Making
Healthier Decisions
Some of the elements
that impact your health appear to be beyond your control. It is true that
everyone has personal boundaries. You have no influence over your heredity or,
in certain cases, your physical surroundings. You may, however, accept
responsibility for altering your conduct. This role includes assessing the
hazards involved.
What Exactly Is a Risk?
Risk is the potential
that something unpleasant will occur. Risk may also be defined as the level of
hazard associated with a certain opportunity. Every risk has the potential for
a bad consequence. Some risks, though, are worthwhile. Assume you have the opportunity
to join a school sports team. To gain the sense of success that comes with
being on the team, players risk probable harm while playing. You could conclude
that the fun of playing outweighs the risk of getting hurt. You may lower your
chance of physical harm by staying healthy. How can you figure out how much
work is involved in a certain action? Many hazards associated with health
decisions have been investigated. Scientists use statistics to assess these
dangers. Statistics is a field of mathematics that aids in determining the
likelihood, or odds, of something happening. The information regarding
statistical risk can assist you in making healthy decisions.
According to statistics,
the probability of dying from cancer in this nation is around 20%. In other
words, one out of every 10 fatalities are caused by cancer. As a result, the
chance of dying from cancer is extremely significant. However, data suggest
that around a third of all malignancies are caused by factors over which we
have some influence. To put it another way, you can make decisions that will
lower your risk of acquiring cancer.
These include things
like avoiding pollutants, quitting smoking, and eating a high-fiber diet. If
you do this, you will get cancer.
Against the Odds
A statistical risk is based on what has happened in the recent
past to a group of people. However, the dangers might shift. The statistics will alter if enough people improve their health habits. As
shown in Figure 1-1, the statistical probability of acquiring specific diseases
varied as the population's behavior changed between 1900 and now. Defying the
odds starts with each of us. For example, you may be aware that your family has
a history of diabetes. Being overweight can lead to diabetes, which is a severe
illness. You could be a sucker for sweets. However, because you are aware of
the risk of getting diabetes, you restrict your sugar intake and maintain a
healthy weight.
You've
assessed the risk and taken steps to mitigate it. To assess something implies
to weigh or judge it. You have assessed the facts you have in order to
comprehend what may happen if you give in to your sweet appetite. You have
taken action based on your assessment to decrease your own health risk by
giving up sweets and maintaining your weight. You may act to decrease health
risks to others in the same way that you act to reduce health risks to
yourself. Crossing the street, for example, entails some personal risk. By
looking both ways, obeying traffic lights, and staying in the crosswalk, you can
decrease your risk. If you cross the street without looking, you may be injured
in an accident. Other individuals may be hurt if the motorist swerves to avoid
you. Other habits, such as driving habits, might endanger you and others. It is
critical to consider the damage you may inflict to others as well as oneself at
all times. Being responsible to others entails doing things like staying away
from others when you have a contagious illness. You may act to decrease health
risks to others in the same way that you act to reduce health risks to
yourself. Crossing the street, for example, entails some personal risk. By
looking both ways, obeying traffic lights, and staying in the crosswalk, you
can decrease your risk. If you cross the street without looking, you may be
injured in an accident. There are degrees of risk, just as there are degrees of
excellent health. On a Wellness Continuum, Figure 1-6 depicts some of the
degrees of health and danger. You develop toward a greater degree of physical,
mental, social, and emotional health as you move toward the right end of the
continuum.
Simultaneously,
your health risks are reduced. Illness and early death are on the left side of
the scale. The hazards to one's health rise as one move to the left end of the
continuum.
Take
a look at the region in the center. The neutral zone is the name given to this
area. At this time, no one is sick. However, they aren't doing too well either.
At this point, you've undoubtedly met a few individuals. They could appear to
be in good health. At the very least, they don't look to be sick. They go to
class and get along with their family nicely. They don't appear to have much
energy, though. They may consume excessive amounts of food. They aren't very
engaged in school or sports. People who are in the neutral zone may not have a
positive self-perception. They appear to be scraping by. Even while the health
concerns in the center of the Wellness Continuum aren't life-threatening, they
are persistent. The long-term effects of such health habits can be just as
negative as a disability or major disease in later life. People who live in the
continuum's neutral zone suffer on a daily basis because they are not living up
to their full potential.
Figure
1- 6: Traditional medicine heals sickness and restores health to its original
state. Overall physical, mental, social, and emotional growth and fulfilment
are all part of wellness.Making
Choices
Assessing
the level of danger can be reassuring at times. It's frequently beneficial to
have a method in place for properly weighing items. Figure 1-7 depicts a
decision-making model that can assist you in making informed health decisions.
The model will be demonstrated using an example.
Identify
the issue
Consider
how many of your buddies who use cigarettes, are attempting to persuade you to
take up the habit. Your best buddy and parents are also smokers. Your
grandparents, who come to visit frequently, do not smoke and always advise your
parents to do so. They want you to sample a cigarette every time you're among
your buddies. You're under a lot of pressure to begin smoking. The issue, or
decision, you must make is whether to smoke cigarettes or not.
You
have a lot of alternatives. You can join your buddies in smoking cigarettes on
a regular basis. You have the option of not smoking. You were only allowed to
smoke in the presence of your pals and not at other times.
Consider
your alternatives now. Choose the one you believe you'll enjoy the most. It's
possible that you don't have a clear favorite. Assume you don't want to smoke
in this scenario.
What
would be the benefits of such a decision? You could sense your grandparents'
approval. You may even gain acceptance from your parents, even if they
themselves smoke. You would no longer be exposed to the health hazards
associated with smoking. You'd save money if you didn't buy smokes. You
wouldn't have to deal with soiled fingers and teeth. Now think about the
negative consequences of your decision. It's possible that your buddies may
tease you. You might not feel as mature as your peers. It's possible that your
pals may continue to urge you to modify your opinion.
What
can you do to lessen the likelihood of these undesirable consequences?
You
have the option of ignoring your friends' opinions. You might learn additional
skills to help you feel more mature. You may just inform your pals that you are
in charge of your own decisions. You may even think about finding new
acquaintances who don't expect you to smoke.
You may determine that further information is required before making a definite choice. You may read books and articles regarding the health impacts of smoking at the library. You can also seek advice from individuals you trust, such as your family doctor. Once you have additional knowledge, you must weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.
Make a decision and take action.
You
will decide not to smoke if you believe the negative consequences of smoking
outweigh the advantages. You will refuse to smoke cigarettes.
It's
critical to consider the consequences of your decision after you've taken
action. Taking
the model's last step may either validate your previous conclusion or force you
to reconsider your thoughts and create a new one. It's possible that your
buddies will respect your decision.
This
model may be used to examine any health choice in detail. Examining all
conceivable outcomes can enable you to see all sides of even the most
challenging situations. You can alter your mind and examine other
options by assessing the results before acting. You don't have to live with the
consequences of a bad decision.
Detecting
Personal Health Hazards
You've
seen where you fall on the health and risk continuum in general. It's a good
idea to have a look at some specific personal health hazards right now. The
Personal Health Inventory may be found on the following page. It will assist
you in determining which health behaviours you may need to alter. It's
possible that the inventory may alert you to the fact that you need to improve
your diet. You may need to consume a broader range of meals and limit your
intake of salt, sugar, and fat. To maintain a healthy weight and relieve
stress, you may need to exercise more frequently. You may need to get more rest
or find good methods to express your feelings.
The
inventory will motivate you to consider how you take care of yourself and how
you use health services. Finally, the inventory may prompt you to consider
health-related issues that you previously overlooked. You may not have
previously associated safety and the environment with health. Now
is the time to take the Personal Health Inventory. Take the inventory once more
once you've finished the book. It will demonstrate whether or not what you've
learned about health and wellness is assisting you in making healthy decisions.
Review
of the Lesson
You're in charge of your own health. To behave responsibly for your own and others' health, you must be aware of the dangers associated with your choices. Statistics can assist you in identifying hazards. Using a decision-making model can also ensure that you evaluate all of your choices. Making excellent health decisions and developing lifetime health habits today will assist you in maintaining a high level of healthiness throughout your life.
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