High School Health Must-Knows

Material needed for the high-school health exam.

health

combination of physical, emotional/mental, and social wellbeing

emotional health

feelings/thoughts

spiritual health

sense of purpose/meaning

physical health

wellness of the body, including fitness, proper nutrition, sleep, and hygiene

social health

getting along with others

chronic disease

ongoing condition

health continuum

a sliding scale that describes the range from illness to optimal wellness, illustrating states of health

heredity

all the traits biologically passed down to you from your parents

environment

the surroundings that influence health, including physical, social, and cultural factors

attitude

the way you view situations

behavior

the actions and reactions of an individual (can be controlled)

media

various methods of communication of information

technology

delivers media around the world for the easy access of information

valid health information

includes websites like AMA, CDC, and HONcode

risk behaviors

actions that can potentially influence your health or others

cumulative risks

risks that add up over time, more risk behaviors = more likelihood to have negative consequences

abstinence

avoid high-risk behaviors deliberately (like tobacco and sex)

lifestyle factors

personal habits or behaviors related to how the person lives

health education

teaches people about making healthy decisions

Healthy People 2010

nationwide health promotion and disease prevention plan designed to guide health improvement in the US

health disparities

differences in health outcomes among groups

health literacy

person’s capacity to learn about and understand basic health information and services to better health

health-literate people behaviors

think critically, problem-solve, are responsible, productive, communicative, and make informed decisions

wellness

overall state of well-being