Download Chronic Disease and Environment

CHRONIC DISEASE AND
ENVIRONMENT
Common Core Standard
9.PCH.1.1
Recognize that individuals have some control
over risks for communicable and chronic
diseases.
9.PCH.1.4
Design strategies for reducing risks for chronic
diseases.
Think about it…
Could the environment around me contribute to acquiring a chronic
disease?
Some Diseases Influenced or
Caused by Environment
 Asthma
 Allergies
 Various Cancers
 Obesity
 Immune Deficiency Diseases
 Kidney Disease
 Lead Poisoning
 Mercury Poisoning
Asthma
 Asthma is a disease that makes it difficult to breathe.
 Causes episodes of wheezing, tightness in the chest,
coughing, etc.
 Attacks are triggered by many environmental factors: dust,
mold, fumes, etc.
Allergies
 Allergies are caused by many of the same things. Dust, pet
dander, mold, certain things in foods, etc.
 Allergic reactions can range from minor things like nasal
congestion to more serious things like anaphylaxis.
 Anaphylaxis involves swelling, hives, and closing of airway.
Can result in death if medical attention is not given.
Cancer
 Smoking or Second Hand Smoke – 40 Chemicals in smoke cause
cancer.
 Skin Cancer- Skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases- closely linked to cervical cancer in
women.
 Diet - especially fatty foods and alcoholic beverages, also are linked
to cancer.
Chemicals
 Kidney Diseases, Immune Deficiency Diseases, and various
cancers can be caused by environmental agents.
 If soil, air, or drinking water are contaminated and a person is
exposed to them constantly (such as living in an area or
working in an area with these contaminants) they can develop
a disease like one mentioned above.
Obesity
 The area you live in can
contribute to obesity.
 If a person lives in an area
where it is hard to find
places to exercise, chances
of obesity go up.
 One example is lack of
sidewalks. If it is dangerous
to go for a walk because
there is no safe place to do
so, a person will likely
choose not to go for a walk.
Heavy Metal Poisoning
 Lead can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed
through skin. Eating paint chips was a
common cause in the past for young
children. Now some toys have leadcontaining paint.
 Lead poisoning can cause anemia,
decreased bone and muscle growth,
damage to kidneys, mental delays and
damage to brain and nervous system.
 Mercury is largely put into the air by
burning coal, it ends up in water and
accumulates in fish and fish eating animals.
 Chronic mercury poisoning causes damage
to organs and brain. Causes neurological
problems and blindness in some cases.
Sources
 http://www.livestrong.com/article/194656-chronic-mercury
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poisoning-symptoms/
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_1222026953--,00.html
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/lead_poisoning.html#
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/default.htm
http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/allergies_immune/all
ergies.html
http://www.idph.state.il.us/cancer/factsheets/cancer.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001815/
http://naturopathconnect.com/articles/heavy-metal-toxicity/
http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=13