HEALTHY LIVING
Meaning of Adolescence
We are going to learn about a very interesting topic: adolescence! During adolescence, your body, dear learner, will experience different changes. This is a stage that typically starts at age 13 and ends at around 19 years.
The changes that take place include:-
Increase in weight and height for both boys and girls.
- Voice change
- Hips broaden in girls.
- Menstruation begins in girls. (monthly periods)
- Boys experience wet dreams.
- In boys, their shoulders begin to broaden.
- Pubic and armpit hair develops.
- In girls, breast begin to grow and increase in size.
- Acne may occur for both boys and girls.
Good Grooming
Good grooming is about taking care of yourself in order to improve your appearance. This is important because girls will begin to menstruate, and boys will experience wet dreams. Therefore, cleanliness and hygiene is important.
Items For Good Grooming
- Face towel
- Tooth paste
- Toothbrush
- Towel
- Comb
- Pumice Stone
- Sanitary towels i.e pads
Can you think of any other items for good grooming?
Dear learner, as an adolescent, your body will need more energy as your body grows. You will need to adopt healthy eating habits to meet the increased nutritional needs your body will require. As such, you should:-
- Eat a balanced diet and drink enough water every day.
- Eat the correct food portions to provide you will the nutrients that you need.
- Girls should eat foods that are rich in iron to replace the blood they lose during menstruation, such as liver and dark green veggies.
- Snacks should be healthy eg. sweet potatoes, yams, nuts, boiled and roasted maize.
- Adolescent should observe table etiquette, that is, good table manners. Do not talk with food in your mouth, sit correctly and proper use of cutlery.
Daily Physical Exercise
Why is it important to exercise? This will:-
- Control your weight
- Improve blood circulation
- Help your breathing
- Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Reduce issues such as heart disease
- Improve sleep and mental health
Safety Precautions In The Environment
The environment we live in has many dangers and some of the ones that adolescent may face include:-
- Cyberbullying
- Road accidents
- Drug use
- Kidnapping
- Injuries during play
Accessories and Cosmetics
People, both men and women, choose to improve their appearance through the use of accessories and cosmetics. As an adolescent, you should choose accessories and cosmetics that are safe to use. Cosmetics can help with issues like acne and make you look more beautiful, if that is what you desire. But keep in mind that some cosmetics contain harsh chemicals that may harm your skin.
Such cosmetics and accessories include lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow, nail polish, perfume, scarfs, ties, belts, watches, lotions, creams, purses, jewellery.
Avoid misuing accessories. How can this happen? By:-
- Putting on excessive jewellery, eg too many bangles, earrings, chains
- Piercing holes on different parts of the body to put rings in them, eg piercing your tongue
- Wearing a cap during an official occassion
- Doing things out of peer pressure
Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders
A non-communicable disease is one that cannot be spread from one person to another, for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer, epilepsy, asthma.
DIABETES
This condition causes high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood of individuals. Symptoms include fatigue (tiredness) frequent thirst, frequent urination and unexpected and unintentional weight loss.
| DISEASE | CAUSES | PREVENTION | MANAGEMENT |
| Diabetes | – Unhealthy foods – Being overweight – Lack of exercise – Taking in excess sugar can put an individual at higher risk of getting Diabetes | – Eat a healthy balanced diet. – Avoid excess sugar. – Keep fit. | – Regular medical checkups. – Follow doctor’s prescription keenly. – Keep fit. |
Did You Know? There are two types of diabetes, dear learner. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. What’s the difference? That’s your homework to do.
OBESITY
| DISEASE | CAUSES | PREVENTION | MANAGEMENT |
| Obesity | – Unhealthy diet. – Eating excess fats and carboyhydrates – Lack of regular exercise. | – Eating healthy, balanced diet. – Avoid eating excess fats and carbohydrates. – Regular exercise. | – Follow the weight loss diet recommended by a nutritionist. – Regular exercise. – Monitor the rate of weight loss. |