Understanding Your Health

This text offers an exciting and practical approach to the teaching of the traditional content areas of personal health. Its two key themes--the six dimensions of health and the five developmental tasks--help students apply the text's content to their own lives by improving their decision-making skills. The new PowerWeb: Personal Health, linked by chapter in the Online Learning Center (and available free with every new copy of the text) provides students with the latest information in the constantly changing field of health.A new chapter is devoted to the topics of death and dying, covering such issues as the stages of death and grief, euthanasia, advance healthcare directives, near death experiences, hospice care, discussing death with children, and the rituals surrounding death. Updated content includes information on food safety, prescription and illicit drugs, biological warfare, communication, Internet addiction, club drugs, reproductive issues, and the new nutritional guidelines from the USDA. The text offers increased coverage of key issues such as the use and abuse of prescription drugs and dietary supplements, psychological disorders and therapies, diet, nutrition, and weight management. Thoroughly revised chapters offer fresh perspectives: for example, Chapter 5 includes the most current information available on nutritional guidelines and healthful eating, based on the USDA guidelines released in 2005. The text's companion Online Learning Center offers a wealth of pedagogical and assessment features, including quizzes, Web links, "Focus on Health" articles highlighting topics of interest to students (e.g. same-sex unions, drinking and violence, health information on the Internet), a comprehensive study guide, and much more.The text addresses the needs of nontraditional-age and traditional-age college students, covering topics such as single parenthood, achieving balance in life, and health problems in the workplace. The authors' writing style speaks directly to students, helping them to understand how health issues are important to them personally.A complete "Comprehensive Health Assessment" and personal assessment activities in each chapter invite students to evaluate aspects of their own health. A comprehensive and consistent box program presents issues and applications key to personal health and behavior change. Each chapter includes a wealth of learning aids, including learning objectives, personal assessments, a summary, review questions, references, annotated readings, and more.