Biology – Tiffin School Science Magazine : Sunny Lee 10Y3/AH

Type 2 diabetes – Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder which causes you to have
high blood glucose due to insulin deficiency. Symptoms of long term high blood sugar
complications include increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, amputation and kidney
failure. You’re more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you’re overweight/obese, taking
medication which causes insulin deficiency, and in general an unhealthy diet and less
than average exercise. Therefore, type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in MEDCs
where obesity levels are generally higher and they have more access to fattening foods
and sugar.

Kwashiorkor – Kwashiorkor is a form of childhood protein energy malnutrition with

symptoms including oedema, irritability, anorexia, ulcerating dermatoses, and an
enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates. The presence of oedema caused by poor nutrition
also causes kwashiorkor. In dry climates, marasmus is more associated with
malnutrition. Since the most likely cause for kwashiorkor is malnutrition, it is more
likely to occur in LEDCs where the children won’t have access to proper food and the
protein needed for their diet.

Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a mechanical abnormality characterised by joints that

have been worn down. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking
and sometimes effusion. There are a variety of causes (metabolic, genetic,
developmental and mechanical) that may lead to loss of cartilage. Main causes are being
overweight, mechanical injury, loss of strength in muscles supporting joints and many
others. In this way, we can say that it’s equally as likely in both LEDCs and MEDCs as
in MEDCs it is more likely to be caused from not enough exercise and an unbalanced
diet whereas in MEDCs, doing too much manual labour can cause injury and wearing
joints.

High blood pressure – High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is a chronic medical

condition in which the blood pressure in your body is raised. Constant high blood
pressure can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm and is a
leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Causes of hypertension include stress, visceral
obesity, potassium deficiency, salt sensitivity, alcohol intake and many more. You can
deduce from the information that it’s more likely to occur in MEDCs where people
receive more stress from the demanding jobs as well as the fact that more people are
obese and have easy access to alcohol.

Coronary disease – Coronary heart disease refers to the failure of coronary circulation to
cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. Symptoms can include chest heaviness, dyspnea,
fatigue, chest pain and angina. Causes of coronary heart disease include smoking,
radiotherapy to the chest, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Also, having a
Type A behaviour pattern, with personality characteristics including time urgency and
competitiveness, has been associated with this disease. Once again, most of the sings
show that you’re more likely to get it if you’re in an MEDCs and aren’t living a very
healthy lifestyle.
Irregular periods – Irregular menstruation is an abnormal variation in length of
menstrual cycles in women.