Note that your final mark will not be saved in the system.
5. Health GapFill
You must fill all the gaps before clicking ‘Check Answers!’
Health
Health is the state of physical and mental well-being. Diseases are major causes of ill health. Other factors including diet, stress and life situations may affect both physical and mental health.
Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and . They can be passed from person to person.
Non-communicable diseases can’t be caught from another person. They are often long-lasting and get worse slowly over time. Examples include heart disease, asthma, diabetes and .
Some non-communicable diseases are caused by a faulty gene, and are inherited; for example, cystic fibrosis. Others are related to various risk factors.
Risk factors are things that increase a person’s likelihood of developing a particular disease during their lifetime. They are often related to a person’s lifestyle or substances in their environment.
, or not enough food, causes reduced growth, poor health and deficiency diseases.
Too much food can also cause health problems.
Obesity
A person is said to be obese if they are very .
People gain weight if they take in more kilojoules of energy than they burn up, because the excess energy is stored as fat.
Most obesity is at least partly caused by our lifestyle choices – eating too much food that is high in sugar and , and not doing enough to burn it off.
Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for a range of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and some cancers.
Medical and recreational drugs
Drugs are substances that change chemical reactions in the body. Medical drugs are used to treat illnesses. They include:
- Antibiotics, which kill harmful bacteria without damaging our body cells.
- , such as aspirin and paracetamol.
Recreational drugs such as alcohol and tobacco are taken by choice, but they may be addictive.
Addiction means that the drug has changed the chemical balance in the body so that the body becomes dependent on the drug. If a person stops using the drug, they will suffer unpleasant symptoms and feel very ill.
Some recreational drugs are legal in the UK, and some are illegal.
Alcohol and nicotine (found in tobacco) are legal recreational drugs. However, misuse of them can cause health problems.
Alcohol
The alcohol in alcoholic drinks such as wine, beer and spirits is ethanol, which slows down the activity of the brain and nervous system.
This can make people feel more relaxed, but it also leads to slower , which is why it is so dangerous to drink and drive.
Very heavy alcohol use can slow the brain down so much that the person becomes unconscious and can even die.
Heavy drinking can damage the and the brain. Women who are pregnant are warned not to drink alcohol because it can affect the unborn child.
Smoking
Over 110,000 people die every year from smoking-related illnesses. All cigarettes sold now carry a prominent health warning.
Tobacco smoke contains:
- Nicotine. This is addictive, and it can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- .This damages the airways and lungs, and it contains chemicals that can cause cancer.
- Carbon . This is a poisonous gas that stops the blood from carrying enough oxygen. Smoking during pregnancy can mean that the fetus does not get enough oxygen to develop fully, and can cause premature births and low birth weight.
Illegal drugs
Ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and heroin are illegal recreational drugs.
Heroin and cocaine are very addictive illegal drugs which can cause a range of health problems.