Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

In this course the student becomes acquainted with a wellness approach
to health and some of the current personal health concerns.  The course
includes an overview study of emotional health, social health, nutrition,
physical fitness, sexuality, diseases and drugs.

From a multi-dimensional perspective, the outcomes of this course are:
identify current personal health status, analyze health risks, and plan
effective health enhancement/wellness strategies..

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will detail the methods
used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a
course grade.  The methods may include one or more of the following
tools:  examinations, quizzes,  case studies, health assessments,
portfolio, homework assignments, research papers/projects, population-
specific risk analysis/intervention strategy, oral presentations, or
maintenance of a personal journal.
 

PROCESS SKILLS
Intrapersonal Skills
Values Clarification
Goal Setting
Behavior Modification
Reflective Journal Writing
Critical Thinking
Compare, predict, hypothesize
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Information Access Skills
Collect qualitative and quantitative data
Access current information
Evaluate validity
Communication Skills
Oral and written communication
Computer Literate
Calibration Skills
Cooperative Group Work
Empathy
THEMES,CONCEPTS, AND ISSUES
1.0  Wellness
1.1  Define wellness model and itÍs multi-dimensional components
1.2  Define primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
1.4  Relate advantages of primary prevention and its role in health
     promotion.
1.5  Compare and contrast today's issues about health with those held
     a century ago.
1.6  Identify the leading causes of death and the lifestyle patterns
     associated with the reduction of risks.
1.7  Examine how predisposing factors, beliefs, attitudes, and significant
     others affect a person's overall wellness.
1.8  Identify behavior change techniques
1.9  Identify current personal health strengths and weaknesses.
2.0  Psychosocial Health
2.1  Define psychosocial health in terms of its intellectual, emotional,
     social, and spiritual components.
2.2  Identify basic elements shared by psychosocially healthy people.
2.3  Know factors which contribute to the development of positive 
     self-esteem.
2.4  Recognize the danger signs associated with potential suicide and
     describe an appropriate course of action for cases in which these
     signs are observed.
2.5  Describe models of human personality.
2.6  Identify and describe common psychosocial problems and explain
     their causes and available treatment
2.7  Develop an awareness of the role gender plays in diagnoses of
     mental health.
2.8  Describe indications which usually mean professional help is needed
     for resolution of a mental problem.
2.9  Define stress.
2.10 Differentiate between eustress and distress.
2.11 Explain the three phases of the general adaptation syndrome.
2.12 Define psychosomatic illness and give examples.
2.13 Discuss positive implications of stress.
2.14 Explore techniques for managing stress.
3.0  Alcohol
3.1  Describe alcohol as an example of central nervous system depressants.
3.2  Discuss the effects of alcohol on the human body
3.3  Explain the common recognized treatment  for alcoholism.
3.4. Describe the synergistic action of alcohol with other drugs.
3.5  Describe the characteristics of alcoholic behavior and differentiate
     between alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
3.6  Discuss alcohol usageÍs role in auto accidents, violent crimes
     and other social concerns.
3.7  Gain knowledge about the responsible use of alcohol
4.0  Over the Counter and Prescription Drugs
4.1  Develop knowledge in the safe evaluation, selection, and use of
     over the counter and prescription drugs.
4.2  Name the advantages and disadvantages of self-diagnosis and
     self-treatment.
4.3  State some common problems associated with use, misuse and abuse
5.0 Tobacco
5.1  Gain knowledge and understanding of the effects of cigarette smoking
     on individuals  and society at large.
5.2  Discuss the effects of side-stream and second-hand smoke.
5.3  Relate some ways to break the tobacco use habit.
5.4  Discuss the most often identified reasons for beginning to use
     tobacco.
6.0  Cancer
6.1  Develop knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of cancer
     and the importance of primary and secondary prevention.
6.2  Define the term cancer and know current morbidity and mortality
     statistics
6.3  State some theories of causation.
6.4  Name and explain the seven (7) warning signs.
6.5  Identify the current treatments for cancer.
6.7  Explain current guidelines for Pap Smear tests, breast and testicular
     self examinations.
6.8  Outline a cancer prevention plan.
7.0  Nutrition
7.1  State the guidelines for healthy eating provided by the
     U.S. Government
7.2  Identify the six nutrient groups, their uses within the body and
     good food sources for each.
7.3  Discuss the significance of water in the diet.
7.4  Define the role of dietary fiber in the diet.
7.5  Discuss implications of nutritional excesses in salt, cholesterol
     and fats.
7.6  Discuss implications of nutritional deficiencies in iron, calcium,
     fiber and vitamin C.
7.7  Define hypervitaminosis and relate to megadose vitamin usage.
7.8  Discuss the chemistry of food and metabolism and how they relate
     to the following:
     a.   Basal metabolic rate (BMR).
     b.   Quantity of energy released, measured in calories.
     c.   Approximate calorie needs.
7.9  Examine food labels for nutritional significance.
7.10 Explain the purpose of food additives.
7.11 Identify the composition of the typical American diet and the
     ideal diet.
7.12 Define obesity and discuss health problems associated with it.
7.13 Define lean body mass and discuss how body composition relates
     to optimal health.
7.14 Discuss causes and treatments for eating disorders
8.0  Cardiovascular Disease
8.1  Define coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents.
8.2. Discuss the significance of cardiovascular disease in America
     and identify populations who are most at risk.
8.3  Describe the process of atherosclerosis and possible results of
     the process.
8.4  Know risk factors for atherosclerosis and distinguish which are
     preventable.
8.5  Name the steps that can be taken in early life to improve the
     chances of avoiding CVD in middle and later life
8.6  Know early warning signs and symptoms of CVD.
9.0  Physical Fitness
9.1  Know the health-related components of fitness.
9.2  Describe the fitness principles including overload, specificity,
     progression, use it or lose it.
9.3. State the physiological and psychological benefits of the health
     related components of fitness.
9.4. Know the criteria for enhancing cardiovascular fitness, muscle
     strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility.
9.5  Demonstrate how to calculate the target heart rate and discuss
     methods of monitoring exercise intensity.
9.6  Describe the importance of warm-up and cool down
9.7  Explain RICE principle used with athletic injuries.
9.8  Differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic exercise and name
     at least three types of aerobic exercise.
10.0  Sexuality
10.1 Describe the anatomy and physiology of the female and male
     reproductive system.
10.2 Name the stages of sexual response cycle and describe the
     physiological changes that accompany each stage in both males
     and females.
10.3 Define homosexual, heterosexual, transsexual, transvestite, and
     bisexual.
10.4 Identify important considerations for selecting a compatible partner.
10.5 Identify messages about sex presented in the media.
10.6 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of current contraceptive
     methods such as ease of usage and failure rate
10.7 Discuss marriage/long term partnership with respect to communication
     and expectations.
10.8 Explain human reproduction with respect to pregnancy and childbirth
10.9 Discuss the risks associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol,
     cigarette smoke, HIV, and cocaine
10.10 Discuss factors to consider when deciding if and when to have a child.
11.0  Communicable Disease
11.1  Identify the communicable disease transmission process
11.2  Define pathogen and know pathogen classification system
11.3  Describe the immune system response to foreign invasion.
11.4  Define incubation and prodromal.
11.5  Explain active immunity and passive immunity.
11.6  Discuss the role of sanitation in disease transmission  prevention.
11.7  Know the body's lines of defense to disease.
11.8  Define autoimmune disease and give an example.
11.9  Discuss the relationship between stress and the immune system.
11.10 Describe the prevention, cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and
      consequences of syphillis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex,
      genital warts and HIV.