9.PCH.1

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

9.PCH.1.1 Recognize that individuals have some control over risks for communicable and chronic diseases.
There are many factors that have a lasting effect on health that are beyond a person’s control. Inheriting a mental or physical disease is something that cannot be prevented. There are numerous examples of well-conditioned athletes in their prime who suddenly die of a heart condition that they had inherited that had gone undiagnosed. While many communicable and chronic diseases can be prevented, it becomes quite clear that individuals must assume responsibility for their own health. Taking control over some of the risks for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, include eating a well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, choosing not to use tobacco products or to abuse drugs and alcohol, and making physical activity a part of everyday life. Assuming control over the risks for communicable diseases can include washing hands regularly, avoiding contact with people who are ill, staying home when sick and getting enough sleep.
 * The student will delineate the risks associated with both communicable and chronic diseases.
 * The student will make better decisions regarding risks for communicable and chronic diseases.
 * The student will accept responsibility for the risk factors for disease that are within his or her control.

9.PCH.1.2 Summarize the procedures for organ donation, local and state resources, and benefits.
It is important to separate fact from myth when discussing organ donation. There are many myths about organ donation which can heighten the fears and concerns about this topic. For example, many people believe that a doctor will not work as hard to save someone’s life if that person is an organ donor. The fact is that the doctors in an emergency room are not a part of the organ donation process and will not give up on a patient just because they are an organ donor. Students should know the facts about organ donation so that they can make an educated decision that is most comfortable to them. There are two ways to become a donor: at the DMV or at an online registration website available for all states. The site for registering in the state of North Carolina is http://www.donatelifenc.org/. The OPO (organ procurement organization) is a local organization contacted by the hospital in the event of a death or imminent death in their hospital. A representative from this organization discusses the organ donation process with the loved ones of the organ donor. There is no cost to the donor and an open casket is still possible. Organ donation can give a person who might otherwise die a second chance at life and is considered by many to be the greatest gift that a person can give.
 * The student will summarize the procedure for organ donation and will be able to separate fact from myth.
 * The student will identify sources to access the state website to register to be a donor or that a person can register at the DMV.

9.PCH.1.3 Explain the procedures for health screenings, checkups, and other early detection measures in terms of their health-related benefits.
There are many practices that can improve a person’s health. Some health risks can be prevented, others can be detected early enough to receive effective treatment, and others must be treated. There are three levels of disease and injury control: primary prevention, secondary control, and tertiary control. Primary prevention includes eating nutritiously, exercising regularly, and avoiding harmful substances such as tobacco. Secondary control is early detection: medical exams and self-exams. Tertiary means treatment. Receiving regular health screenings, such as an eye exam, and visiting a doctor for regular check-ups can help to detect and diagnose any health concerns before they become life-threatening. Self-examination is a skill that can be learned in adolescence that should be practiced throughout one’s lifetime. Both males and females should be taught the correct procedure for conducting a breast self-exam and males should be taught the procedure for a testicular exam. Cancer of these organs can affect young people so body awareness and regular self-exams can be lifesaving.
 * The student will schedule regular health screenings and regular medical check-ups.
 * The student will explain the importance of early detection in preventing the spread of cancer.
 * The student will practice regular self-examinations.

9.PCH.1.4
Lifestyle has the greatest impact on one’s health. The decisions that a person makes, from the clothes they wear, their physical activity, the foods they eat, and how they manage their stress, all make up their lifestyle. Many of the lifestyle choices that a person can make will have a substantial impact on the likelihood of that person developing a chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Reducing the risks for these leading causes of death is done by improving or eliminating the risk factors that cause them. When students understand the behavioral and environmental factors that contribute to chronic disease, they can use this information to reduce their chances of developing a chronic disease.
 * The student will acknowledge that personal choices have a large impact on one’s likelihood to develop a chronic disease.
 * The student will be able to manage own behavior to reduce risks for chronic diseases.

9.PCH.1.5 Select measures to get adequate rest and sleep.
Many people are sleep-deprived. A person who lacks adequate sleep and rest can suffer from fatigue, lapses in concentration, weight-gain or loss and clumsiness. Car accidents and work-related accidents are often a result of sleep deprivation. Many teenagers do not get the sleep that they need. A recent poll indicates that 28% of high school students fall asleep in class and 14% of them arrive late to school because they oversleep. Naturally, this means that teens who are getting insufficient amounts of sleep are more likely than their rested peers to get lower grades. Getting adequate amounts of sleep and rest provide many benefits to one’s health and well-being. Learning and the storage of memory is thought to take place during sleep. Healing of body tissue from a tough workout happens when one is sleeping. Adequate sleep helps the immune system function properly and may help prevent some diseases, such as diabetes. Sleep is also essential to maintaining a level of success in one’s relationships, health, schoolwork and appearance. Teens should try to stick to a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine and sugary foods at night, exercise regularly, avoid all-nighters, and not nap so often that it interferes with nighttime sleep.
 * The student will describe the impact that adequate sleep and rest has on his or her health.
 * The student will practice habits that will improve sleep and rest.

9. PCH.1.6 Recognize the early warning signs of skin cancer and the importance of early detection.
Skin cancer often begins to develop early in life when there is overexposure to the sun. It is easier to detect than many other cancers because it can be seen. Self-examinations of the skin are important steps in preventing the spread of the cancer. The ABCDE test for skin cancer should be used in a self-exam. The A stands for Asymmetry. If a mole is asymmetrical, it should be seen by a dermatologist. The B stands for Border. A mole that has a fuzzy or irregular border should also be seen by a dermatologist. The C stands for Color. A mole with red, white or blue colors in it is a mole that may be cancerous. The D stands for Diameter. If the diameter of a mole is larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser, it should be seen by a doctor. The E stands for evolving (changing). Like other cancers, early detection of skin cancer is crucial for successful treatment. And like other cancers, prevention is the key. Avoiding the use of tanning beds, avoiding extended time in the sun and wearing sunblock are important steps in preventing skin cancer.
 * The student will reduce personal risk factors for skin cancer by wearing sun block and avoiding excessive time in the sun.
 * The student will perform regular self-examinations for skin cancer.
 * The student will see a dermatologist if he or she notices a changes in a mole.

9.PCH.1.7 Differentiate between the lifelong effects of positive and negative health behaviors.
Knowledge is power in attaining lifelong health. The decisions that one makes, whether they are positive or negative, can have lifelong health effects. Getting adequate sleep, avoiding the use of all tobacco products, getting at least 45 minutes of exercise at least 4 times a week maintaining a healthy weight are all examples of positive health behaviors. Making positive, healthy behavior choices will increase the likelihood of living a longer and healthier life. Negative health choices, on the other hand, will have lifelong adverse effects. Examples of these would be not wearing a seatbelt, abusing drugs and alcohol, not wearing sunblock and overeating. Students must recognize that their poor health caused by negative health behaviors can keep them from reaching their goals. The effects from their decisions can be short-term, such as an increased heart rate immediately after smoking a cigarette or they can be long-term. A person who smokes for years may one day have to walk around carrying an oxygen tank everywhere they go.
 * The student will conclude that health decisions made now can have lifelong effects, both positive and negative.
 * The student will make positive health choices that will improve quality of life in the years to come.
 * The student will avoid negative health behaviors that will decrease longevity and quality of life.