TOPIC 2: IMPACT OF LIFESTYLE ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Lifestyle diseases can be defined as diseases linked with one’s lifestyle. These diseases are non-
communicable diseases. They are caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy
eating, alcohol, substance use disorders and smoking tobacco, which can lead to heart
disease, stroke, obesity, type II diabetes and Lung cancer. The diseases that appear to increase in
frequency as countries become more industrialized and people live longer include Alzheimer's
disease, arthritis, atherosclerosis, asthma, cancer, chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney
failure, osteoporosis, PCOD, stroke, depression, obesity and vascular dementia.

NUTRITION

Exercise capacity is compromised by diet in terms of availability of micro and macro nutrients,
and by body mass, in terms of biomechanics and energy cost. Optimal nutrition and physical
activity during the bone-building years of childhood are singularly important in determining
bone health over the course of one’s life. Bone demineralization and conditions of osteopenia
and osteoporosis are highly associated with nutrition and activity in adults. Low bone mineral
density is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease which in turn has implications for the
targeted prescription of exercise in the management of chronic back pain in such a cohort

Eating red and processed meat increases risk of developing colorectal cancer. Saturated fat and
trans fats increase blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Higher sodium/salt intake is a major
risk factor for elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, and probably stomach cancer.
Diets high in meat and dairy also increase blood pressure. Diets high in energy-dense, highly-
processed foods and refined starches and/or sugary beverages contribute to overweight and
obesity.

Overweight and obesity is associated with increased total mortality and increased risk of disease
or death from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and several types of cancer. It does so by
increasing high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, insulin resistance and inflammation as well as
hormone levels.

An Unhealthy Diet Is a Contributing Risk Factor

Not following a healthy diet can increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
Unhealthy diets also increase your risk of high blood pressure, dental health problems, and
osteoporosis. Even if you don't die from these diseases, they greatly impact your quality of life
and can cost a lot of money to treat.

Limiting Certain Components Can Decrease Disease Risk

Regardless of all the confusing nutrition research constantly coming out in the news, a few
factors have been shown repeatedly to increase the risk of chronic diseases. Limit your
consumption of saturated fats (which come from mainly from animal products and processed
foods), added sugars, and sodium.

Studies have also shown that some types of foods are particularly harmful when it comes to
increased disease risk. These foods include red meat, especially processed red meats like bacon
and ham. Other particularly harmful types of food include sugary beverages and high-calorie,
highly-processed foods made with refined flours.

Increasing Consumption of Certain Foods Can Decrease Disease Risk

Most Americans don't eat enough of the foods that help decrease disease risk, including
vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, seafood, and legumes like beans and peas. The
current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends using oils instead of solid fats like butter,
lard, and tropical oils that are solid at room temperature.

Overall Calorie Consumption Can Affect Disease Risk

For the healthiest diet, you need to match the number of calories you eat with the number of
calories you burn through daily activity to limit weight gain. If you consume too many calories,
even from nutritious foods, you can become overweight or obese, and a high BMI can also
increase your risk of developing chronic diseases.

INSUFFIENT EXERCISE

Sedentary lifestyles are well known to be associated with non-communicable diseases including
heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and some cancers which
explains why lifestyle-related conditions tend to cluster With respect to its impact on
musculoskeletal health, sedentary living is independently associated with back problems . In
addition, inactivity has been associated with joint degeneration due to reduced synovial fluid
production to protect joint surfaces
Even when back pain is acute, tolerable physical activity is now advised as standard practice, as
opposed to former recommendations of bed rest . People with chronic conditions, including back
pain, walk less and are generally less physically active than those without pain. This
phenomenon could be confounded by fear of pain and pain avoidance behaviour . McDonough
and colleagues recently reported that people with low back pain can not only increase their
walking capacity with reduced disability and pain with a pedometer-driven walking program, but
also with no ill effects.

 Strong evidence shows that physical inactivity increases the risk of many adverse health
conditions, including major non-communicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2
diabetes, and breast and colon cancers, and shortens life expectancy. Because much of the
world's population is inactive, this link presents a major public health issue.

Health improvements seen with PA and exercise are not limited to the cardiovascular system.
After becoming physically active, type 2 diabetics improve their overall insulin sensitivity and
positively altered skeletal muscle proteins and enzymes associated with glucose
metabolism and insulin signaling. As a result, structured exercise programming is an important
part of a diabetic's medical management plan.
Additional health benefits exist for preventing disease complications and improved quality of
life. Daily PA and exercise enhances bone health by increasing bone mineral density. These
interventions are recommended in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and to decrease
the risk of future bone fractures. Also, PA and exercise improve the immune system enabling the
body to fight infectious diseases resulting in less overall susceptibility to sicknesses. As part of
this immune adaptation, lymphatic function is enhanced and inflammation is reduced by
decreasing inflammatory cell accumulation.

 Adverse effects of smoking

Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals. It is believed that the reason why people
smoke is due to the active ingredient in the tobacco, nicotine which acts as a stimulant and a
relaxant through its effects on the central nervous system, adrenals and the sympathetic nervous
system . When a cigarette is smoked, nicotine-rich blood passes from the lungs to the brain
within seven seconds and immediately stimulates the release of many chemical messengers
including acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, arginine, dopamine, autocrine
agents, and beta-endorphin. This release of neurotransmitters and hormones is responsible for
most of the effects of nicotine. Nicotine appears to enhance concentration and memory due to the
increase of acetylcholine. It also appears to enhance alertness due to the increases of
acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Arousal is increased by the resultant elevated level of
norepinephrine. Pain is reduced by the increases of acetylcholine and beta-endorphin. Anxiety is
reduced by the increased beta-endorphin. Nicotine also extends the duration of positive effects of
dopamine and increases sensitivity in brain reward systems .This is one of the key reasons why
cigarette is very addictive.

Some smoke components, such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and
nitrogen oxides, are gases. Others, such as formaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, and certain N-
nitrosamines, are volatile chemicals contained in the liquid-vapour portion of the smoke aerosol.
Still others, such as nicotine, phenol, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and certain tobacco-
specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are contained in the submicron-sized solid particles that are
suspended in cigarette smoke. In view of this chemical complexity, cigarette smoke has been
shown to have multiple and highly diverse effects on human health. These adverse effects have
been documented in literature to involve every organ in the human body culminating in various
cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary airway disease to various cardiovascular diseases. It has
also been linked with auditory problems while in India and China it has been associated with
increased prevalence in pulmonary tuberculosis

IMPACT ON DRUG ALCOHOL MISUSE

Alcohol and drugs can disrupt the daily function to the human brain. Alcohol for example is a
depressant which will cause disruptions on the balance of the brain affecting thoughts, feelings
and actions. Alcohol and drugs cause the brain to release chemical changes that create
stimulation by weakening the part of the brain associated with inhibition leading to increases in
confidence. However, alcohol and drugs affect the brain in other ways. It may create mood
changes leading to aggression, anger, anxiousness and depression.
 Alcohol is causally linked (to varying degrees) to eight different cancers, with the risk
increasing with the volume consumed. Similarly, alcohol use is related detrimentally to many
cardiovascular outcomes, including hypertension, haemorrhagic stroke and atrial fibrillation. For
other cardiovascular outcomes the relationship is more complex. Alcohol is furthermore linked
to various forms of liver disease (particularly with fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis)
and pancreatitis.

OTHER LIFE SYTLE FACTORS

occupational illness is defined as a condition that results from exposure in a workplace to a
physical, chemical or biological agent to the extent that the normal physiological mechanisms are
affected and the health of the worker is impaired.

An “Occupational disease” is any chronic ailment which occurs primarily as a result of an

exposure to risk factors arising from work activity. “Work-related diseases” have multiple
causes, where factors in the work environment may play a role, together with other risk factors,
in the development of such diseases.

Hearing loss:
workers in the mining, construction and manufacturing industries need better hearing
conservation strategies. Hearing loss and auditory issues are also a problem in hospitality and
healthcare settings.
Cancer:
 Occupational cancers occur when workers are in contact with carcinogenic substances in their
workplace. Certain substances are associated with different cancers, and certain carcinogens can
be especially prevalent in certain industries.
Computer Vision Syndrome: Working at a desk all day brings a different set of risks for staff.
Although they are less likely to develop a skin or lung disease, long periods of time spent staring
at a computer screen can lead to serious eye conditions.

Stress and mental health disorders: Multiple sources state that mental health disorders can also
be considered as occupational diseases in certain contexts. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
is most commonly cited. PTSD can affect workers in high pressure workplaces, such as the
military or law enforcement. According to 2013 statistics presented by the Canadian Mental
Health Association, 8 per cent of Canadians who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD.