MAKING HEALTHY DECISIONS Ch. 1 Notes

WHAT IS HEALTH? Health- The overall well-being of your body, your mind, and your relationship with other people. Two factors that can be used to evaluate health are: Life Expectancy- The number of years a person can expect to live. Quality of Life- The degree of overall satisfaction that a person gets from life.

ASPECTS OF LIFE Physical health- how well your body functions. Mental & Emotional health- Being comfortable with yourself, with others, and with your surroundings (mental). How you react to events in your life (emotional). Social health- Being able to make and keep friends; how well you get along with others. How well would you rate your overall physical, emotional and social health?

CONTINUUM OF HEALTH What is a continuum? Many of the choices you make on a daily basis affect your position on the health continuum. Examples: Not wearing a helmet, smoking, not exercising, daily eating natural fruits and veggies, being a good friend, etc. A continuum is a gradual progression through many stages between one extreme and another. A health continuum is the full range between “illness” and “wellness”.

INFLUENCES ON HEALTH Heredity- All traits that are passed biologically from parent to child. Gender- whether you are male or female. Physical Environment- Includes both indoor and outdoor surroundings. Ex: The quality of air you breath, exposure to noise, etc.

INFLUENCES ON HEALTH CONTINUED Social Environment- The people you spend time with- your family, friends, classmates, & other people in your community. Ex: wash hands before eating, brush teeth before bed, friends who take risks, etc. Culture- The beliefs and patterns of behavior that are shared by a group of people and passed from generation to generation. Ex: Foods you choose to eat, if you display emotions or not, etc.

INFLUENCES ON HEALTH CONTINUED Media-forms of communication that provides entertainment. Ex: Music, video games, movies, TV, internet, magazines, etc. Technology- Advances in technology= good. Sites online can be good but also can be misleading or self serving.

INFLUENCES ON HEALTH CONTINUED Healthcare: Medical services- doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists- clinics and hospitals. Your health is influenced by the healthcare that is available to you & your family. Behavior: Decisions and actions you take. Habit- a behavior that is repeated so often it becomes automatic.

BUILDING HEALTH SKILLS Analyzing Influences Accessing Information Communicating Making Decisions (values) Setting Goals (action plan) Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely Practicing Healthful Behaviors Advocacy (influence & support others in making positive health info.) Health Literacy- Ability to gather, understand, and use health information to improve his or her health.

IDENTIFYING HEALTH RISKS Influences on Health… Heredity Environment Culture Media Technology Healthcare Behavior Evaluating Health Risks: Risk Factors -Short/Long-Term Consequences -Risk factors you can and cannot control -Analyzing Benefits and Risks

HEALTHY PEOPLE Prevention-Taking action to avoid disease, injury, and other negative health outcomes Health Literacy- The ability to gather, understand, and use health information to improve your health. A Healthy You: -Gain Awareness -Gain Knowledge -Build Health Skills {analyze influences, access information, communication, make decisions (values), set goals, practice healthy behaviors, advocacy}