Making Healthy Decisions Chapter 1 Making Healthy Decisions

What is Health? Health refers to the overall well-being of your: body mind relationships with other people Two factors that can be used to evaluate health are: life expectancy quality of life

Life Expectancy Life expectancy is the number of years a person can expect to live Between 1900 and 2000, life expectancy increased by 30 years. A few reasons for this are: better healthcare nutrition sanitation working conditions

Quality of Life Quality of life is the degree of overall satisfaction that a person gets from life For example, two men are born in the same year. One man is physically active and mentally alert through out his life. The other man has a series of health problems during his life that reduces his ability to enjoy life. Although the men have the same life expectancy, they have a different quality of life.

Aspects of Health The aspects of health that are important to overall well- being are: physical health mental health emotional health social health

Physical Health Physical health refers to how well your body functions When you are physically healthy, you are able to carry out every day tasks without becoming overly tired.

Physical Health What’s important for physical health? a healthy diet regular exercise adequate sleep proper medical and dental care

Mental Health Mental health is the state of being comfortable with yourself, with others, and with your surroundings. You are mentally healthy when your mind is alert, you can learn from your mistakes, and you recognize your achievements.

Emotional Health Emotional health is how you react to events in your life. You are emotionally healthy when the feelings you experience are appropriate responses to events. To maintain your emotional health, you need to take time to relax, and you need to share your feelings with others.

Social Health Social health refers to how well you get along with others. When you are socially healthy, you have loving relationships, respect the rights of others, and give and accept help. Good social health doesn’t just happen. You have to work at it by getting involved with others at school, in your community, and building strong relationships with family members.

Influences on Health Factors that can influence health include: heredity environment culture media technology healthcare behavior

Heredity Heredity is all the traits that are passed biologically from parent to child. For example, your skin color can affect your risk of skin cancer. Another example is that some women inherit a higher risk for breast cancer.

Environment Environment is all of the physical and social conditions that surround a person and can influence that person’s health. Types of environments: physical environment social environment

Physical Environment Physical environment includes: both your outdoor and indoor surroundings Examples: the quality of air you breathe the water you drink exposure to disease-causing organisms loud noise radiation from the sun and other sources

Social Environment Social environment includes: the people you spend time with (family, friends, classmates, people in your community). Most people learn the basic health lessons from their family, such as, wash your hands before you eat, brush your teeth before bed, etc. Your social environment is healthier when you choose friends who show concern for their own health and yours.

Culture (part of Social Environment) Culture is the beliefs and patterns of behavior that are shared by a group of people and passed from generation to generation Examples how culture can influence your health: the foods you eat the way you show your emotions

Media Media are forms of communication that provide news and entertainment. Media can have a positive or negative influence on your health. Examples of media are: television newspaper magazine internet

Technology Technology can also have a positive or negative influence on your health. Positives of Technology: advances in technology helps doctors internet sites give information about health topics Negatives of Technology: spending many hours on the computer limits time for other activities (exercise) internet predators

Healthcare Your health is influenced by the healthcare that is available to you and your family. Healthcare includes medical services provided by: doctors nurses dentists therapists

Behavior The decisions you make and actions you take often have the greatest impact on your health Sometimes behaviors become habits. A habit is a behavior that is repeated so often that it becomes almost automatic. Examples: brushing teeth after meals (good habit) staying up late watching TV (bad habit)

Evaluating Health Risks There is no such thing as a risk-free life. Risk factors you CAN NOT control: heredity Risk factors you CAN control: level of physical activity intake of fat, sugar, or salt use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs use of protective gear (seat belts) choice of friends