Risk Factors for Disease PDF

Risk Factors for Disease NFSC100 – Elements of Nutrition Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN Associate Professor Nutrition and Food Science University of Maryland, College Park  Agenda Chronic disease vs. infectious disease – Disease causation vs. increased ris...

Risk Factors for Disease NFSC100 – Elements of Nutrition Margaret Slavin, PhD, RDN Associate Professor Nutrition and Food Science University of Maryland, College Park  Agenda Chronic disease vs. infectious disease – Disease causation vs. increased risk Estimating risk Cardiovascular disease – Development of cardiovascular disease – Risk factors for CVD – Assessing and reducing CVD risk – The TLC eating pattern  Chronic vs. Infectious Disease Infectious disease: – Caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other microbes that can be transmitted from one person to another through air, water or food; by contact; or through a vector organism (mosquitos or fleas) – Examples: influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, strep throat  Chronic vs. Infectious Disease Chronic disease: – Slow progression – Long duration – Degeneration of organs – Due in part to personal lifestyle choices – AKA “lifestyle disease”  Chronic vs. Infectious Disease Examples of diet-related chronic disease: – Heart disease – Hypertension – Cancers – Stroke – Diabetes – Obesity  Diet in the Developed World Those shaded in blue are diet- related. Causation of Infectious Disease Causation of Chronic Diseases?  Risk Factors What is a risk factor? A factor that increases the probability of developing a disease or health problem. Possible risk factors: – Genetics / Family History – Environment – Behavior – Social Chronic Disease Risk Factors Sizer et al. (15 E) Table 11-1  Risk Factors We say that a certain factor puts us at increased risk for a disease, but does not explicitly cause it. Example: Eating a high saturated fat diet will put you at increased risk for developing heart disease. – But not everyone who eats a diet high in saturated fats will develop heart disease! Sizer et al. (15E) Fig. 11-2  Estimating an Individual’s Risk Hard to estimate exactly Father*: Son: High saturated fat diet High saturated fat diet High salt diet Sedentary lifestyle Low fruit/veg diet Family history Smokes Sedentary *had a heart attack at 55  Estimating an Individual’s Risk Hard to estimate exactly Father: Son: High saturated fat diet High saturated fat diet High salt diet Sedentary lifestyle Low fruit/veg diet Family history / genetics Smokes Sedentary *had a heart attack at 55  Reducing Your Risk Identify your risk factors – Get a physical evaluation from your medical care provider – Know your family history – Evaluate your lifestyle: diet, physical activity, behaviors Reduce or eliminate modifiable risk factors – Dietary – Physical activity – Smoking, alcohol – Stress  Levels of Prevention Primary - prevention of disease symptoms Secondary - early detection, diagnosis, intervention, Screening Tertiary - treating & rehabilitating diagnosed patients to delay further disease progression CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND RISK  Cardiovascular Disease Diseases of the heart and blood vessels – AKA “heart disease” – Includes heart attacks – Kills 1 million Americans per year Atherosclerosis = the main type of CVD – Deposits of plaque along the walls of your arteries, and limits blood flow to organs  CVD: Atherosclerosis Fatty deposits form in arterial walls. Fatty deposits harden and form plaque. Plaques oxidize (get damaged) in the arterial walls. Contributors: High saturated fat intake, inflammation, high LDL, hypertension, diabetes Figure 5.17  CVD: Atherosclerosis Acute problem: plaques rupture – Body responds by forming a clot. Can close off the entire artery and block blood-flow. Can break off and travel to another location. Location: – Heart = heart attack (‘myocardial infarction’) – Brain = stroke (‘cerebrovascular accident’) – Lack of blood flow = lack of oxygen!! Figure 5.18 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11920-cholesterol-numbers-what-do-they-mean Reducing CVD Risk through Diet Decrease saturated fats Increase soluble fiber Increase fruits and veggies Increase whole grains / Decrease refined grains Increase fish intake (2 servings / week) Decrease sodium / increase potassium and magnesium  Eating Pattern: TLC Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) – From the NIH – Designed to help decrease blood cholesterol through diet and lifestyle changes. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/TLC-Therapeutic-Lifestyle-Changes-Lower-Cholesterol  Dietary Factors of TLC that Reduce CVD Risk How much potential is there to lower LDL (a CVD risk factor) through diet??? https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/your- guide-lowering-cholesterol-therapeutic- lifestyle-changes-tlc  TLC Diet: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/your- guide-lowering-cholesterol-therapeutic- lifestyle-changes-tlc Sample Menu  Summary Risk factors help us to identify things in our lives that increase our risk of a chronic disease. Having a risk factor DOES NOT mean that you will develop the disease. Our goals: eliminate as many risk factors as feasible. Even so, nothing can guarantee you to be disease- free.