Discussion

1. Describe the symptoms of heart disease!

Answer: The most devastating sign of coronary heart disease is abrupt,
unexpected cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest commonly occurs in people who
have had previous heart attacks, but it may occur as the first symptom of
heart disease. Most people exhibit some symptom or discomfort. Symptoms
usually occur during exercise or activity because the heart muscle's
increased demand for nutrients and oxygen is not being met by the blocked
coronary blood vessel. Chest pain on exertion (angina pectoris), which may
be relieved by rest. More common symptoms of coronary heart disease
include palpitations (a sensation of rapid or very strong heart beats in your
chest), dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, and weakness on exertion or
at rest, irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and an Irregular heartbeat. Silent
ischemia is a condition in which no symptoms occur even though an
electrocardiogram (ECG, or heart tracing) and/or other tests show evidence
of ischemia. Arteries may be blocked 50% or more without causing any
symptoms.
2. What are some things you can do to keep your heart healthy?
Answer: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and
women in the United States. Take steps today to lower your risk of heart
disease. To help prevent heart disease, you can:
a. Eat healthy.
b. Get active.
c. Stay at a healthy weight.
d. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
e. Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
f. Drink alcohol only in moderation.
g. Manage stress.
3. Name 5 foods that can help prevent heart disease.
Answer: The foods that best protect against heart disease include:
a. oily fish – such as mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon which contain
omega-3 fatty acids. This type of fat has been shown to decrease
triglycerides and increase HDL-cholesterol levels, improves blood
vessel elasticity and thins the blood, making it less likely to clot and
block blood flow
b. some vegetables oils – such as corn, soy and safflower, which
contain omega-6 fatty acids, and those containing omega-3 fatty acids
 such as canola and olive oil. All of these can help to lower LDL
cholesterol when used instead of saturated fats such as butter
c. fruit and vegetables – antioxidants in fruit and vegetables offer
protection against heart disease. Fruit and vegetables are also
important sources of folate, which helps lower the blood levels of the
amino acid homocysteine, which appears to be linked to an increased
risk of heart disease
d. fibre – wholegrain cereals and fruit and vegetables
e. unrefined carbohydrate sources with a low glycaemic index – foods
such as wholegrain breads and breakfast cereals, legumes, certain
types of rice and pasta are important for people prone to diabetes
because they help keep blood sugar levels in check
f. legumes and soy – soy protein has been shown to lower LDL
cholesterol levels, especially if blood cholesterol levels are high
g. nuts and seeds – they should be eaten in small quantities, as they are
high in kilojoules
h. tea – some evidence suggests that the antioxidants in tea can help
prevent the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. The antioxidants
may also act as an anti-blood clotting agent and improve blood vessel
dilation to allow increased blood flow
i. foods containing vitamin E – some studies indicate that vitamin E acts
as an antioxidant, helping to protect against ‘bad’ cholesterol. Good
sources of vitamin E include avocados, dark green vegetables,
vegetable oils and wholegrain products. It is better to eat foods
containing vitamin E rather than take supplements, which do not have
the same protective effects
j. garlic – a compound in fresh garlic called allicin has been found in
some studies to lower blood cholesterol
k. foods enriched with plant sterols – a daily intake of 2–3 g of
phytosterols/stanols lowers LDL cholesterol levels by approximately
ten per cent in healthy people and in those with high cholesterol and
those with diabetes. This intake can be achieved by the consumption
of two to three serves of phytosterol-enriched foods like margarine
spreads, reduced-fat yoghurts, milk and breakfast cereals.

What is Cancer?
1. Define the 5 different types of cancer?

Answer:
 a. Carcinomas − the most commonly diagnosed cancers − originate in
the skin, lungs, breasts, pancreas, and other organs and glands.
b. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes.
c. Leukemia is cancer of the blood. It does not usually form solid tumors.
d. Sarcomas arise in bone, muscle, fat, bloodvessels, cartilage, or other
soft or connective tissues of the body. They are relatively uncommon.
e. Melanomas are cancers that arise in the cells that make the pigment
in skin.

2. What is the difference between benign & malignant tumors?

Answer: A benign tumor is a tumor that does not invade its surrounding
tissue or spread around the body. A malignant tumor is a tumor that may
invade its surrounding tissue or spread around the body.

3. What is metastasis? How does it occur?

Answer: Metastasis is a word used to describe the spread of cancer. Unlike

normal cells, cancer cells have the ability to grow outside of the place in the
body where they originated. When this happens, it is called metastatic
cancer. Nearly all types of cancer have the ability to metastasize, but whether
they do depends on a variety of individual factors. Metastases can occur in
three ways:

a. They can grow directly into the tissue surrounding the tumor;
b. Cells can travel through the bloodstream to distant locations; or
c. Cells can travel through the lymph system to nearby or distant lymph
nodes.

4. What causes cancer?

Answer: Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells.

The DNA inside a cell is packaged into a large number of individual genes,
each of which contains a set of instructions telling the cell what functions to
perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in the instructions can
cause the cell to stop its normal function and may allow a cell to become
cancerous.