smc-5477-20-Risk and Protective Factors

HMS, HAG 2025 HSC 21

Outline TWO risk factors for ONE of the conditions listed below: (3 marks)

diabetes
respiratory disease
injury
mental health problems and illnesses.

Condition selected:..........................................................

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Any ONE of the following conditions:

Condition Selected: Diabetes

Risk Factor 1: Overweight and Obesity

Excess body weight increases insulin resistance. This prevents cells from responding effectively to insulin.
High body mass index is strongly associated with Type 2 diabetes development.

Risk Factor 2: Physical Inactivity

Sedentary behaviour reduces glucose uptake by muscles. This impairs blood sugar regulation.
Insufficient physical activity contributes to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.

Condition Selected: Respiratory Disease

Risk Factor 1: Tobacco Smoking

Smoking damages airways and lung tissue. This causes inflammation and reduces lung function.
Tobacco smoke exposure is the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Risk Factor 2: Air Pollution

Pollutants irritate respiratory passages and worsen chronic conditions. This increases symptoms and exacerbations.
Poor air quality exposure contributes to asthma development and progression.

Condition selected: Injury

Risk Factor 1: Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol impairs judgement and coordination. This increases accident and injury risk.
Excessive drinking is associated with higher rates of falls, assaults and transport accidents.

Risk Factor 2: Risky Behaviours

Not wearing safety equipment during activity increases injury severity. This includes seatbelts and helmets.
Participation in high-risk activities without proper training elevates injury likelihood.

Condition selected: Mental Health Problems and Illness

Risk Factor 1: Social Isolation

Limited social connections reduce support networks. This increases vulnerability to mental health issues.
Loneliness and disconnection are strongly linked to depression and anxiety development.

Risk Factor 2: Chronic Stress

Prolonged stress exposure affects brain chemistry and functioning. This contributes to anxiety and depression.
Ongoing stressful life circumstances without adequate coping mechanisms increase mental illness risk.

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Any ONE of the following conditions:

Condition Selected: Diabetes

Risk Factor 1: Overweight and Obesity

Excess body weight increases insulin resistance. This prevents cells from responding effectively to insulin.
High body mass index is strongly associated with Type 2 diabetes development.

Risk Factor 2: Physical Inactivity

Sedentary behaviour reduces glucose uptake by muscles. This impairs blood sugar regulation.
Insufficient physical activity contributes to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.

Condition Selected: Respiratory Disease

Risk Factor 1: Tobacco Smoking

Smoking damages airways and lung tissue. This causes inflammation and reduces lung function.
Tobacco smoke exposure is the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Risk Factor 2: Air Pollution

Pollutants irritate respiratory passages and worsen chronic conditions. This increases symptoms and exacerbations.
Poor air quality exposure contributes to asthma development and progression.

Condition selected: Injury

Risk Factor 1: Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol impairs judgement and coordination. This increases accident and injury risk.
Excessive drinking is associated with higher rates of falls, assaults and transport accidents.

Risk Factor 2: Risky Behaviours

Not wearing safety equipment during activity increases injury severity. This includes seatbelts and helmets.
Participation in high-risk activities without proper training elevates injury likelihood.

Condition selected: Mental Health Problems and Illness

Risk Factor 1: Social Isolation

Limited social connections reduce support networks. This increases vulnerability to mental health issues.
Loneliness and disconnection are strongly linked to depression and anxiety development.

Risk Factor 2: Chronic Stress

Prolonged stress exposure affects brain chemistry and functioning. This contributes to anxiety and depression.
Ongoing stressful life circumstances without adequate coping mechanisms increase mental illness risk.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 97 MC

The decline in cardiovascular disease mortality rates in Australia is attributed to improvements in both prevention and treatment, including:

Reduction in risk factor levels and improved medical care with better medications
Increased smoking rates and improved surgical techniques only
Focus on treatment rather than prevention strategies
Elimination of all modifiable risk factors from the population

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\(A\)

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A is correct: Decline due to reduced risk factors like smoking plus improved medications and surgical interventions.

Other Options:

B is incorrect: Smoking rates decreased not increased and improvements include medications not just surgery.
C is incorrect: Both prevention and treatment contributed not just treatment focus.
D is incorrect: Risk factors reduced but not completely eliminated from the population.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 96 MC

Which protective factor is common to both cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention?

Regular screening and check-ups only
Avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreen
Regular physical activity and balanced diet including fruit and vegetables
Family history assessment and genetic counselling

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\(C\)

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C is correct: Regular physical activity and balanced diet with fruit and vegetables protect against both CVD and cancer.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Screening important but physical activity and diet are broader protective factors for both.
B is incorrect: Sun protection specific to skin cancer not general protective factor for CVD.
D is incorrect: Family history is a risk factor not protective factor and doesn’t prevent either condition.

HMS, HAG 2016 HSC 13 MC

Which of the following lists the most common risk factors associated with both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and breast cancer?

Ethnicity, gender, lack of physical activity
Family history, smoking, low sugar intake
Family history, obesity, lack of physical activity
Ethnicity, high fat diet, early onset of menstruation

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\(C\)

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C is correct: All three factors are established risk factors for both conditions.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Gender is not a modifiable risk factor for both.
B is incorrect: Low sugar intake is protective, not a risk factor.
D is incorrect: Early menstruation affects breast cancer but not CVD specifically.

HMS, HAG 2017 HSC 22

Explain both the risk factors and the protective factors of cardiovascular disease. (5 marks)

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Cardiovascular disease risk factors include modifiable and non-modifiable elements. This occurs because genetic predisposition and age cannot be changed but create increased susceptibility. For example, family history of heart disease increases individual risk through inherited genetic factors. Additionally, smoking damages arterial walls and reduces oxygen delivery to heart muscle. High blood pressure causes arterial stress and atherosclerosis development. Consequently, obesity leads to increased cardiac workload and metabolic dysfunction.
Protective factors help to prevent cardiovascular disease through lifestyle modifications. This happens when regular physical activity strengthens heart muscle and improves circulation efficiency. For instance, aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure and increases HDL cholesterol levels. Healthy diet patterns provide essential nutrients while limiting saturated fats and sodium intake. Therefore, Mediterranean diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids support cardiovascular health. Furthermore, avoiding tobacco use prevents arterial damage and maintains optimal blood flow. The reason for this is protective behaviours counteract the biological processes that lead to cardiovascular disease development.

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Cardiovascular disease risk factors include modifiable and non-modifiable elements. This occurs because genetic predisposition and age cannot be changed but create increased susceptibility. For example, family history of heart disease increases individual risk through inherited genetic factors. Additionally, smoking damages arterial walls and reduces oxygen delivery to heart muscle. High blood pressure causes arterial stress and atherosclerosis development. Consequently, obesity leads to increased cardiac workload and metabolic dysfunction.
Protective factors help to prevent cardiovascular disease through lifestyle modifications. This happens when regular physical activity strengthens heart muscle and improves circulation efficiency. For instance, aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure and increases HDL cholesterol levels. Healthy diet patterns provide essential nutrients while limiting saturated fats and sodium intake. Therefore, Mediterranean diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids support cardiovascular health. Furthermore, avoiding tobacco use prevents arterial damage and maintains optimal blood flow. The reason for this is protective behaviours counteract the biological processes that lead to cardiovascular disease development.

♦♦ Mean mark 55%.

HMS, HAG 2017 HSC 20 MC

Which group is most at risk of developing breast cancer?

Women who take the contraceptive pill and exercise regularly
Women over the age of 50 with high levels of circulating oestrogen
Women who have given birth to multiple children and breastfed them
Women with early onset menopause and using hormone replacement therapies

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\(B\)

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B is correct: Age over 50 and high oestrogen levels are major breast cancer risk factors.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Regular exercise is protective against breast cancer, reducing risk.
C is incorrect: Multiple births and breastfeeding are protective factors against breast cancer.
D is incorrect: Early menopause reduces lifetime oestrogen exposure, lowering breast cancer risk.

HMS, HAG 2018 HSC 22

Describe the determinants of health that affect a preventable condition in Australia OTHER THAN cancer or cardiovascular disease. Use examples to support your answer. (4 marks)

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Mental health conditions are affected by multiple determinants of health.
Sociocultural determinants include social isolation, stigma surrounding mental illness and cultural attitudes towards help-seeking. For example, rural communities often have limited social support networks.
Socioeconomic determinants encompass income levels, employment status and educational attainment. Unemployment and financial stress frequently contribute to anxiety and depression.
Environmental determinants involve geographic location and access to services. Remote areas have fewer mental health professionals and support services available.
Health behaviour determinants include substance use, physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns. Excessive alcohol consumption often worsens depression and anxiety symptoms.
Biomedical determinants comprise genetic predisposition, brain chemistry imbalances and hormonal influences. Family history increases risk for conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

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Mental health conditions are affected by multiple determinants of health.
Sociocultural determinants include social isolation, stigma surrounding mental illness and cultural attitudes towards help-seeking. For example, rural communities often have limited social support networks.
Socioeconomic determinants encompass income levels, employment status and educational attainment. Unemployment and financial stress frequently contribute to anxiety and depression.
Environmental determinants involve geographic location and access to services. Remote areas have fewer mental health professionals and support services available.
Health behaviour determinants include substance use, physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns. Excessive alcohol consumption often worsens depression and anxiety symptoms.
Biomedical determinants comprise genetic predisposition, brain chemistry imbalances and hormonal influences. Family history increases risk for conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

♦♦ Mean mark 52%.

HMS, HAG 2019 HSC 19 MC

Which row of the table shows the risk factors and protective factors for the second-highest leading cause of cancer deaths for females in Australia in 2016?

	Risk factors	Protective factors
A.	Constipation, high-fat diet	Not smoking, consume foods high in fibre
B.	Alcohol consumption, family history	Regular physical activity, avoid weight gain
C.	Excessive exposure to sunlight, fair skin	Apply sunscreen, wear SPF clothing
D.	Smoking, exposure to occupational radiation	Not smoking, wear personal protective equipment

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\(B\)

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B is correct: Breast cancer is second-highest female cancer death; alcohol and family history are key risks.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: These factors relate to colorectal cancer, not second-highest cause.
C is incorrect: Skin cancer factors don’t match second-highest female cancer mortality.
D is incorrect: Lung cancer factors match highest, not second-highest female cancer deaths.

♦♦ Mean mark 29%.

HMS, HAG 2019 HSC 1 MC

Which of the following is a non-modifiable risk factor for breast cancer?

Age
Obesity
High-fat diet
Physical inactivity

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\(A\)

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A is correct: Age cannot be changed and increases breast cancer risk.

Other Options:

B is incorrect: Obesity is modifiable through diet and exercise.
C is incorrect: High-fat diet can be changed through nutrition choices.
D is incorrect: Physical inactivity is modifiable through lifestyle changes.

HMS, HAG 2020 HSC 9 MC

Which risk factor contributes to the leading cause of cancer death in males in Australia?

High-fat diet
Tobacco smoking
Physical inactivity
High blood pressure

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\(B\)

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B is correct: Tobacco smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: High-fat diet linked to bowel cancer not lung cancer.
C is incorrect: Physical inactivity increases various cancers but not leading cause.
D is incorrect: High blood pressure linked to cardiovascular disease not cancer.

HMS, HAG 2020 HSC 1 MC

Which type of cancer are people who work outdoors most at risk of developing?

Bowel
Breast
Cervical
Skin

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\(D\)

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D is correct: UV exposure from sun increases skin cancer risk significantly.

Other Options:

A is incorrect: Bowel cancer linked to diet and lifestyle factors.
B is incorrect: Breast cancer affects females, not outdoor work-related.
C is incorrect: Cervical cancer caused by HPV, not sun exposure.

HMS, HAG 2021 HSC 21b

Explain how TWO protective factors can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. (4 marks)

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Protective factors: Regular physical activity and Healthy Diet

Regular physical activity strengthens the heart muscle and improves cardiovascular efficiency. Exercise works by increasing stroke volume and cardiac output while reducing resting heart rate. As a result, blood pressure decreases and circulation improves. Therefore, arterial walls experience reduced strain and blockage formation decreases.
Maintaining a healthy diet prevents the buildup of cholesterol in arteries. When people consume foods low in saturated fats and high in fibre, blood cholesterol levels consequently remain within healthy ranges. This creates reduced plaque formation in coronary arteries, which means blood flow to the heart muscle remains unobstructed.

Show Worked Solution

Protective factors: Regular physical activity and Healthy Diet

Regular physical activity strengthens the heart muscle and improves cardiovascular efficiency. Exercise works by increasing stroke volume and cardiac output while reducing resting heart rate. As a result, blood pressure decreases and circulation improves. Therefore, arterial walls experience reduced strain and blockage formation decreases.
Maintaining a healthy diet prevents the buildup of cholesterol in arteries. When people consume foods low in saturated fats and high in fibre, blood cholesterol levels consequently remain within healthy ranges. This creates reduced plaque formation in coronary arteries, which means blood flow to the heart muscle remains unobstructed.