LIST 3 CHARACTERISITICS…. Chapter 1 The Health Continuum A persons health IS always at a constant change Your health is like a point along a continuum.

LIST 3 CHARACTERISITICS…

Chapter 1

The Health ContinuumA persons health IS always at a constant change

Your health is like a point along a continuum

A health continuum spans from chronic disorders and premature death over to a high level of health

There are many points along the continuum were your health could be at

The Health Continuum (cont.)

HEALTHRefers to the overall well-being of your body,

your mind, and your relationships with other people.

Two factors used to evaluate life:Life expectancyQuality of life

Life Expectancythe number of years a person can expect to

live.

Quality of Lifeis the degree of overall satisfaction that a

person gets from life.

3 CHARACTERISITICS OF A HEALTHY PERSONPhysical Health

Mental and Emotional Health

Social Health

Physical Health – refers to how well your body functions.Able to carry out everyday tasks without

becoming overly tired.Healthy dietAdequate sleepRegular exerciseProper medical and dental care

Mental and Emotional Health• Mental health – the state of being

comfortable with yourself, others and your surroundings.

• Emotional health- how you react to events in your life.

– To maintain this take time to relax and share your feelings with others.

Social healthHow well you get along with others.When you are healthy you have:

Loving relationshipsRespect the rights of othersGive and accept healthCommunicate with others

What are some influences on health?HeredityPhysical EnvironmentSocial EnvironmentCultureMediaTechnologyHealthcareBehavior

Heredityall the traits that are passed biologically from

parent to child.Traits that you inherit can affect your health. Examples skin cancer and breast cancer

Gender- whether you are male or female. Risk factors vary between males and females.

Physical EnvironmentAll of the physical and social conditions that

surround a person and can influence that person’s health.

Indoor and Outdoor surroundings The air you breathe, the water you drink, expose to

disease causing organisms, radiation from the sun and other sources.

Social EnvironmentPeople you spend time with – family, friends,

classmates and others in your community.

First basic health lessons come from your family:Wash your hands before you eatBrush your teeth before going to bedLook both ways before crossing the street

CultureThe beliefs and patterns of behavior that are

shared by a group of people and passed from generation to generation.

Aspects that can influence your culture:Foods you eatWay you show emotions

MediaAre forms of communication that provide

news and entertainment.

Can have a positive or negative influence of your health.

Example: TV

TechnologyHelps doctors to detect health problems

sooner and improve the quality of life for patients.

Using the computer to research health topics requires caution and good judgment…why?

Spending hours on the computer limits time for exercise.

HealthcareYour health is influenced by the healthcare

that is available to you and your family.

Healthcare includes the medical services provided by doctors, nurses, dentists, and therapists. Also, it includes places these people work such as clinics and hospitals.

Need some sort of healthcare to make payments for necessary check ups and medicines including treatment affordable.

BehaviorSuppose a group of friends came up to you

and said, “A group of us are going swimming tonight at the lake after dark. Be ready at eight, I’ll pick you up,”

What would you do?

Of all the influences on your health, the decisions you make and the actions you take often have the greatest impact on your health.

BehaviorSometimes behaviors become habits.

Habits- a behavior that is repeated so often that it becomes almost automatic.Example – brushing your teeth and television

Unhealthy habits can be broken, How?

Risk FactorAny action or condition that increases the

likelihood of injury, disease or other negative outcome.

Three ways you can evaluate a risk factor:Short and long term consequencesWhether you can control the risk factorAnalyze the possible benefits and risks of a

decision

Understanding Health Risks 4 Step ProcessFirst step is to increase awareness of risk

behaviors

Risk behaviors – actions that can potentially threaten your health or the health of others

Second step is to gain knowledge by looking at your current behaviors and make any necessary changes

Third step is to build healthy skills, also known as decision making process.Analyzing influencesAccessing informationCommunicatingMaking decisionsSetting goalsPracticing healthful behaviors

Step four is achieving health literacy, also known as applying skills.

A person with health literacy has the ability to gather, understand, and use health information to improve his or her health.

4 Steps Simplified AwarenessGain KnowledgeDecision-makingApplying skills

When making a decision…What do you consider:

ValuesRisksBenefits

QUIZ TOMORROW