Chapter 1 Living a Healthy Life - McGraw-Hill Ryerson

Keeping a BalanceEach side of your health triangle isequally important to your health. Youmight think of the three areas of healthas the legs of a tripod on which a camerais mounted. If one leg is shorterthan the other two, the tripod will tiltor fall. It’s much the same with yourhealth. An unbalanced health triangleis likely to cause you problems atsome point. When you work to keepyour physical, mental/emotional,and social health in balance, youare much more likely to function atyour highest level.People from the same familyoften share many of thesame physical traits. Whatphysical similarities do thepeople in this family share?What are some health factorsthat can be inherited?Influences on Your Healthmagine that the story of your health were made into a movie.I The movie would portray your health from your birth untiltoday. The movie might also focus on the following questions: What situations and people affected your health at each stageof your life? How have influences on your health changed through theyears? How do early influences still affect you today?There are several important influences on your health. Theyinclude heredity; environment; media and technology; and, mostimportantly, your values, attitude, and behaviour.heredity For more informationon heredity, see Chapter 14,page 354.HeredityYour heredity refers to all the traits that were biologically passedon to you from your parents. You probably are familiar with heredityin terms of your physical traits such as eye colour, hair colour, andheight. Heredity also influences your general level of health.Inheriting specific genes may put you at risk for certain illnesses,such as diabetes, requiring you to take steps to reduce your risk ormanage the illness. Other genes may strengthen your resistance todisease. Beyond your physical health, heredity can also influencepersonality and basic intellectual abilities and talents.12 MHR ● Chapter 1 Living a Healthy Life