Health Issues

This blog is a place to find links to health articles and activities. The goal is that access to this information will help you make healthy, positive decisions in your life. Posts and links will relate to the 4 major areas of focus in our health curriculum…Nutrition, CPR/First Aid, Sex Ed and Current Health Issues. Comments are welcome.

Intro Activity:

Search on one of the following websites for information regarding a specific teen health issue. Be prepared to BRIEFLY (2 minutes) overview and explain the issue to your classmates.

Center for Disease Control

TeensHealth.org

Mayo Clinic

Health Issues at US News and World Report

Substance Abuse

You’ve seen the message.

And you’ve seen the Drug Mugs.

Taking drugs can have a massive impact on your mind, your future, your goals, and of course, your health. In this lesson we look at what substances are being abused and how that abuse impacts the use, why people turn to drug use to begin with, and how to quit and recover from substance abuse.

It’s important to note, as the BBC special indicates, that the list of abused substances is constantly changing as people continue to experiment with different medicines, chemicals and other substances. Just because a drug is “new,” does not in any way make it safer than any of the drugs listed here.

Be smart and be healthy. Don’t allow your life to be destroyed and sabotaged by the abuse of different substances.

Browse the following link to learn additional information about each of the commonly-abused substances and to hear personal stories from those who have been impacted by poor choices.

Click the Mouse Party link and explore this site with a partner. Be ready to discuss issues that are addressed at this site.

Body Image

Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more. 

In other words, Body Image and Self Esteem are directly linked to a healthy life.

So what things impact your self esteem? How can you have a healthy and realistic view of yourself?

Teens do all kinds of things to “fit in” or to be attractive and empowered. Some of the current issues related to self esteem and body image include the following topics. Read the articles linked under each topic and be ready to share feedback regarding this issue and how it impacts the health of teens.

Pressure to be Thin:

Skinny Mannequins Renew Debate

Did Model Die From Pressure to be Thin?

Common Eating Disorders and Risks

Tattoos and Piercings:

Teen Tattoos: easy to get, easier to regret.

Teens, Tattoos and Body Piercings

Tattoos: Health Risks from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Plastic Surgery:

Nightline Special on Teens and Plastic Surgery

Model’s Death Highlights Risks of Plastic Surgery

Mom Gives Botox Treatments to 8-Year Old Daughter

How to Have a Healthy Self-Image:

1. Take inventory of the positives. It is easy to focus on all the things that you are “not” or all the ways you do not measure up to some ideal. Focus on the strengths that you DO have.

2. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to be your best. Friends who belittle you are not friends.

3. Get your eyes off of yourself. Find a way to help other people or to meet some need in the community around you. Taking the focus off of yourself and helping others will positively impact the way you feel about yourself.

4. Set goals. Learn new things. Find something to work towards.

5. Exercise. Yes, exercise. Run, bike, play, swim…exercise releases endorphins into your system, helping you think better, reduce anxiety, relieve depression and strengthen your body.

Sex Ed Day 1: Introduction

Introductory information from Day 1 of Sex Ed Class. Synopsis: The study of sexuality involves much more than just the topic of sex. Looking at the range of issues involved in this topic has implications for healthy choices and healthy living.

 

Pre-Test

Work with a partner to answer the following True or False questions:

__ 1. Conception occurs when the sperm and egg unite.

__ 2. Sperm are to the testes as eggs are to the ovaries.

__ 3. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the testes.

__ 4. Babies can be born with syphilis and herpes      (Sexually Transmitted Infections).

__ 5. The eggs of the female are stored in the fallopian tube.

__ 6. Fertilization takes place in the uterus.

__ 7. Labor is the contraction of the uterus.

__ 8. The sex of the baby is determined at the time of fertilization.

__ 9. The cervix is the upper portion of the uterus.

__ 10. AIDS can be transmitted through kissing.

__ 11. A girl can get pregnant before her first period.

__ 12. Another name for the womb is the uterus.

__ 13. The hymen membrane is the indicator of virginity on a female.

__ 14. Menstruation stops during pregnancy.

__ 15. The pill, if taken regularly, is 100% effective against getting pregnant.

Sex Ed Day 2: Media and Sexuality

Day Two covers Sexuality and the Media. Synopsis: The message regarding sexuality that comes through media sources will lead one to believe that the norm is much different than reality. The concept of misogyny is introduced through several articles and demonstrated through advertisements in magazines and on television.

All Groups Read:

Gender Stereotyping and Media

http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/media-issues/body-image

 

Group One

Media and Sexuality

http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=teensex

http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=abstinence

http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=familyplanning

http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=stds

Group Two

Generation M

http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=234

Politics and Misogyny

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/opinion/15herbert.html?_r=1

Sex Ed Day 3: Physiology

Day three. Physiology. Synopsis: The body is an intricate and amazing machine. Understanding how it operates in a healthy individual is a key part of any study of sexuality.

The relationship between cell sizes and scale.

Sex Ed Day 4: Conception and Fetal Development

Today we will be watching the movie Life’s Greatest Miracle.

You need to be looking/listening for the following terms while watching this movie:

A blastocyst,  The zona,  The process of gastrulation,  The process of meiosis,  The cillia, Deoxyribonucleic acid,  An embryo,  A fetus

Be prepared also to answer the following questions:

1. How many chromosomes does a sperm and an egg carry?

2. At what location does the sperm usually meet the egg for conception to occur?

3. How does the female body prepare for the birth of the baby?

4. What challenges does the baby face during birth?

With a partner, view the following TedTalks presentation about fetal development. The author of this talk repeatedly mentions how amazing this whole process is. What things surprised or amazed you in learning about this process? Be prepared to share aloud with the group.

Sex Ed Day 5: STI’s

Today you will be doing some research with a partner in preparation for a presentation on Sexually Transmitted Infections. Your research should include all pertinent information, including how the STI is spread, what indications/symptoms are present for the STI, how/if the STI can be cured, what treatment is available for sufferers of the STI and what STI prevention techniques are most effective. Each team will present this information in the form of a 3-5 slide powerpoint or prezi presentation. All team members must be involved in presenting the information to the class.

Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases – http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm

http://www.iwannaknow.org/teens/sti/sti_overview.html

http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std.html

Information on STD’s, abstinence –  http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/faq-eng.php

Abstinence education and teen health issues –  http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/11/27/

Birth control and contraceptive information:

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/birthcont.htm

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/youth/health/contraceptives/abstinence.htm

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~k1geiger/contraception.htm

Contraceptive Failure Rate and other Health Issues – http://www.concernedparents.com/back_to_school_alert.htm

Sex Ed Day 6: Contraceptives

Although our discussions have repeatedly highlighted the importance of abstaining from sexual activity until you enter a loving, long-term monogamous relationship and we have studied in depth the STI risks associated with sexual contact, there are teens who make the choice to become sexually active. Teens who decide to make this choice need to carefully consider the options available to them regarding contraception. Reducing the risks of unplanned pregnancy and STI transmission are the focus of this lesson.

Married adults also need to consider the available contraceptive options in order to choose an option that fits their lifestyles while also considering the effectiveness of the contraceptive and any negative side-effects of each method.

Along with the in-class contraceptive movie, the following sites are excellent resources for exploring the effectiveness and side effects of each contraceptive option.

Family Doctor Site and WebMD Site

Sex Ed Day 7: Healthy Relationships

After viewing the movie, “Causing Pain: Real Stories of Dating Abuse and Violence,” explore the following web sites and answer the questions below.

Teen Relationships

Kids Health

Teens Against Abuse

Dating Matters

Assignment: This assignment is completely personal and will not be shared. Your answers should be THOUGHTFUL and demonstrate good writing skills (punctuation and grammar), but there is not a “correct” answer. Include these answers in the body of an email and send it to me at longd@tas.edu.tw.

1. Make a list of 10 descriptors of a healthy relationship and a list of 10 descriptors of an unhealthy relationship.

2. What does respect in a relationship look like? How can you show respect in your relationships? How can you expect respect to be shown to you?

3. Describe the kind of person you would like to marry. How can your choices now positively or negatively impact your ability to meet this kind of person?

4. What is your responsibility if you know that a friend is in an abusive relationship?

5. What is one thing that you learned through exploring these sites?