Healthy

Practices

Social Studies
Teacher: Mr. Morgan
Kenroy Reid
Grade 7 Leader

Introduction
You know that healthy habits make sense, but did you ever stop to think why you practice them? Research
shows that the impact of good health on your quality of life is beneficial, regardless of your age, sex, or
physical ability. Practicing healthy habits not only has positive impacts now but will determine your
medical condition in the future.
Being healthy allows an individual to enjoy life to its fullest as he/she is physically, mentally and
emotionally healthy. As a result, a healthy person is a happy person who is able to contribute positively in
all areas of life.
1. What are good health practices?
Ans. Good health practices are things we do to keep ourselves in good
physical, mental and emotional condition.

2. Write 5 reasons a person should consider keeping the body healthy.

a. He will be happier in his social life.
b. He will be stronger and better able to find work.
c. He will be able to live more comfortably.
d. He will be able to prevent diseases and other illnesses.
e. He will be able to enjoy sports and exercise.

3. What are some of the obstacles that can prevent a person from keeping
healthy?
Ans. Some of the obstacles that can prevent a person from keeping healthy
are poverty and ignorance of how to go about keeping himself healthy.

4. State how the government helps to keep people healthy.

Ans. The Ministry of Health keeps us informed about how to keep healthy.
They do this by:
a. Encouraging mothers to breastfeed
b. Educating children and adults about healthy practices which include
having balanced meals, getting immunized etc). This is done in the
schools through subjects such as Guidance and Counselling and Health
and Family Life Education (HFLE). Health personnel also visit
communities and churches to inform citizens about healthy lifestyles.
c. Providing hospitals, clinics and ambulances to help with keeping
citizens healthy.
d. The ministry also organizes regular health fairs where individuals can
go to do health check-ups and receive information on healthy
practices.

5. How can the media influence our healthy practices?

Ans. The media (newspaper, television radio and the internet) can assist us in
practicing a healthy lifestyle by promoting ways in which we can stay healthy
through their advertisements. They can also work with the government and
private companies to air programmes that promote healthy practices.
6. Name and describe five jobs in the health sector and get pictures.
Ans. Five jobs in the health sector are:
a. Doctor- this person diagnoses serious sickness and prescribes the
necessary treatment.
 b. Public health inspector- the duties of this person include examining
abattoirs (where animals are killed for their meat) shops and stalls where
food is sold. They also inspect supermarkets, hairdresser shops, and
barber saloons to ensure that they are following the guidelines for
healthy practices.
c. Pharmacist- a pharmacist is responsible for supplying medicines that are
within the law to patients and to instruct them on how the medicine is to
be used.
d. Paediatrician- a paediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the health of
children.
e. Surgeon- a neurosurgeon is a specialist doctor who treats conditions
affecting the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, skull and peripheral
nerves).

DOCTOR PUBLIC HEALTH

INSPECTOR
PHARMACIST PAEDIATRICIAN

SURGEON
7. Describe 5 illnesses that can come about as result of bad health practices
and state how they can be prevented.

DISEASE DESCRIPTION/CAUSE PREVENTATIVE

MEASURE
Typhoid Eating or drinking This disease can be
contaminated food or prevented that ensuring
water. This can be passed that only food and drink
on through human that are clean are
faeces. A person who has consumed.
typhoid fever will
experience sore throat,
vomiting and weakness.
Gastroenteritis This is caused by This disease can be
infection through prevented by ensuring
parasites or food that our hands are clean
poisoning. It results in before we prepare meals
stomach pain, diarrhoea and that whatever we
and vomiting. consume is also free from
Gastroenteritis causes bacteria.
weakness and
dehydration.
Hepatitis C This is a virus that is To prevent this disease,
transmitted by way of the persons should avoid
blood of an infected engaging in activities that
person. The symptoms include the transfer of
include: feeling tired, blood from one person to
fever, yellow eyes. With another such as sharing
this disease the liver needles.
swells and does not work
properly.
Scurvy Oranges, citrus fruits,
People suffering from cabbage, amla (Indian
scurvy have swollen and gooseberry), etc., should
be included in the diet to
bleeding gums. They lose
prevent a deficiency of
weight and become weak. Vitamin C.
Their teeth start shaking
and become loose. This
disease is caused due to
the deficiency of vitamin-
C

Diabetes Diabetes is caused by a Diabetes can be

problem in the way your
body makes or uses
insulin. If goes untreated,
the effects of diabetes on
the body can be noticed
by these symptoms:
Increased thirst, frequent
prevented or helped by
keeping to a healthy diet,
avoiding cigarettes and
alcohol, and incorporating
regular activity into your
daily life in order to keep
blood sugar levels
need to urinate, fatigue, normal.
blurred vision and tingling
or pain in the hands, feet
and/or legs.