Lifestyle Diseases and Fatal Four Overview

Modifiable Risk Factors of Lifestyle Diseases

• Lifestyle diseases are also known as non-communicable diseases.
• These diseases are often caused by unhealthy habits.
• The top 5 causes of death worldwide include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. (2012 data)

Fatal Four

• Cardiovascular diseases are disorders of the heart and blood vessels leading to death in the Philippines.
  • Arteriosclerosis: Hardening and thickening of arteries (often natural with aging).
  • Coronary Heart Disease: Narrowing or blockage of blood pathways to the heart.
  • Heart Attack: Cardiac muscle failure due to lack of blood flow.
  • Heart Rhythm Abnormalities/Arrhythmia: Faulty electrical conduction system in the heart, worsened by factors like stress and caffeine.
• Cancer: Abnormal cell division forming tumors.
  • Malignant: Tumor spreads and destroys nearby tissues.
  • Benign: Tumor may grow in size.
• Diabetes Mellitus: Condition where the body cannot produce or effectively use insulin.
  • Type 1: Body cannot produce insulin (mostly hereditary).
  • Type 2: Body has a high glucose level due to a high-sugar lifestyle.
  • Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes during pregnancy.
• Chronic Respiratory Disease: Lung disease affecting air paths.
  • Chronic: Long-lasting nature.
  • Can be life-threatening if not detected and treated early.

Risk Factors

• Unhealthy habits contribute to non-communicable diseases, including:
  • Smoking
  • Substance abuse
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Sedentary lifestyle

Smoking

• Smoking contributes to 1/3 of the world’s cancers.
• Each cigarette contains around 4,000 harmful chemicals.
• Smoking significantly reduces lifespan.
• Types of tobacco smoke include:
  • Mainstream smoking: Smoke inhaled and exhaled by the smoker.
  • Sidestream smoking: Smoke puffed out from a lit cigarette, dangerous to bystanders.
  • Third-hand smoking: Chemical substances on surfaces like clothes, furniture, etc.
• Chemicals in cigarettes, such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar, have harmful effects on the body.

Poor Dietary Habits

• Poor dietary habits occur when a person does not follow the principles of good nutrition.
  • Adequacy: Moderate amount of nutrients.
  • Balance: Correct combination of nutrients.
  • Variety: Consumption of various food products.

Consequences of Poor Dietary Habits

• Leads to issues like malnutrition (underweight or overweight/obesity).
• Potential health problems like stress, tiredness, sleep deprivation, poor brain function, indigestion, and heart problems.
• Diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and depression.
• Potential eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Explore the modifiable risk factors associated with lifestyle diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases. This quiz covers critical health issues including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, emphasizing the leading causes of death globally. Test your knowledge on how these diseases develop and their impact on health.