Module 8: Non-Infectious Disease and Disorders

Homeostasis

Inquiry question: How is an organism’s internal environment maintained in response to a changing external environment?

● construct and interpret negative feedback loops that show homeostasis by using a range of sources, including but not limited to:

– temperature

– glucose

Temperature

Glucose

● investigate the various mechanisms used by organisms to maintain their internal environment within tolerance limits, including:

– trends and patterns in behavioural, structural and physiological adaptations in endotherms that assist in maintaining homeostasis

– internal coordination systems that allow homeostasis to be maintained, including hormones and neural pathways

– mechanisms in plants that allow water balance to be maintained

Investigate the various mechanisms used by organisms - EasyHSC

Water Balance in Plants — The Wonder of Science

Causes and Effects

Inquiry question: Do non-infectious diseases cause more deaths than infectious diseases?

● investigate the causes and effects of non-infectious diseases in humans, including but not limited to:

– genetic diseases

– diseases caused by environmental exposure

– nutritional diseases

– cancer

● collect and represent data to show the incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of non-infectious diseases, for example:

– nutritional diseases

– diseases caused by environmental exposure

Eating Disorder Statistics & Key Research | Eating Disorders Victoria

Nutritional Diseases

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3409365/

Health Consequences of Environmental Exposures: Changing Global Patterns of Exposure and Disease

Environmental Exposure

https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/disease-and-conditions

Epidemiology

Inquiry question: Why are epidemiological studies used?

● analyse patterns of non-infectious diseases in populations, including their incidence and prevalence, including but not limited to:

– nutritional diseases

– diseases caused by environmental exposure

● investigate the treatment/management, and possible future directions for further research, of a non-infectious disease using an example from one of the non-infectious diseases categories listed above

What Is Non-Communicable Disease?Non-communicable diseases are chronic conditions that negatively impact your health. Learn more about what it is and how you can prevent diseases or manage symptoms.

Management and Prevention Strategies for Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Their Risk FactorsNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are of increasing concern for society and national governments, as well as globally due to their high mortality rate. The main risk factors of NCDs can be classified into the categories of self-management, genetic factors, environmental factors, factors of medical conditions, and socio-demographic factors. The main focus is on the elements of self-management and to reach a consensus about the influence of food on risk management and actions toward the prevention of NCDs at all stages of life. Nutrition interventions are essential in managing the risk of NCDs. As they are of the utmost importance, this review highlights NCDs and their risk factors and outlines several common prevention strategies. We foresee that the best prevention management strategy will include individual (lifestyle management), societal (awareness management), national (health policy decisions), and global (health strategy) elements, with target actions, such as multi-sectoral partnership, knowledge and information management, and innovations. The most effective preventative strategy is the one that leads to changes in lifestyle with respect to diet, physical activities, cessation of smoking, and the control of metabolic disorders.

● evaluate the method used in an example of an epidemiological study

EpidemiologyThis chapter reviews the general concepts of epidemiology, which is the study of the determinants, occurrence, distribution, and control of health and disease in a defined population. Epidemiology is a descriptive science and includes the determination of rates, that is, the quantification of disease occurrence within a specific population. The most commonly studied rate is the attack rate: the number of cases of the disease divided by the population among whom the cases have occurred. Epidemiology can accurately describe a disease and many factors concerning its occurrence before its cause is identified. For example, Snow described many aspects of the epidemiology of cholera in the late 1840s, fully 30 years before Koch described the bacillus and Semmelweis described puerperal fever in detail in 1861 and recommended appropriate control and prevention measures a number of years before the streptococcal agent was fully described. One goal of epidemiologic studies is to define the parameters of a disease, including risk factors, in order to develop the most effective measures for control. This chapter includes a discussion of the chain of infection, the three main epidemiologic methods, and how to investigate an epidemic (Table 9-1).

● evaluate, using examples, the benefits of engaging in an epidemiological study

What is epidemiology and why is it important?Find out more about epidemiology and how our epidemiological research will help us better understand what causes arthritis.

Prevention

Inquiry question: How can non-infectious diseases be prevented?

● use secondary sources to evaluate the effectiveness of current disease-prevention methods and develop strategies for the prevention of a non-infectious disease, including but not limited to:

– educational programs and campaigns

– genetic engineering