UNIT 1: You and Your Health!

How do you evaluate your health?

It cannot be measured by a graph scale or chart… it’s a concept that touches every aspect of your life!

Defining HEALTH Page 4

Taking a snap-shot of your health: How do you look? How do you feel? Are you tired? Are you getting along with others? What about yesterday? Did you eat well… what about breakfast?

Health- the combination of your physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.

Elements of your Health… Physical Health:

Being physically “healthy” (not sick); the way the parts and systems of your body work together.

Maintaining it is easy- proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and plenty of sleep.

Mental/Emotional Health: Feelings about yourself and ability to express them;

see mistakes as opportunities to learn, grow, and change.

This helps people avoid dwelling on negative thoughts, and use positive actions to move them through challenges.

Social Well-being: How you get along with others; being able to make

and keep friends, and showing respect and care for yourself and others.

The Health Continuum: Page 7

Wellness- an overall state of well-being, or total health.

Achieving wellness is an ongoing, lifelong commitment to physical, mental/emotional, and social health.

A Continuum is like a yardstick: Chronic Disorders = Premature Death Optimal level of energy, feeling of well-being

= High Level of Health (Page 8)

Promoting Your Health…

Recent discoveries in medicines and advances in technology have helped wipeout many of the diseases that killed people 100, 50, and even 30 years ago. Millions of people get sick, become

disabled, or die each year because of decisions they make and the way they live their lives.

Lifestyle Factors… Page 8

Lifestyle Factors- personal behaviors and habits related to the way a person lives, that helps their level of health. Get between 7-8 hours sleep at night. Eat nutritious foods daily. Eat breakfast everyday. Refrain from smoking or using tobacco products. Do 20-30 minutes of vigorous activity a

minimum of 3 times per week. Do not use alcohol or drugs. Maintain your recommended weight.

Wellness and Prevention… Prevention- practicing healthy habits to

keep a person well and free from disease and other ailments. Wearing seatbelts. Use sunscreen. Wearing safety equipment while playing sports.

Health Education- the providing of accurate health information in such a way as to influence people to change attitudes so that they take positive action about their health. Help people live long, productive lives. Give the tools needed to achieve/maintain total

well-being.

Being Health Literate… Page 10

Health Literacy- an individual’s capacity to obtain, interpret, and understand basic health information and services and use such information and services in a way to promote their health and wellness. A critical thinker and problem solver. A responsible, productive citizen. A self-directed learner. An effective communicator.

Influences on Your Health…

Heredity- all the traits and properties that are passed along biologically from BOTH parents to child. Examples?

Environment- the sum total of your surroundings. Family, friends, where you grew up,

where you live now, and all your experiences.

Environment Cont. Physical Environment:

Are their parks or recreation facilities near your home/school?

How’s the air? City vs. Country? Social Environment:

Your family and people you come in contact with daily. People who show support, love, strength, encouragement, and positive self-image.

Peers- people the same age who share a similar range of interests.

Cultural Environment: Culture- the collective beliefs, customs, and

behaviors of a group.

Behavior… Page 15

The way you choose to act within your environment and with inherited abilities has a very important impact on who you are. Family history means just that… it’s in

the past… prevent it! If there is something you can control…

control it! Smoke detectors, other examples?

Take advantage of positive hereditary and environmental influences!

Taking Responsibility… Risk Factors- actions or behaviors that

represent a potential health threat. Examine current behaviors… what changes

can you make? The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

did a survey of the largest youth risk behaviors: Tobacco use 39%, Alcohol and other drug

use, Sexual behaviors, Unhealthy eating, Inactivity, and Behaviors resulting in intentional and unintentional injuries 35%.

Cumulative Risks… Page 19

These are risks that increase gradually and may add up to a total greater than expected. Smoking 1 cigarette or getting 1

sunburn. A combination of risk factors can be

more serious and have deadly results. Speeding + No seatbelt + Drinking

alcohol…

Taking Responsibility… A reckless driver risks his/her life, the people in the

car with him/her, as well as the other cars on the road. This includes having concern for the welfare of the

community and for the property of others. When certain Protective Factors are present in a

teens’ life, the amount of risky behaviors decrease. Positive Role Models Positive Values Values- beliefs and standards of conduct that you find

important. Abstinence- voluntarily choosing not to do something.

Building Health Skills… Page 28

Health Skills- specific tools and strategies that lead to better and more informed health choices.

Social Health Skills- includes 2… Be an effective communicator; express your knowledge,

beliefs, and ideas in different ways. includes the ability to say no to behaviors that threaten

your health and well-being. Communication- a process through which you

send a messages to and receive messages from others. Say what you mean, know how to say something, be a

good listener, know your facial expressions and body gestures.

Refusal Skills

Refusal Skills- techniques that can help you refuse when you are urged to take part in unsafe or unhealthful behavior Say No! Explain why you are refusing Suggest alternatives to proposed activity Back up your words using body language Leave if necessary

Mental/Emotional Health Skills… Page 30

Building Self-esteem: Self-Esteem- the confidence and worth that you

feel about yourself. Examining the messages you send yourself. Focusing on the things you do well.

Stress Management Skills: Stress- the body’s and mind’s reactions to

everyday demands. Re-channeling your energy. Relaxing. Laughing.

Total Health Skills… Accessing Reliable Information:

How can you tell what to believe and what to disregard? Consider the source. Consider the “angle”… what do they have to

gain. Getting Help:

Being able to ask for help if needed. Who in your life can assist you? What are some resources in your community? Print some electronic resources.

Making Decisions and Setting Goals… Page 34

Making Responsible Decisions: Step 1- State the situation Step 2- List the possible options Step 3- Weigh the possible outcomes Step 4- Consider your values Step 5- Make a decision and take action Step 6- Evaluate your decision

Practicing Decision-Making Skills: Increase your familiarity with the

process…

Setting Goals… Page 36

Goal- something you aim for that takes planning and work.

Kinds of Goals- Short-term: something that takes a short

period of time. Examples? Homework…

Long-term: something that takes a longer period of time to accomplish. Examples: Graduating…

Goal Setting Plan… Page 38

Select a goal to work on. List what you will do to reach the goal. Identify sources of help and support. Set a reasonable time frame for reaching

your goal. Establish checkpoints to evaluate your

progress. Reward yourself after reaching your goal.

Goals and Action Plan… Action Plan- a multi-step strategy for

identifying and achieving goals. Remember, goal setting, like everything

else in this unit, can move you toward the ultimate goal of total health and wellness.

Other guidelines: Shouldn’t harm your health (or any else’s). Show respect. Because it will help you grow, not to “Beat”

someone else. If you fail, use what you learn from it.