In this deck, we'll explore non-communicable diseases. Unlike infectious diseases, these can't be passed from one person to another. We'll look at what causes them, focusing on lifestyle factors, and examine two major examples: coronary heart disease and cancer.

The chance of developing a non-communicable disease is affected by certain factors. These are called risk factors. A risk factor isn't a direct cause, but it does increase the probability of a disease developing. Some risk factors are linked to a person's lifestyle, like their diet or smoking habits, while others can be substances in the environment, like air pollution.

Let's look at our first example, coronary heart disease. Your heart is a muscle that needs its own supply of oxygen-rich blood. This is delivered by the coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease is what happens when these arteries get blocked.