PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES AND DISORDERS

(Non-communicable and Lifestyle Diseases)

Non-communicable diseases are some of the major causes of mortality in the Philippines.
Many Filipinos die every day because of heart disease and cancer. Diabetes, arthritis, and
respiratory disorders are also major health concerns. That is why it is important for everyone to
know the information about non-communicable diseases and their prevention.
Non-communicable diseases are non-infectious illnesses which may result from heredity
or lifestyle factors and not from pathogens. Common examples are heart disease and cancer
that may result from heredity factors, improper diet, and other risk factors. Some non-
communicable diseases do not usually lead to death but are uncomfortable and cause
suffering.

Common Non-communicable Diseases

Different Types of Non-communicable Diseases
1. Allergy - is synonymous to hypersensitivity, which refers to an exaggerated response to
antibody-forming substance or antigen.
A. Responses maybe triggered through food intake, vaccines or blood transfusion,
insect sting, skin contact, or through nasal by smell.
B. Allergies are not contagious.
C. Symptoms of allergies include swelling of the mucus membrane, redness and
itching of the eyes, impaired hearing, rashes, and headaches.
2. Asthma – is a chronic condition in which breathing becomes difficult.
A. Common asthma triggers are dust and mold, pollen, cold air, weather change,
sinus infections, stress, and certain foods.
B. How can we manage asthma?
i. Do not inhale paint fumes, insecticides, and cleaning products.
ii. Avoid products sold in aerosol cans.
iii. Drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day.
iv. Avoid stressful situations and do not exercise too hard.
v. Do not smoke avoid second hand smoke.
vi. Take all prescribed medications with filled stomach.
vii. Do not go outside in extremely cold water.
3. Cardiovascular Disease – is a disease of the heart and blood vessels. This disease is the
leading cause of mortality in the Philippines.

Types of Cardiovascular Diseases

A. Coronary Heart Diseases – occurs when coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked
by waxy substance referred to as plaque.
i. Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. If the flow
of oxygen rich blood to the heart is reduced or blocked, a serious heart
problem, like heart attack, may occur.
ii. Arteriosclerosis refers to conditions that cause hardening and thickening of
the arteries. Many of these conditions are natural to aging individuals.
iii. Atherosclerosis is a kind of arteriosclerosis where fat is deposited on arterial
walls, which could harden and create plaque.
iv. High cholesterol in blood, fat-rich diets, high blood pressure, and smoking
can damage the cells in the artery lining and increase the risk of coronary
heart disease.
Major Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease
 Smoking
 Diabetes
 Hypertension
 Cholesterol
 Age
 Obesity
 Physical Inactivity
 B. Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to the lack of blood flow to the
heart.
i. The coronary arteries narrowed by plaque become clogged by blood clot
and blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked.
ii. Signs include uncomfortable pressure or pain in the center of the chest; pain
that spreads to shoulders, neck, and jaw; light headedness; sweating;
nausea; and shortness of breath.
C. Angina Pectoris is the chest pain resulting from narrowed coronary arteries
because the heart gets inadequate quantity of oxygen. Angina attack usually
lasts less than five minutes.
D. Rheumatic Fever is when the immune system attacks the heart and causes fever,
weakness, and damage to the valves in the heart. Rheumatic fever is common
among teens that sometimes result to permanent damage known as rheumatic
heart disease.
E. Heart Rhythm Abnormalities or Arrhythmia is the condition when heartbeat is not in
rhythm. The heart may beat fast or slow without having obvious reasons. There are
medicines, which can cure arrhythmia, but if ineffective, artificial pacemaker will
be inserted. The heart has a natural pacemaker called sino-atrial node.
F. Congestive Heart Failure happens when the heart is not able or is below the
normal capacity to pump blood causing liquid to accumulate in the lungs and
other areas of the body.
i. Causes of this disease are heart attack, atherosclerosis, birth defect, high
blood pressure, and rheumatic fever.
ii. Reducing salt foods help cure congestive heart failure.
G. Stroke also known as cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood vessels in the
brain are broken or blocked. Blood cells, which are supported by the blocked
artery, will not receive oxygen and will die in minutes. The affected part of the
brain cells including the part of the body it controls will not work. The most
aneurysm, a weakened part of the blood vessels. When one aneurysm burst , it
may result to stroke.

Signs of Stroke
According to the American Heart Association, F. A. S. T. is an easy way to remember the
sudden signs of stroke. When you spot these signs, you need to call for help right away.
F – Face Drooping – Does the face sag on one side or numb? Ask the person to smile and
examine if the smile in uneven.
A – Arm Weakness – Ask the person to both arms. Can the person keep arms lift up?
S – Speech Difficulty – Is the person’s speech slurred? Do you understand what the person is
saying.
T – Time to Call – If the person shows any indication of the following signs, call for emergency
and get immediate hospitalization. Remember the time when the first signs occurred.

Ways of Reducing Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

1. Maintain a healthy blood cholesterol level and choose a heart-friendly diet.
2. Avoid smoking and second hand smoke.
3. Maintain a healthy blood pressure.
4. Maintain a normal body weight.
5. Participate in regular physical activities.

4.Cancer – is a group of diseases in which cells divide in an uncontrolled pace.

a. Cancer is not contagious and it is not caused by injuries or accidents. Anyone
can have cancer.
b. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in male and female, seconded
by prostate cancer for male, and breast cancer for female. Lung cancer is the
leading cause of deaths for male and females.
c. Abnormality dividing cells can form a tumor, an abnormal growth of tissue,
which can be benign or malignant. A biopsy or microscopic examination of
tissue is done to determine if a tumor is benign or malignant.
Difference between malignant and benign tumor
Malignant is cancerous. Malignant tumors can spread infection and destruction of nearby
tissues and other body parts. This is called metastasis.
Benign is not cancerous. Benign tumors may increase in size but do not infect other body
parts. They are typically harmless unless they are in a position where they block normal tissues
or organs.

Major categories of cancer

a. Carcinoma is the most common form of cancer. It is a malignant tumor that
develops from epithelial tissue and tends to spread to other areas of the body.
Epithelial cells line the entire surface of the body and the body organs. Functions
of epithelial cells include secretion, absorption, protection, transcellular transport,
sensation detection, and selective permeability. Cancers of the skin, breast, uterus,
prostate, lung, stomach, colon, and rectum are example of carcinoma.
b. Sarcomas are connective or supportive cancers, which develop in the muscle,
bone, fat, blood vessels, and cartilage.
c. Lymphomas are cancers arising in cells of the lymphatic tissues or the immune
system tissues. They are characterized by abnormal production of white cells and
decrease in resistance.
d. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. It is characterized by an
abnormal proliferation or production of blood cells, usually leukocytes or white
blood cells.

Ways to treat Cancer

a. Radiation Therapy – uses high-energy radiation to kill or damage cancer cells. This
treatment is usually performed using radiation generating machine.
b. Chemotherapy – treatment using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer inside the
body. Anti-cancer drugs target mainly cancer cells although they may harm
healthy cells as well.
c. Immunotherapy – treatment where the immune system is stimulated to fight
cancer cells.

How can you reduce the risk of cancer?

a. Identify the signs and symptoms of cancer. (CAUTION)
b. Have regular checkups. C – Change in bowel or bladder habits
c. Avoid smoking and second hand smoke. A – A sore that does not heal
d. Avoid too much sun exposure. U – Unusual bleeding or discharge
e. Eat your fruits and vegetables. T – Thickening or lump in a breast or elsewhere
f. Observe the meat you eat. I – Indigestion of difficulty in swallowing
g. Exercise and have the right weight O – Obvious change in a wart or mole
h. Be aware of family’s history of cancer N – Nagging cough or hoarseness
i. Avoid drinking alcohol
j. Avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals and airborne fibers.
k. Practice abstinence or safe sex
5.Diabetes of Diabetes Mellitus – a disease in which the body produces little or no insulin. This
happens when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or produces insulin but
does not help cells breakdown sugar. This results in too much sugar or glucose in the
bloodstream. Diabetes cannot be cured but can be controlled.
Types of Diabetes
a. Type 1 Diabetes – or insulin-dependent diabetes occurs when the body produce
little or no insulin. The immune system attacks and destroys cell that produce insulin,
which may be triggered by genetic factors or viruses. This causes the build-up of
sugar in the blood and loss of sugar in the urine.
 Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, continuous hunger,
weight loss, blurred vision, and tiredness.
 Individuals with type 1 diabetes must take daily injections of insulin to stay
alive and follow a special diet.
 Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults.
b. Type 2 Diabetes – or non-insulin-dependent diabetes occurs when the body
produces insulin but cells cannot use it.
 This type of diabetes can be managed with oral medication and through a
program of diet and exercise.
 Symptoms are not as noticeable as type 1 diabetes and may go
undetected for many years.
 c. Gestational Diabetes – occurs in certain females during pregnancies. It is when the
body does not respond to the produced insulin, which is caused by hormones.

 It is treated with diet and not with oral medications for it may harm the baby.

 Usually, gestational diabetes recedes after childbirth but women who had
this is at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

How can we reduce the risk of diabetes?

Diabetes prevention is important especially if you are at an increased risk for the disease.
Certain factors that increase the risks for diabetes include the four Fs: being Fat or overweight,
being Female, Family history, and being Forty years of age or older.

a. Get more physical activities

b. Include fiber and whole grains n your diet.

c. Lose extra weight

d. Make healthier food choices

6.Arthritis – is a painful inflammation of joints that affects the muscle, tendons, and ligaments
surrounding the joints.

Two types of Arthritis

a. Osteoarthritis normally affects the hips, knees, and hand with pain, stiffness, or
inflammation. It is caused by normal wear and tear as we age and may be
worsened by infection or injury to joints.

b. Rheumatoid Arthritis frequently appears on hands, wrists and feet, and can also
affect other body parts besides the joint.

How is Arthritis managed and Treated

a. Perform physical exercises that help in strengthening the muscles around the
joints.

b. Lose and keep a healthy weight

c. Take medicines, like aspirin and some prescription medicines; that will help
alleviate the pain and other symptoms.

d. Take hot baths that can help reduce swelling and pain.

7.Renal Failure – is also known as kidney failure, is a condition where the kidney stops to
function properly, causing renal insufficiency. The kidneys remove the waste products
from blood and help regulate blood pressure, balance electrolytes, and red blood cell
production of the body.

kidney failure?

a. Changes in urination

b. Swelling in legs, ankles, feet, face, or hands

c. Extreme skin rashes and itching

d. Nausea and vomiting

e. Shortness of breath, feeling cold, dizziness