Taking Charge of Your Health Chapter One

Wellness: The New Health Goal Usually refers to the condition of a person’s body (Absence of injury or illness) Wellness Not limited to the absence of physical disease Multidimensional state of optimal well-being determined by the decisions you make Six Dimensions of Wellness: Physical Emotional Intellectual Spiritual Social Environmental .

Wellness: The New Health Goal The Wellness Continuum

Wellness: Then and Now Since the 1900’s In the1900’s ~Life span has doubled Currently, most die from chronic disease A chronic disease: develops and continues over a long period of time Lifestyle choices increase or decrease the risk of chronic disease In the1900’s ~Lifespan = 47 yrs. Most died from infectious disease An Infectious disease is: easily spread from one person to another (bacteria & viruses) After 1900’s vaccine & antibiotic development reduced # of infectious diseases

The Healthy People Initiative Healthy People 2020 has several objectives: Eliminate preventable disease, disability, injury and premature death Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities and improve health of all groups Create social and physical environments that promote health Promote healthy development & behaviors across all stages of life

Factors That Influence Wellness Health habits Heredity/Family history Genome: entire amount of genetic material (DNA) in a persons cells Favorable and unfavorable genes are inherited that decrease/increase risk of disease Environment Access to Health care

Getting Serious About Your Health Examine current health habits Choose a Target Behavior Defined as: One behavior you want to change; start simple Learn About Your Target Behavior Find Help

Changing Your Behavior Setting Goals Your behavior change goals should be SMART: SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC, TIME-FRAME SPECIFIC

Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change Precontemplation No current intention of changing Contemplation Recognize a problem and begin to contemplate the need to change Preparation Close to taking action, and may have a plan Action Begin to follow action plans or outwardly modify behavior Maintenance Have maintained a behavior for at least six months; Vigilance, attention to detail, and long-term commitment Termination New behavior has become an essential part of daily living

Taking Charge of Your Health Chapter One