Non-communicable Disease
Heart disease, cancer and diabetes aren't infectious.
About this topic
Non-communicable diseases cannot be passed from person to person. They include cardiovascular disease, cancers, type 2 diabetes, respiratory diseases like COPD, and genetic disorders. They are often caused by a combination of risk factors: diet, smoking, alcohol, inactivity, genes and environment.
These diseases cause most deaths worldwide. A risk factor increases the chance of disease but does not guarantee it. For instance, a diet high in saturated fat can lead to fatty deposits in the arteries, narrowing them and raising blood pressure, which may result in a heart attack or stroke. Obesity is linked with type 2 diabetes, where cells stop responding to insulin.
Studies show correlations, but correlation does not mean cause: researchers use large samples and controls to show a link, as in the evidence connecting smoking with lung cancer. Some factors, like age and genes, cannot be changed, while lifestyle can.
Prevention includes a balanced diet, exercise, not smoking, limited alcohol and screening. Students often confuse non-communicable with non-infectious in a wrong way; some conditions, such as cervical cancer, are caused by an infection (HPV) yet cancer itself is not catchable. Also, genetic does not always mean inherited from parents.
Key ideas
- Risk factors: diet, smoking, inactivity
- Genetic factors
- Screening helps
Quick check
Use cases: where Non-communicable Disease helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Non-communicable Disease before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Non-communicable Disease without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Non-communicable Disease changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Non-communicable Disease in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Biology underpins medicine, farming, conservation and biotechnology.
Frequently asked questions
What is Non-communicable Disease?
Heart disease, cancer and diabetes aren't infectious.
What will I learn in Non-communicable Disease?
Risk factors: diet, smoking, inactivity. Genetic factors. Screening helps.
Is Non-communicable Disease part of Biology?
Yes. It is one of 150 Biology topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Non-communicable Disease lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Non-communicable Disease?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.