EG3213Spatial Science & HealthEmerging diseases

Topics What are emerging diseases? Obesity Diabetes Sexually transmitted diseases Alcohol related illness Allergies, drugs, car accidents, smoking etc New Assignment

What are Emerging Diseases? Sometimes known as “lifestyle diseases” Epidemiology of such diseases is altered in

response to individual choice Historically, these diseases have always been

present – but to a much lesser extent Change in prevalence largely due to

enhancement of genetic and environmental risk

What are Emerging Diseases? Many of these diseases are a result of greater

economic success and affluence in western societies

Changes in agriculture have made food far cheaper and more readily available

Unfortunately, modern industrial processes for both food production and household goods have increased exposure to chemicals

Obesity Probably the easiest problem to understand

Access to cheap food Increase in “fast food” high in fat and sugar High sugar soft drinks sold at schools Decline in physical activity Use of public transport Car ownership Change in “school run”

Obesity Many of the problems are directly linked McDonalds burgers are relatively expensive

but are used by “lazy” or wealthy parents to feed children

McDonalds burgers are very high in refined sugars and fats

Fats and sugers that are refined reduce the need for our bodies to refine and process

Obesity Process of digestion uses fewer calories to

process and allows fat to be stored more rapidly

Children are getting obese and this has serious implications for their health later in life

Use of TV by children and adults also reduces likelihood of exercise being undertaken

Diabetes Diabetes insipidus (DI) – a relatively rare

form of diabetes caused by a deficiency of vasopressin from the pituitary gland

Diabetes mellitus (DM) - a more common metabolic condition where blood sugars may be too high or too low

Pancreas may stop producing enough insulin that regulates blood glucose

Diabetes There is currently no cure for DM but self-

injection of “humulin” or “mixtard” insulin in response to careful blood sugar monitoring for “type 1” diabetics (insulin dependent)

There are each year an estimated 14.2 new cases of this type of diabetes per 100,000 children aged under 15

DM may also be controlled by diet and changes to lifestyle – “type 2” diabetes

Diabetes There appears to be a strong association

between lack of exercise, obesity and a resulting risk of developing type 2 diabetes

For this reason, type 2 DM is most prevalent in “western” economically developed contries

More than 2M people in UK have diabetes

Islets of Langerhans pancreas cell section through pancreas of patient with diabetes mellitus

Image source: Bergman (2006) and Michler (2006)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs are one of the few emerging diseases

that are not stricly related to economic wealth (love is free!!!!)

Most STDs are really lifestyle diseases rather than emerging diseases – many STDs were caught and spread by amorous sailors from European colonial powers visiting islands and previously unchartered lands

Sexually Transmitted Diseases What we might term as “emerging diseases”

are those STDs which are relatively new and for which there is no cure – principally HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus

HIV leads to a clinical condition known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which may take a decade to develop

Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV was isolated in 1983 and was often

linked to mainly homosexual activity – paticularly in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions of the US

It has claimed a number of high profile people (actors and scientists) who have been active in raising public awareness

Sexually Transmitted Diseases In fact, HIV is known to be transmitted

through unprotected heterosexual activity, blood transfusions and medical procedures where hygiene rules are ignored

Once HIV develops into AIDS the result is a progressive decline in immune status. Cause of death may be a common cold or septicaemia from cut

Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV is believed to have resulted from a

“crossing over” from a known animal disease affecting chimpanzees – Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV)

Two main types of HIV HIV-1 most prevalent in western societies HIV-1 & HIV-2 found mainly in Africa HIV-2 is less aggressive form

Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV-1 sub-types (known as “clades”) are very

strongly associated with geography and vary from country to country

Epidemiology of all STDs in human society is usually a direct result of: Social and moral beliefs Urbanisation and household occupancy patterns Religious belief

Alcohol related illness Alcohol abuse has seen a resurgence in recent

years Around the middle of the 19th century it was

quite common for people of all ages to be habitual gin drinkers – mostly the working classes

Alcohol consumption declined during the 20th century – until the last few decades

Alcohol related illness Innovations by breweries have led to alcohol

consumption to increase – particularly amongst the young

Slick advertising, bulk buy deals and especially “alcopops” and vodka based drinks have allowed more wealthy youngsters to imbibe on a regular basis

It is essentially a legal form of drug abuse

Alcohol related illness Long term effects of alcohol abuse include

Serious mental health problems Loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and sterility Damage to heart walls and arterial hardening Liver damage Premature facial scarring (strawberry nose) Cognitive and motor function impairment Social exclusion, depression and suicide

Alcohol related illness In addition to the ill effects for the individual

other notable effects include Violence and physical injuries (falling over) Domestic violence Drink-driving or work-related accidents operating

machinery

The rest…. Allergies

food alergies and certain textiles Car accidents Drugs Asthma

not really fully understood Stress Smoking