outcome.
Understanding causal mechanisms is essential in GCSE Biology. A causal mechanism explains how one risk factor influences another through a biological process.
Example: Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer because tar, a component of cigarette smoke, is a carcinogen.
Cancer is a significant focus in AQA GCSE Biology non-communicable diseases exam questions. It results from changes in cells leading to uncontrolled growth and division. Tumors, which are masses of abnormally growing cells, can be classified as benign or malignant.
Definition: Benign tumors are growths contained in one place, usually within a membrane, and do not invade other parts of the body.
Definition: Malignant tumors can spread around the body, invading healthy tissues and forming secondary tumors.
The causes of cancer are diverse and include:
- Genetic factors
- Carcinogens (chemicals that cause mutations)
- Viral infections (e.g., HPV causing cervical cancer)
- Ionizing radiation (e.g., UV light, X-rays)
Treatment options for cancer include:
- Radiotherapy: Using radiation to destroy cancer cells
- Chemotherapy: Employing chemicals to stop cell division or cause cell death
This section provides essential information for Cancer GCSE Biology AQA and Cancer GCSE Biology questions.
