Prelims Study HMS

UNIT 1 – HEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES

1.1 Meanings of Health

  • Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO).

  • Health is dynamic and changes over time.

  • Health has five dimensions:

    • Physical

    • Social

    • Emotional

    • Mental

    • Spiritual

  • Good health allows individuals to reach their potential and participate in everyday life.

1.2 Dynamic Nature of Health

  • Health changes throughout life.

  • Health exists on a continuum from optimal health to illness.

  • Different dimensions of health can change independently.

  • Health is influenced by:

    • Individual factors

    • Sociocultural factors

    • Socioeconomic factors

    • Environmental factors

1.3 Epidemiological Measures

Incidence

  • Number of new cases of a disease during a specific period.

Prevalence

  • Total number of existing cases at a given time.

Mortality

  • Number of deaths within a population.

Morbidity

  • Level of illness, disease or injury in a population.

Life Expectancy

  • Average number of years a person is expected to live.

Epidemiology is used to:

  • Identify health trends.

  • Monitor diseases.

  • Allocate resources.

  • Develop health policies.

  • Evaluate health programs.

1.4 Social Justice Principles

Equity

Resources are distributed according to need to achieve fair outcomes.

Access

People are able to obtain and use health services and resources.

Participation

People have opportunities to be involved in decisions affecting their health.

Rights

Everyone is entitled to basic freedoms, opportunities and healthcare.

1.5 Determinants of Health

Individual

  • Genetics

  • Age

  • Sex

  • Knowledge

  • Attitudes

  • Behaviours

Sociocultural

  • Family

  • Peers

  • Media

  • Religion

  • Culture

Socioeconomic

  • Income

  • Employment

  • Education

  • Housing

Environmental

  • Climate

  • Pollution

  • Geography

  • Access to services

  • Built environment

2.1 Young People Through the Ages

Young people's health is influenced by:

  • Historical factors

  • Social factors

  • Cultural factors

  • Political factors

  • Economic factors

  • Technology

Changes over time include:

  • Education

  • Employment

  • Family roles

  • Technology

  • Rights

  • Health challenges

2.2 Research Project

Primary Data

Collected first-hand.
Examples:

  • Surveys

  • Interviews

  • Questionnaires

  • Observations

Secondary Data

Already collected.
Examples:

  • Government reports

  • AIHW

  • WHO

  • Journal articles

  • Statistics

Quantitative Data

Numerical information.

Qualitative Data

Opinions, experiences and descriptions.

Reliable research should be:

  • Valid

  • Reliable

  • Ethical

  • Credible

  • Current

3.3 Skills for Strengthening Action

  • Communication

  • Collaboration

  • Leadership

  • Advocacy

  • Decision making

  • Problem solving

  • Critical thinking

  • Planning

  • Evaluating

4.1 Health Advocacy

Health advocacy aims to:

  • Raise awareness.

  • Influence policy.

  • Improve health outcomes.

  • Promote social justice.

  • Reduce health inequities.

Methods include:

  • Campaigns

  • Social media

  • Lobbying

  • Petitions

  • Community action

  • Education

4.2 Health Promotion

Health promotion enables people to improve control over their health.

Characteristics:

  • Preventative

  • Evidence-based

  • Sustainable

  • Accessible

  • Community focused

Health promotion:

  • Builds healthy public policy.

  • Creates supportive environments.

  • Strengthens community action.

  • Develops personal skills.

  • Reorients health services.

UNIT 2 – THE BODY AND MIND IN MOTION

1.1 Skeletal System

Functions:

  • Support

  • Protection

  • Movement

  • Mineral storage

  • Blood cell production

Joint types:

  • Hinge

  • Ball-and-socket

  • Pivot

  • Gliding

Ligaments:

  • Connect bone to bone.

Cartilage:

  • Reduces friction.

  • Absorbs shock.

1.2 Biomechanical Principles

Force

A push or pull that changes motion.

Stability

Improved by:

  • Wider base of support.

  • Lower centre of gravity.

Levers

  • Bones = levers

  • Joints = fulcrums

  • Muscles = effort

  • Load = resistance

Planes of Movement

  • Sagittal

  • Frontal

  • Transverse

Axes

  • Frontal

  • Sagittal

  • Longitudinal

1.3 Circulatory System

Functions:

  • Transport oxygen.

  • Transport nutrients.

  • Remove wastes.

  • Transport hormones.

Blood vessels:

  • Arteries

  • Veins

  • Capillaries

Exercise responses:

  • Increased heart rate

  • Increased stroke volume

  • Increased cardiac output

1.3 Respiratory System

Function:

  • Oxygen enters body.

  • Carbon dioxide removed.

Air pathway:
Nose/Mouth → Trachea → Bronchi → Bronchioles → Alveoli

Gas exchange occurs in:

  • Alveoli

Exercise responses:

  • Increased breathing rate

  • Increased tidal volume

1.4 Digestive System

Functions:

  • Break down food.

  • Absorb nutrients.

  • Supply energy.

Food pathway:
Mouth → Oesophagus → Stomach → Small intestine → Large intestine → Rectum

Most nutrient absorption occurs in:

  • Small intestine

1.4 Endocrine System

Hormones regulate body functions.

Important glands:

  • Pituitary

  • Thyroid

  • Pancreas

  • Adrenal glands

Important hormones:

  • Insulin

  • Glucagon

  • Adrenaline

1.5 Nervous System

Central Nervous System

  • Brain

  • Spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

  • Nerves

Neuron types:

  • Sensory

  • Motor

  • Interneurons

Functions:

  • Coordination

  • Movement

  • Reaction time

  • Reflexes

2.1 Energy Systems

ATP-PC System

  • Immediate energy.

  • Very high intensity.

  • Lasts about 0–10 seconds.

  • Uses phosphocreatine.

  • No oxygen required.

Examples:

  • Sprint start

  • Jump

  • Throw

Anaerobic Glycolysis

  • High intensity.

  • Approximately 10 seconds–2 minutes.

  • Uses glucose.

  • No oxygen required.

  • Produces lactic acid.

Examples:

  • 400 m sprint

  • Repeated volleyball rallies

Aerobic System

  • Low to moderate intensity.

  • Long duration.

  • Requires oxygen.

  • Uses carbohydrates and fats.

  • Produces the greatest amount of ATP.

Examples:

  • Distance running

  • Cycling

  • Swimming

2.2 Macronutrients

Carbohydrates

  • Main energy source.

  • Stored as glycogen.

  • Best for moderate-high intensity exercise.

Protein

  • Growth

  • Repair

  • Muscle maintenance

Fats

  • Long-term energy source.

  • Used mainly during low-intensity exercise.

Micronutrients

Do not provide energy but are essential for body function.

Vitamins

Support:

  • Growth

  • Immunity

  • Energy metabolism

Minerals

Support:

  • Bones

  • Muscles

  • Nerves

  • Blood

Important examples:

  • Iron → oxygen transport

  • Calcium → bones and muscles

  • Vitamin D → calcium absorption

2.3 Aerobic and Anaerobic Training

Aerobic Training

Examples:

  • Continuous

  • Fartlek

  • Aerobic intervals

Benefits:

  • Increased aerobic capacity

  • Improved endurance

  • Lower resting heart rate

Anaerobic Training

Examples:

  • HIIT

  • Sprint training

  • Resistance training

  • Plyometrics

Benefits:

  • Increased power

  • Increased speed

  • Greater muscular strength

2.4 FITT Principle

Frequency

  • How often.

Intensity

  • How hard.

Time

  • Duration.

Type

  • Kind of exercise.

Used to:

  • Plan training.

  • Create progressive overload.

2.5 Physiological Responses to Training

Acute Responses

Occur during exercise:

  • Increased heart rate

  • Increased breathing rate

  • Increased stroke volume

  • Increased cardiac output

  • Increased blood flow

  • Increased body temperature

Chronic Adaptations

Occur after regular training:

  • Increased stroke volume

  • Lower resting heart rate

  • Improved aerobic capacity

  • Increased muscular endurance

  • Improved oxygen delivery

  • Greater fatigue resistance

3.1 Movement Skill Acquisition

Stages:

  1. Cognitive

  2. Associative

  3. Autonomous

Practice types:

  • Whole

  • Part

  • Massed

  • Distributed

  • Mental

  • Physical

Feedback:

  • Intrinsic

  • Extrinsic

  • Positive

  • Constructive

4.1 Psychology and Movement

Motivation

  • Intrinsic

  • Extrinsic

Self-efficacy

Belief in your ability to succeed.

Arousal

Level of physical and mental activation.

Attention

Ability to focus on relevant information.

Anxiety

Can positively or negatively affect performance.

Goal Setting

Goals should be SMART:

  • Specific

  • Measurable

  • Achievable

  • Relevant

  • Time-bound