8.PCH.1

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

8.PCH.1.1 Classify the risk factors (based on risk behaviors) begun in childhood and adolescence associated with leading and premature causes of death.
A risk factor for disease is anything that increases one’s risk of getting a particular disease. There are many risk factors and risk behaviors that are known contributors to the leading causes of death in the United States and around the world. These diseases are known as chronic and degenerative diseases because they often take years to develop and they get worse over time. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are two examples of these chronic diseases. They are the leading killers and they cause many premature deaths. The effects of the risk behaviors that cause these usually do not cause problems for people until they are older, but these risk behaviors are learned and begun in childhood and adolescence. As children, eating habits are primarily influenced by families. The types of foods eaten, the amounts of foods that are eaten, and the ways foods are prepared are first learned in the home. Children learn their exercise habits and attitudes about physical activity from their families as well. These attitudes will often carry over in adulthood. Most adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. Regardless of the reason that they started their smoking habit, they quickly become addicted and carry this habit with them into and throughout adulthood. Young students should understand the impact of the decisions that they are making during their adolescence. They should be aware that these decisions may have long-lasting and life-altering consequences.
 * The student will recognize the risk factors and behaviors associated with the leading and premature causes of death.
 * The student will choose to avoid the risk behaviors that lead to chronic diseases.
 * The student will identify that the leading causes of death around the world are mostly preventable and are associated with personal choices that a person makes throughout their life.

===8.PCH.1.2 Explain behavioral and environmental factors that contribute to major chronic diseases and the methods for reducing problems associated with common conditions (asthma, allergies, diabetes, and epilepsy).=== There are known behavioral and environmental factors associated with childhood diseases such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and epilepsy. These diseases are chronic, which means they are persistent, long lasting, and cannot be resolved in a short period of time. Some examples of environmental factors that contribute to these diseases are smog, mold, pollen from trees and flowers, the change of seasons, living in a big city, exposure to second-hand smoke, and exposure to certain chemicals. Some of the behavioral factors include smoking, too much exercise, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, being overweight/obese, not wearing a seatbelt and drug use. Knowing the risk factors that contribute to these chronic diseases can enable a student to make choices that will help to reduce these risk factors in their lives. Some examples of ways to reduce these risk factors include avoiding second-hand smoke, choosing not to smoke, eating a nutritious diet and getting regular physical activity, avoiding those things that could trigger an allergic reaction, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smog, mold and dust, when possible.
 * The student will explain what environmental and behavioral risk factors are and how they are associated with childhood chronic diseases, such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and epilepsy.
 * The student will be able to identify the practices that can help reduce the occurrence of chronic childhood diseases.
 * The student will choose to avoid those environmental and behavioral risk factors associated with disease.

8.PCH.1.3 Interpret health appraisal data to assess personal risks for preventable disease.
Preventing health problems begins with recognizing unhealthy behaviors. A majority of the health problems that individuals encounter are preventable if they are detected and treated or the behaviors that result in poor health are recognized and changed. A yearly physical from a health care provider will help to detect health problems, but each person can appraise his or her own behaviors that need improvement and target these areas before they become a problem. Honest self-appraisal is an effective and inexpensive method for determining one’s health status and the beginning of maintaining and improving one’s health. Once areas for improvement are identified, students can work on strategies and skills to enhance their health behaviors. Health appraisals are important in identifying weaknesses and positive health behaviors. When positive health behaviors are acknowledged, strategies for maintaining these behaviors can be developed as well.
 * The student will appraise his/her health status.
 * The student will identify an area or areas in which positive behaviors are demonstrated.
 * The student will identify strategies and resources to improve own health.
 * The student will describe the importance of performing periodic self-appraisals throughout a lifetime.