LESSON I

PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES AND CONCERNS

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

Do you often check your height and weight? How was it a month ago? It is very essential to
monitor the physical changes that occur in your body such as weight gain and weight loss.
Knowing if you are underweight, overweight or have a normal weight, it is important to determine if you are
absorbing enough nutrients needed by the body to stay healthy and fit.

Stunded growth Overweight

You need
good nutrition for the development of your brain and body. A stunded child is often inches shorten than a
child who has enough nutritious food. Stunted growth refers to having a low weight to height ratio. It is a
primary symptom or manifestation of malnutrition in childhood. A nutrition assessment is required if a
person is experiencing stunted growth. Getting information regarding his or her eating patterns and
quantities is needed. Be alert for signs of malnutrition and take it seriously. Weight loss has many causes,
like decreased intake of food and inadequate absorption of nutrients in the body.

On the other hand, being overweight or obese is a good condition which is opposite of malnutrition,
where food consumption is too much. Too much eating of unhealthy foods may result to obesity, and may
impair your movement and flexibility. A sedentary lifestyle also results in accumulation of body fat.
Therefore, it is a good practice to have a well-balanced diet.

HEARING

How is your hearing? Did you ever have trouble with your ears? Hearing is the sense through
which you are able to perceive sounds. Have you heard of the term “cerumen?” Cerumen is the
medical term for earwax. It is a soft, yellow wax substance that secreted in your ear canal.
Excessive accumulation of cerumen may block the external auditory canal and may potentially lead to
hearing loss.
 Cerumen Otitis externa Otitis media

Otitis externa is another ear problem which is caused by the inflammation of the external ear canal.
It is also known as the “swimmer’s ear”. Another cause of hearing impairment is the otitis media. It is a
medical term for the inflammation of the middle ear. There are many factors that affect your capability to
hear clearly, and these must be prevented. You must take care of your ears by refraining from listening to
sustained loud noise.

VISION

How is your vision? Are you wearing eyeglasses at this early stage of your life? Vision is the
ability to see. Like hearing, it is also important to take care of your sense of sight. There are several health
problems associated with vision, and these are astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia, xerophthalmia, and
strabismus.

1. Astigmatism is a defect of the optical system in which a person experiences a blurred vision due to
irregular curvature of the front surface of the eye of the cornea.
2. Myopia is also known as being nearsighted. It is medical condition that makes it difficult for a
person to see distant or far objects.
3. Hyperopia is also known as being farsighted. It is a condition which causes difficulty in focusing on
near objects, and vision is better for distant or far objects.
4. Xerophthalma is the Greek term for “dry eyes.” It may be caused by severe deficiency of Vitamin
A. And it results in failure of eyes to produce tears.
5. Strabismus is a medical condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other due to
imbalance of the muscles of the eyeball. It involves lack of coordination between the extra ocular
muscles that hinders bringing the gaze the eyes at the same point in space.
 Types of Strabismus

SKIN, HAIR AND NAIL

Do you know how to take good care of your skin, hair and nail? Too much sun exposure and
lack of vitamins may cause problems like sunburn, dandruff, corns, blisters, calluses, and ingrown toenails.
These problems are very irritating and painful. Being informed about these will develop awareness and a
bigger chance of prevention.

1. Sunburn is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation

from the sun that affects the tissues of the skin. Common
symptoms include redness of the skin that is hot to the touch.

2. Dandruff is a typical skin problem characterized by shedding of

dead skin cells from the scalp. Symptoms include unusually
large amount of dead skin cell flaking which is accompanied by
redness, itching, and irritation.

3. Corn is a painful conical thickening of skin that results from

repeated pressure on thin skin. It is usually occurs on bony
prominences like the fifth toe.

4. Blister is a raised area of clear liquid within the skin which is

commonly caused by burning, chemical exposure, injury, and
infection.

5. Callus is a toughened area of the skin which has thickened and

hardened due to repeated friction, pressure, and other irritation.

6. Ingrown toenail is a typical nail disease in which the sharp edge of

the toenail may dig into and injure one or both sides of the nail bed.
This does not normally occur on habitual barefoot people since it
requires downward pressure on the nail by a shoe. The affected toe
becomes red, swollen and painful.

POSTURE AND SPINE DISORDERS

 The spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae. A normal and healthy spine has gentle curves
on it. These curves help in absorbing stress caused by body movements. But when abnormalities occur, the
curvature of the spine is misaligned. Poor posture worsens the problem. What are the types of spine
curvature disorders?

1. Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person’s spine is curved

sideways. The curve is usually S-shaped or C- shaped.

2. Lordosis is a condition where the spine of a person curves significantly

inward at the lower back. It is also called sway back or saddle back.

3. Kyphosis is characterized by an abnormally curved upper back

which leads to hunchback or slouching posture.

ORAL AND DENTAL PROBLEMS

How are your teeth and gums? Do you visit your dentist regularly? Good dental and oral care
is important in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Oral and dental
problems like cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, malocclusion, and
halitosis are treatable with proper diagnosis and care.

1. Cavity is also known as tooth decay or dental carries. It is a hole in s

tooth because of decay the acids in plaque cause damage on the
enamel covering or hard surface of the teeth.

2. Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gums. It is a dental

problem characterized by reddened and swollen gums.

3. Periodontitis is a serious gum problem that damages the soft

tissue and the bone that supports your teeth. It results from poor
oral hygiene. Periodontitis may lead to teeth loss.

4. Malocclusion is a dental term for “bad bite.” It is the abnormal

alignment of the upper or lower teeth.
 5. Halitosis is also known as bad breath. The trapped bacteria on the
tongue surface produce the odors that lead to bad breath.

ACTIVITY I

Identify the medical condition shown on the illustration. Write your answer on the space provided.

1.
2.

3. 4.

5.

ACTIVITY 2
 Identify the impairment, disease, or medical condition being described by the following statements. Write
your answer on the space provided before each number.

___________________1. It is an ear problem which is caused by the inflammation of the external ear canal.
It is also known as the “swimmer’s ear”.

___________________2. It is also known as being nearsighted. It is medical condition that makes it difficult
for a person to see distant or far objects.

___________________3. It is also known as being farsighted. It is a condition which causes difficulty in

focusing on near objects, and vision is better for distant or far objects.

___________________4. It is a medical condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each
other due to imbalance of the muscles of the eyeball.

___________________5. It is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun that affects the
tissues of the skin.

ACTIVITY 3

Match the medical condition in Column A with its known symptom in Column B. Write the letter of
your choice on the space provided before each number.

A B

______1. malnutrition a. stunted growth or having low weight to

______2. Malocclusion height ratio

______3. Xelophthalmia b. a person experiences a blurred vision due

______4. astigmatism to irregular curvature of the surface of the eye

______5. dandruff c. it results in failure of eyes to produce tears

d. large amount of dead skin cell flaking,

accompanied by redness, itching, and

irritation

e. reddened and swollen gums

f. abnormal alignment of the upper and lower

teeth.
Lesson II:

PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES

AND CONCERNS
Developing Self-management Skills

Self- management skills are essential in the development of individual. It helps you to become a
responsible person. If you practice good nutrition, proper hygiene, regular physical exercise, enough rest and
sleep, good posture, and oral care, you will develop habits which will keep you healthy and fit for many
years.

Good Nutrition

How will you have a well-balanced diet?

First, you must learn to eat varieties of food from each level of the food pyramid, from grains,
vegetables, fruits, oils, milk, meat, and beans, because no single food can supply all the nutrients which your
body needs on a daily basis. You must learn to eat food of all colors. Second, you must eat the right amount
of food. Too much consumption of unhealthy food may result in obesity. While eating less than daily
nutritional needs may result in obesity while eating less than the daily nutritional needs may result in
malnutrition.
 The illustration above shows a meal which includes a glass of milk, ham and cheese sandwich with
lettuce and tomatoes, and banana for dessert. There are five different varieties of food groups included in
this meal: two slices of bread from the bread group, a slice of ham from the meat group, cheese and milk
from the milk group, lettuce and tomatoes from the vegetable group, and banana from the fruit group. Can
you give other examples of healthy set of meals? Eating healthy does not mean giving up your favorite food.
It is a matter of balancing your diet.

Proper Hygiene

Proper hygiene is the one of the ways of maintaining health and preventing illnesses. How do you keep
yourself clean and healthy? Here are some tips on how to achieve good hygiene.

1. Make it a habit to wash your hands before and after eating.

2. Taking a bath everyday.
3. Have your hair trimmed on a regular basis. Avoid sharing brushes and combs for this may cause
outbreaks of head lice.
4. Brush your teeth daily to avoid tooth decay.
5. Always wear clean socks , underwear, and clothes to avoid athlete’s foot and other similar fungi.

Regular Physical Activity

Exercise is an activity that requires physical effort in order to maintain and improve your health. Do
you know the other benefits of exercise? Here are some benefits of exercise.

1. Exercise fights health conditions like heart disease.

2. Exercise helps you burn calories which can prevent you from becoming overweight. It also helps you
in maintaining a good body shape.
3. It can streghten your muscles and help improve stamina.
Children who are having regular physical activity

Enough Rest and Sleep

Do you sleep for seven to eight hours? Having adequate sleep will help you feel better. Aside from
this, sleep can also keep your heart healthy, relieve stress, make you more alert, and boost your memory.
Sleep is very beneficial to your health. Without enough sleep, your judgement, mood, and the ability to learn
information are weakened.

Good Posture

What is posture? Posture is the position of a person’s body while sitting and standing/ maintaining a
good posture will keep your body align and can prevent common problems like back pain and neck pain.
Good posture while standing is having a straight back, chin up, squared shoulders, stomach in, and feet
forward.

A girl in good standing position

Oral Care

Do you visit your dentist regularly? Keeping your teeth clean is the key to prevent cavities. Make it a
habit to visit your dentist at least once a year. Oral care can also prevent gum problems. Consider the
following tips on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

 2. Keep your brush clean. It is also advisable to change your toothbrush every two to three months.
They might be contaminated with oral microbial organisms that may cause illness.
3. Do not hesitate to visit your dentist when you experience toothache or swollen gums. Have a regular
checkup of your teeth and gums.

Undergoing Health Appraisal Procedures

What are the different health examinations that assess a learner’s health?

1. Height and Weight Measurement

You may accurately measure the height of a person by following these steps.
a) Remove the shoes, bulky hair ornaments, and anything that interferes with the measurement.
b) Make sure to stand with feet flat and against the wall. Legs should be straight and arms at the sides.
c) Look straight ahead. Eyes should look parallel with the floor.
d) Take the measurement. Use a flat headpiece and lower it until it touches the head.
e) The measurer’s eyes should be at the same level with the headpiece.
f) Record result.

The procedures for getting height measurement

You may accurately measure the weight of a person by following these simple steps.

a) Use a digital scale for better results. Place the digital scale on a flat surface.
b) Remove the shoes and heavy clothing such as coat or jacket.
c) Stand with both feet at the center of the scale.
d) Record the weight to the nearest decimal fraction.
The procedures for getting the weight measurement.

To determine if you have a healthy weight, you may compare the results of your weight and height
following this chart.

Ideal Height And Weight Chart

2. Breast Examination for Girls

Breast examination is a check up that a woman does at home which helps detect early signs of breast
cancer. It is best to do this, three to five days after your period. What are the steps?

a) Lie on your back.

b) Place your right hand behind your head. Then with the middle fingers of your left hand, gently press
down using small circular motions to examine the whole breast.
c) Sit or stand, then feel your armpit. Observe if there are lumps.
d) Gently squeeze the nipple to check for discharge.
e) Repeat the process on the left breast.
f) Next, look and observe your breasts in the mirror. Look for changes in texture of skin such as dimpling
or indentions.
g) Do the same with your arms raise above your head.
h) If you notice something different or observe any lumps, visit your doctor right away.
3. Hearing Test

Can you easily recognize sounds? Or do you find it difficult to hear speech even in quiet places? The
hearing test is necessary for accurate detection of a person’s hearing defects. The evaluation is done
using a medical instrument called audiometer. You may also test the hearing sensitivity by whispering at
a distance of 8 feet, asking the person some questions or giving him or her commands. If he or she does
not respond to your questions, it is an indication that he or she might have hearing defects. Visit the
doctor for further screening test and evaluation.

4. Vision Test

Vision screening is a method used by doctors to determine if a person has visual impairment or eye
conditions which may lead to visual impairment. There are many methods used to screen a child’s
vision. An example is using a flashlight to inspect for abnormality in size or structure. It is performed by
an optometrist, who is an eye care professional.

5. Scoliosis Test

A scoliosis test examines the condition of person’s spine. It usually begins with history and physical
examination. Then, the forward bending test will follow, wherein the person bends forward from the
waist with arms hanging loosely to check for abnormalities such as a rib hump. If there is a significant
curve of the spine, an X-ray of the spine may be taken for further evaluation to prevent curve
progression.

6. Dental Examination

Dental examination is very important to ensure healthy teeth and gums. During the examination, the
dentist will inspect your teeth, identify gum problems or bone loss. The dentist will evaluate your risk of
developing tooth decay and discuss the proper diet and hygiene habits.

TRY THESE

ACTIVITY 1

Analyze if the drawings show good posture or poor posture. Encircle your answer.
ACTIVITY 2

Write your answer on the spaces provided.

1. What are the good habits that you must develop to stay fit and healthy?
a) ______________________________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________________________
d) ______________________________________________________________________________
e) ______________________________________________________________________________
f) ______________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the different health examinations that assess a learner’s health?
a) ______________________________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________________________
d) ______________________________________________________________________________
e) ______________________________________________________________________________
f) ______________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the benefits of exercise?
a) ______________________________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________________________
Lesson III – UTILIZING SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES

Medical Professionals or Practitioners

A medical practitioner prescribes medication and treatments necessary to restore health and prevent
the worsening of illness. He or she examines and diagnose physical and mental illnesses. He or she also
analyzes medical or laboratory test results and other diagnostic images like x-rays. He or She works in
school clinics, health centers, and hospitals. Doctors, dentists, and nurses are examples of medical
professionals or practitioners.

A doctor or physician is a person who is licensed to practice medicine.

A dentist is a licensed practitioner who specializes in treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of diseases
and injuries of the mouth, jaws, and teeth.

A nurse is a licensed health care professional who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health. He
or She is often supervised by a physician. He or She takes the blood pressure and body temperature of a
patient, and then, monitors the condition of a patient.

Health Facilities

Health facility, in general, refers to a place where health care is provided. Examples of health
facilities are small clinics like school clinics, and large hospitals with emergency rooms, x-ray rooms, and
trauma centers.

School Clinic

A school clinic is an example of a health care facility which is intended or devoted to the care of the
learners.

Barangay Health Station or Rural Health Unit

A barangay health station or rural health unit is a health care facility that offers free health services
and vaccines to the residents of the community. Its main objective is to provide first aid, maternal and child
health care, and other basic health services to all the members of the community it is serving.

ACTIVITY 1 Medical Practitioners

Procedure

1. Draw a medical practitioner or professional, and then, tell something about his or her duties and
responsibilities in your community.
2. Write your answer on the space provided.

ACTIVITY 2

Write True if the statement is correct and False . If the statement is wrong. Write your answer on the
space provided.
______________1. A medical practitioner prescribes medications and treatments necessary to store health
and prevent the worsening of illnesses.

______________2. A dentist is a person who is licensed to practice medicine.

______________3. A nurse is a licensed practitioner who specializes in treatment, prevention, and diagnosis
of diseases and injuries of the mouth, jaws, and teeth.

______________4. School clinics, basketball courts, and large hospitals are all examples of health facilities.

______________5. A rural health unit is a health care facility that offers free health services and vaccines to
the residents of the community.

ACTIVITY 3

Health Resources and Facilities

Make a poster that will promote the health resources and facilities in your school or community.

Materials:

 pencil
 eraser
 brush
 mixing plate
 poster colors