Non-Communicable Diseases

1. Non-Communicable Diseases December 1, 2008

2. Non-communicable • Disease that is not transmitted by another person, a vector, or the environment. • Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Asthma, Allergies, Arthritis

3. Cardiovascular Disease • Disease the affects the hear or blood vessels. • Approximately 61 million Americans have some form of this disease. • Types of CVD – • Hypertension • Arthrosclerosis • Angina Pectoris • Arrhythmias • Heart Attack • Congestive Heart Failure • Stroke

4. Risk Factors for CVD • Tobacco Use • High Blood Pressure • High Cholesterol • Physical Inactivity • Excess Weight • Stress • Drug and Alcohol Use

5. Risk Factors – Cannot Be Controlled • Heredity • Gender – Men are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease as well as greater risk of having a heart attack. • Age – 80% of people who die of cardiovascular diseases are 65 or older.

6. Cancer • Uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells • Tumor – abnormal mass of tissue that has not natural role in the body. • Benign – noncancerous • Malignant – cancerous • Metastasis – spread of cancer from the point it originated to other parts of the body.

7. Types of Cancer • Lymphomas – cancers of the immune system • Leukemias – cancers of the blood-forming tissues • Carcinomas – cancers of the gland and body linings, including the skin and the linings of the digestive tract and lungs • Sarcomas – cancers of the connective tissues, including bones, ligaments, and muscle

8. Risk Factors • Tobacco Use – Lung, bladder, pancreas, and kidney cancer; 1 in 5 deaths are attributed to smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke • Sexually Transmitted Disease – cervical and liver cancers. • Dietary Factors – Colon, Breast, and Prostate; 30% of all cancers linked to poor food choices, specifically ones high in fat and low in fiber. • Radiation – Skin Cancer; 80% of skin cancers are preventable

9. CAUTION about Cancer • Change in bowel habits • A sore that does not heal • Unusual bleeding or discharge • Thickening or a lump • Indigestion or difficulty swallowing • Obvious change in a wart or mole • Nagging cough or hoarseness • Other symptoms can include fatigue and unexplained weight loss.

10. Reduce Your Risk • Practice abstinence from sexual activity • Be physically active • Maintain a healthy weight • Eat nutritious foods – low in saturated fat and high in fiber • Protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation • Avoid tobacco and alcohol • Recognize the warning signs of cancer

11. Treating Cancer • Treatment depends on several factors such as: type of cancer, location, and whether the tumor has spread. • Surgery • Radiation Therapy – radioactive substances used to kill cancer cells and shrinks the cancerous mass. • Chemotherapy – chemicals to kill cancer cells. • Immunotherapy – activates person’s immune system to recognize specific cancers and destroy them. • Hormone Therapy – medicines that interfere with production of hormones; kill or slow the growth of cells.

12. Allergies • Specific reaction of the immune system to a foreign and frequently harmless substance. • Pollen, foods, dust, mold, chemicals, insect venom, and medicines – common allergens • Histamines – chemicals that can stimulate mucus and fluid production. • Typical Symptoms – sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose • Severe Symptoms – hives, itching or swelling of a stung area or the mouth, difficulty breathing, raspy voice, swelling of the tongue, dizziness.

13. Asthma • An inflammatory condition in which the small airways in the lungs become narrowed. • Affects more than 17 million people in the U.S. • 5,000 Americans die of the disease • Certain substances, called triggers, irritate the bronchial tubes resulting in the tightening of the walls and production of mucus.

14. Managing Asthma • Monitor the Condition • Manage the Environment • Manage stress • Take medication

15. Diabetes • Chronic disease that affects the way body cells convert food into energy. • Each year, approximately 1 million new cases are diagnosed. • The pancreas produced too little or no insulin • A hormone that helps glucose enter the body’s cells. • If glucose is not converted into energy, it builds up in the bloodstream, thus a blood test is needed to diagnose diabetes.

16. Types of Diabetes • Type 1 (Autoimmune Disease) • Accounts for 5-10% of all diabetics. • Appears suddenly and progresses quickly; can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. • People can treat diabetes with daily doses of insulin via injections or pump.

17. Types of Diabetes • Type 2 • Accounts for 90-95% of all cases; appears most often after the age of 40. • Body is unable to make enough insulin or use the insulin properly. • Treatment includes weight management and regular physical activity. • Gestational Diabetes – during pregnancy

18. Symptoms • Frequent urination • Excessive thirst • Unexplained weight loss • Extreme hunger • Sudden vision changes • Tingling in hands or feet • Frequent fatigue • Very dry skin • Sore that are slow to heal • More infections that usual

19. Arthritis Arthritis epidemic may result from the number of people participating in adventure sports • 100 + diseases that cause pain and loss of movement in joints. • 8.4 million ages 18-44 have arthritis. • Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis most common types

20. Osteoarthritis • Disease of the joints in which cartilage breaks down resulting in the bones rubbing against each other. • Accounts for half of all arthritis cases affecting about 20 million nationwide. • Most common in women and in people over the age of 45.

21. Reduce the Risk of Osteoarthritis • Controlling weight • Preventing sports injuries/allowing injuries to heal completely before playing again • Protecting against Lyme Disease

22. Rheumatoid Arthritis • Characterized by the destruction of the joints due to inflammation. • Affects 2.5 million people nationwide • Most common in women; • Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 20 and 50 • Can affect young children (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) • Caused by an autoimmune disease – no cure!

23. Symptoms and Treatment • Symptoms • Joint pain • Inflammation • Swelling • Stiffness • Joint deformity • Loss of normal function • Medications • Relieve pain, reduce inflammation and swelling, and stiffness • Exercise • Rest • Joint Protection • Physical and Occupational therapy