Personal Health and Well-being Flashcards
Explain why young people experiment with drugs.
- Peer pressure: a lot of young people start taking drugs because people in their peer group are taking them and there is a pressure to fit in.
- Curiosity: drugs are an issue that is often talked about in school and this can lead to a desire to experiment.
- Lifestyle: there are situations where drugs are considered to be more acceptable. For example, young people experiment with drugs in night clubs. In some areas where there is high unemployment and low wages, drug use also increases.
- Low cost: drugs can be cheaper than alcohol and the effects may last longer, so young people may see drugs as value for money.
- Rebellion: young people have been told by parents, school and charities how drugs are bad. Risk-taking is part of growing up and young people have a tendency to rebel during their teenage years.
- Pleasure: if a young person is under the impression that a drug makes them ‘feel good’, they are going to be inclined to take it.
- Availability: many young people know where to get illegal drugs. This can make it difficult to say no. Legal drugs – for example, alcohol and nicotine – are very accessible.
- Stress: young people can become stressed by school, parents and bullying. Some may want to escape their stressful situations and may experiment with drugs to make them feel good.
What does the term ‘social health’ mean?
Social health is concerned with how you interact with other people and how you can make and maintain relationships.
List some possible physical effects of stress
- Shallow breathing
- Tired all the time
- Grinding teeth at night
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Indigestion
- Dizziness or feeling faint
What are the economic costs associated with alcohol misuse?
- Alcohol-related accidents and treatment plans for addicts cost the health service millions every year
- Increased policing as a result of binge drinking is expensive
- Business profits may be hit if workers are less productive due to the impact of excess drinking.
What are the consequences of too much sugar in the diet?
- Tooth decay
- Weight gain or obesity
- Mood swings
Suggest how a person with stress may behave
- Find it difficult to make decisions
- Avoid situations that are troubling
- Snap at people
- Bite nails
- Pick skin
- Unable to concentrate
What is meant by the term ‘junk food’?
Food that is low in nutritional value and high in calories.
What are the associated impacts of low income?
Lower-income could result in low-quality housing
leading to illnesses,
including respiratory
illnesses
∙ People on low incomes may work long hours to get more money. This leaves less time to visit the doctor if they are ill, which can then lead to
more severe illnesses which will involve time off work
∙ Infant mortality rates tend to be higher in low-income families. Many cannot afford transportation so miss out on health checks after birth
∙ Lack of job opportunities due to not being able to afford transport or clothing for interviews
Suggest some possible consequences of depression
- Sadness and feeling weepy
- Numbness, tiredness and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Loss of appetite or eating for comfort
- Feeling that you cannot cope
- Asking yourself what the point of living is
- Social and family withdrawal
- Decreased performance at work or school
- Self-injury or suicide
- Can feel like a physical disorder because it is so exhausting
- Substance use and abuse which can lead to addiction
What are the associated impacts of high stress levels?
∙ Difficulty concentrating and lack of sleep can decrease performance and
productivity at work/ school ∙ Irritability could result in a person snapping at peers
and family, causing social
isolation
∙ Increase in consumption of alcohol or cigarettes to cope ∙ Increase of sick days
resulting in missing school and lowering grades
∙ Lower self-esteem and self worth due to skin problems or weight gain
What is meant by the term ‘convenience food’?
Food which is processed and is designed for quick and easy consumption e.g. ready meals, noodle pots.
Name 3 factors which can improve an individual’s social health.
- Talking to family and peers often
- Treating others in the way you would like to be treated
- Trying to be positive when talking to people
- Engaging in a new social situation to meet new people
- Learning to accept constructive criticism
- Developing conversational skills
- Developing positive body language
- Actively listening to people and responding to what they have to say
Explain three consequences of experimenting with drugs
- SCHOOL: If the mind is impaired by drug abuse it can prevent a person from concentrating in class. When taking drugs, a person may feel less responsibility and so be more prone to skip class, miss deadlines, fail to complete homework and not care if grades fall.
- RELATIONSHIPS: Drug users can become withdrawn, or prone to mood swings, or may lie and refuse to accept they have a problem. This may lead to conflict with friends and family.
- PHYSICAL INJURIES: As drugs impair the mind, a person might do things they normally would not, increasing the chances of an accident. Some drugs increase the likelihood of violent behaviour which can lead to serious injury to a person and those around them.
- PREGNANCY AND STDs: Someone under the influence of a drug might forget to have safe sex. Unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy or the spread of STDs like HIV/AIDS.
- SAFETY: Being under the influence of drugs could increase the chances of being in a dangerous situation. The effects of some drugs can cause a person to do things they might not usually do. They may also be putting themselves at risk of overdosing. Buying drugs or trying to get the money to buy drugs can also put a person at risk.
- RISK OF DISEASES: Sharing needles from injecting certain types of drugs can put you at risk of diseases like hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. These diseases are spread through the transmission of body fluids like blood.
- MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: Users may feel depressed after using some drugs, including alcohol. Users may think that certain drugs will help them relax and forget about stresses but long-term drug use can impact on the way your brain works, and lead to increased anxiety. There is a link between drug use and serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
- EMPLOYMENT: Drug use can affect a person’s ability to concentrate at work. The side effects of using drugs, like a hangover or a ‘coming down’ feeling, can reduce a person’s ability to focus. Poor performance at work could lead to a person losing their job.
- HOMELESSNESS: Spending money on drugs might not leave much money to cover living expenses like rent, food or utility bills. If a person cannot pay these costs, they could lose their home or have it repossessed.
- ADDICTION: A user could become dependent on drugs, feeling like they cannot operate without drugs in their system. They might also have withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug. If they use drugs often, their tolerance to the drug might increase, causing them to need to take a greater amount to get the same effects.
- COST TO SOCIETY: People who are addicted to drugs might commit crimes like theft to secure money to feed their habit, which harms the victims of crime. Illness related to drug abuse costs the NHS millions of pounds each year. Absenteeism from work as a result of drug use affects business productivity.
- LEGAL ISSUES: Making, selling or possessing illegal drugs is against the law. It is also against the law to give prescription drugs to people who do not have a prescription from a doctor. Punishments for breaking these laws include having to go to court which might result in being sent to jail, having to pay hefty fines, or enter a rehabilitation programme.
How can depressants affect the body?
Depressants are often prescribed by the doctor as they help reduce feelings of anxiety, panic and stress. They can make a person feel calmer and help induce sleep by slowing down the nervous system and brain activity. However, depressants can be abused and side effects can include clumsiness, dizziness, slurred speech and confusion. In severe cases they have been known to cause loss of consciousness and even death.
Name 3 ways an individual’s physical health can be improved.
- Eating a balanced diet
- Regular exercise
- Avoiding smoking, drugs and excessive use of alcohol
- Use sun protection cream on your skin
- Having good social and emotional health.
Name 3 factors that can have a negative impact on an individual’s social health.
- Not practising face-to-face skills – for example, spending most of your time in front of the computer
- Family pressure or commitments do not allow for much socialising – for example, caring for a sick relative
- Being bullied or feeling threatened
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence
- Heavy workload can limit the time people can spend socialising
- Low income may mean that people cannot afford to socialise or are too embarrassed to invite people around to their home if it appears deprived.
What disease is a deficiency in Calcium?
Brittle bones
What are the effects of smoking on an individual’s physical health?
- Brain
Nicotine, the drug that makes tobacco addictive, makes you feel good when you are smoking, but it can make you anxious, nervous, moody and depressed afterward. - Eyes and Ears
Smoking can cause eye problems and even blindness. Smoking is also linked to hearing loss. - Mouth and Teeth
Tobacco makes your teeth yellow and gives you bad breath. It can also cause gum disease and mouth cancer. - Skin and Hair
Smoking causes people to get wrinkles and lose hair at a younger age. - Throat
Cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the throat and larynx. It can also cause gum disease and mouth cancer. - Muscles and Joints
Smoking keeps oxygen from getting to muscles, making you feel weak. It can also increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. - Heart
Nicotine narrows blood vessels. This forces your heart to work harder and raises blood pressure. Smoking can block arteries, causing heart attacks and strokes. - Lungs
The tar in cigarettes increases the risk of lung cancer. Smoking is also a major cause of bronchitis and emphysema. - Other Organs
Smoking increases the risk of cancer of the bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach and reproductive organs.
Name 4 benefits of eating a balanced diet.
- A stronger immune system
- Improved control of weight
- Healthy body growth
- Beneficial for good emotional health.
What does the term ‘physical health’ mean?
Physical health refers to the physical state of the body - when all body parts and organs function correctly.
How can opiates affect the body?
Opiates come from the poppy plant. They are a very powerful drug that can be prescribed by the doctor for pain relief – for example, morphine. However, if opiates are abused – for example, using heroin – there can be many side effects. These include: feelings of euphoria, dry mouth, vomiting, weak muscles, decreased appetite and thirst, a reduction in heart rate and brain activity and a reduction in breathing rate. Over time, the body can become tolerant of and dependant on the drug and require more to receive desired results.
What are the positive and negative effects of coffee/tea (caffeine)?
Positive - Reduces tiredness, Increases alertness, Contains antioxidants which are good for the heart
Negative - Leads to dependency, Can cause restlessness; increased urine production causing dehydration; irregular heartbeats; increased blood pressure
What are the associated impacts of poor work / life balance?
∙ Breakdown of family
relationships as work is
always a priority
∙ Workload increase - the more hours a person works at the office and the more consistently it occurs, the
more work a person will
receive which will further
worsen the work/ life
balance
∙ Low levels of job satisfaction resulting in stress and
depression
What is an addiction?
Addiction is when a person does not have control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful. E.g. gambling, drugs, alcohol and nicotine, social media.
What are the causes of poor work/ life balance?
∙ Increased working hours
∙ Increased workload ∙ Poor time
management skills
∙ Taking work home to do/ finish
∙ Pressure from
management
Explain three reasons why young people drink alcohol
Availability: alcohol is widely available. Some shops, pubs and off licenses are not as strict as they should be when it comes to asking for an ID so it can be easy for a minor to get their hands on alcohol. People who are legally allowed to buy alcohol could purchase alcohol for younger people.
Advertising: advertising alcohol is still legal in the UK. Drink adverts can be seen on TV, billboards, posters and magazines.
Packaging: alcohol packaging does not carry health warnings and young people tend not to stop and think about the dangers of alcohol. Alcohol packaging is becoming more and more attractive to young buyers. Alcopops come in a range of colours and flavours which can be eye-catching to young people.
Home Environment: the home is a place where young people learn to drink. Parental attitudes to alcohol affect whether or not a young person chooses to drink when they are under eighteen.
Culture: young people are growing up in a ‘binge-drinking’ culture. Young people’s views on alcohol and drunkenness are influenced more and more by culture. If they see others drinking, they are more likely to engage in the activity themselves.
Peer Pressure: young people may be influenced by their friends encouraging or pressurising them to drink.
Price: promotions such as happy hours or buy one get one free coupled with prices as low as 14p per unit of alcohol have led to government debates about whether alcohol being too cheap encourages young people to drink.
What are the consequences of poor hygiene?
- Body odour which could lead to social isolation and loneliness
- Bad breath and dental problems leading to low self-confidence and self-esteem
- Illnesses due to transportation of germs and infections
- Boils due to build-up of skin bacteria, lowering self-confidence
- Body lice
What are the consequences of poor work / life balance?
∙ Exhaustion: when you work long hours
frequently, you end up suffering from physical and mental exhaustion
∙ Absence: you may miss important family events, causing feelings of guilt which can lead to
anxiety and mental
health problems
∙ No friendships: by
spending all of your
time focused on your
career, you do not
dedicate time to
nurturing and growing
friendships, causing
social isolation and
related mental health
issues
∙ Stress
Explain three things which can impact an individual’s physical health.
Illness - Illness affects the way your body functions. Young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to illness and poor physical health.
Diet- Your body needs different vitamins and minerals to function. e.g. a lack of calcium could lead to osteoporosis.
Economic Factors - Processed foods which tend to be high in sugar and fat and are produced in bulk are cheaper to buy compared to fresh, organic ingredients.
Environment - There is a direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses, such as asthma; long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun can cause skin cancer etc.
Exercise - Exercise has many physical, emotional and social health benefits (see the section on exercise later in this booklet).
Genes - The genetic make-up of our bodies affects our physical appearance and well-being. Our genes are inherited from both parents; certain diseases such as cystic fibrosis can be inherited.
Parents - In our early lives parents determine the food we eat and influence our lifestyles and attitudes to physical health.
School - Good physical health is encouraged in subjects such as Home Economics and PE as well as schools providing the option of healthy food at lunchtime.
Local Community - Some local councils plan for ‘green areas’ and parks. However, some communities have little to do and as a result young people can turn to alcohol and drugs out of boredom.
What is a drug?
A drug is any substance that affects how the body or mind works. Drugs are not always illegal substances such as cannabis or cocaine. Many drugs which are legal can still be dangerous – for example, alcohol and tobacco.
What are the long-term effects of drinking alcohol on an individual’s physical health?
Binge drinking and continued alcohol use in large amounts are associated with many health problems, including:
- Permanent damage to the brain
- Nerve damage
- Emotional health issues such as depression
- Cancer of the mouth and throat
- High blood pressure, stroke and other heart-related diseases
- Alcohol poisoning
- Liver disease
- Vitamin B1 deficiency, which can lead to a disorder characterised by amnesia, apathy and disorientation
- Ulcers
- Gastritis (inflammation of stomach walls)
- Malnutrition
- Impotence
- Fertility Issues
Give some reasons why some people should not eat junk food or fast food.
- Low nutritional value
- Can be addictive
- Unknown nutritional content
- Desire to lose weight
- Desire to eat a balanced diet
- Desire to learn how to cook
