Chapter 1UnderstandingHealth and Wellness

Lesson 4Health Risks and YourBehavior

Next >>Teacher’s notes are available in the notes section of this presentation.

riskThe chance that something harmful may happen to your health and wellness

Actions or choices that may harm you or others risk

behaviors

The results of actions consequences

When one risk factor adds to another to increase danger

cumulativerisk

prevention Taking steps to avoid something

The conscious, active choice to not participatein high-risk behaviors

abstinence

In this lesson, you will be able to

describe how risks and risk behaviors can affect your health.

explain that risk behaviors have consequences.

identify ways to avoid or reduce risk.

Risk and Risk Behaviors

Riding a bike without a helmet is an example of a risk.

risk The chance that something harmful may happen to your health and wellness

Some risks are hidden, such as a habit of snacking on high-fat foods

Eating these foods may lead to unhealthful weight gain and heart disease later in life.

Risk and Risk Behaviors

Smoking cigarettes is an example of a risk behavior.

risk behavior Actions or choices that may harm you or others

Risks that can be avoided often involve risk behaviors.

Risk and Consequences

Risk behavior has consequences.

consequences The results of actions

Some risks have consequences that may not be physically dangerous and may affect only you.

Other risks can have serious consequences, and everyone’s health can suffer.

Many teens know ways in which to reduce risks to the health problems of adolescence.

Many teens also know how to compare the benefits and risks of activities to reduce risk to themselves.

Teens and Risks

For example: * Teens know that using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs

are risk behaviors that have many serious effects on health and wellness.

For example: * Teens know that wearing a safety belt will help protect them in the

event of a motor vehicle accident.* Teens also understand that regular exercise helps fight heart

disease and other illnesses.

How Risk Adds Up

Jogging along a busy

street…

Jogging along a busy

street……at night……at night… …in a

rainstorm.…in a

rainstorm. = cumulative risk

cumulative risk When one risk factor adds to another to increase danger

Risk Risk Risk

The greater the number of risks, the greater the chances of negative consequences.

Is It Worth the Risk?

Every activity carries some sort of risk

These activities also offer benefits

Ask yourself, “are the benefits worth the risk?”– example: physical activity carries the risk of injury

physical activity improves your health

What can you do to reduce or eliminate the risk?

abstinence The conscious, active choice not to participate in a high-risk behavior

How to Avoid or Reduce Risks

Abstinence is a form of prevention.

prevention Taking steps to avoid something

How to Avoid or Reduce Risks

Prevention Abstinence

• Wearing a helmet when riding a bike

• Slowing down onwet or icy pavement

• Watching out for possible dangers

• Choosing not to smoke

• Choosing to stay away from alcohol and other drugs

• Choosing not to engage in sexual activity

Risks and Your Total Health

Avoiding risks behaviors will help prevent illness and injuries, contributing to your physical health.

When you take steps to reduce risks, you feel good about making responsible health decisions, contributing to your mental/emotional health.

Avoiding risks behaviors can keep others safe, contributing to your social health.

By practicing abstinence from risk behaviors, you take an active role in caring for your health. This will benefit each side of your health triangle.

What I Learned

Vocabulary Define prevention and use it in asentence.

Lesson 4 Review

Prevention means taking steps to avoid something. Sentences should use the term correctly.

What I Learned

Give Examples Name three risk behaviors thatcan have negative health consequences.

Lesson 4 Review

What I Learned

Explain What does abstinence mean? Give examplesof practicing abstinence.

Lesson 4 Review

Abstinence is the conscious, active choice not to participate in high-risk behaviors. An example is choosing not to smoke

What I Learned

List Name two or more risk factors that can create a cumulative risk.

Lesson 4 Review

Sample answer: jogging on a busy street, at night, and during a rainstorm

Thinking Critically

Hypothesize Suppose two teens are riding their bikeson a busy street at night. One is wearing a helmet andthe other is not. Describe the risks that both teens aretaking. What possible consequences do these riskscarry?

Lesson 4 Review

Answers should include the idea that riding at night and riding on a busy street both increase the risk of being hit by a vehicle and injured or killed. The teen not wearing a helmet is further increasing his or her risk of injury or death.

Thinking Critically

Apply Give an example of how prevention can help aperson avoid a risk.

Lesson 4 Review

Answers should include a specific risk and explain how it can be prevented

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Chapter 1UnderstandingHealth and Wellness

Lesson 4Health Risks and Your Behavior

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