Personalhealth
Personalhealth
Personalhealth
Develop a set of criteria for analyzing health information. Use this criteria to discuss
the
various treatments researched.
Extend and commit
Collect recent news articles about alternative medical treatments. What are some of
the
ethical dilemmas these choices create?
Organize a debate on the issue of whether or not our health-care system should pay
the
cost of alternative medical treatments.
Devise a list of 10 critical questions to ask as you are researching information on a
particular health practice, condition or disease.
Alternative health practices and treatments
Mind-body therapies focus on the emotional and psychological aspects of a patients
health. Research based on patients with breast cancer indicated that patients who cope
well with stress live longer than those who have difficulty managing stress. Examples of
mind-body therapies include hypnosis, breathing techniques, dance, music, art, poetry,
prayer and meditation.
Acupuncture: Fine needles are inserted into the skin to stimulate the bodys energy.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China for a wide array of health
problems. In North America, it is recognized for the treatment of nausea and pain
caused
by chemotherapy, and as an adjunct therapy for headaches, tennis elbow, menstrual
cramps and low-back pain.
Homeopathy: This therapy is based on treating patients with small doses of medicine
that produce the same symptoms as the patients illness. Supporters believe that diluted
extracts from herbs, minerals or animal substances can be effective remedies for illness
and disease.
Discuss how many of the messages are positive and how many are negative.
For other activities that support this learning outcome, visit Physical Education Online at
www.learning.gov.ab.ca/physicaleducationonline/. Click on Teacher Resources, go to
General Outcome B and click on activities.
Extend and commit
Design a health-related ad for a teen magazine that contains at least three positive
messages about body image. Consider both the implicit and explicit messages in your ad.
Write a letter to a magazine publisher or television producer expressing your concerns
about potentially damaging messages about body image conveyed by current
advertisements or commercials. List your reasons for concern and use specific examples
to illustrate your point. Give suggestions for changes that would promote the products
effectively but would convey positive messages about body image.
Ideas for promoting and enhancing the development of a positive body image
Students can:
be aware of the variety of body types within family and groups of friends, and know that
all body types can be healthy
look for varieties of body types among television and media personalities
talk to parents or older siblings about body image concerns
appreciate their own physical talents and abilities, such as athletic abilities, musical
dexterity and artistic abilities
be aware that their physical bodies make up only a part of who they are or can be.
Parents can:
be aware that the beginning of puberty can bring about changes which affect body image
be aware that puberty changes begin gradually but often earlier than parents might expect
make a conscious effort to have and model healthy behaviours and attitudes related to
body image
be aware that negative comments about body size and type can be damaging to their
childrens developing sense of worth
be available to listen and talk when children have questions or concerns about body image
understand that feelings and concerns related to body image may surface in other ways,
such as through behaviours or attitudes
help your child develop strategies to handle teasing
ensure that siblings do not tease each other about body size or image
make a conscious effort not to compare body types among family, friends and celebrities
in nonconstructive ways, such as She would look much better if
help your child understand that diversity in body shape and size is normal and naturalall
types deserve respect.