Effective: 2022-05-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

HLT 110 explores basic concepts of personal health and wellness at the individual and community level.

Course Objectives

• Communication
• Communicate openly and accurately with others regarding personal and community health issues
• Critical Thinking
• Analyze health risks, needs, and prevention opportunities for various populations (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.)
• Explain the relationship between personal and community health
• Social and Cultural Understanding
• Identify the socio-economic and socio-cultural factors that affect the health of the community in both positive and negative ways
• Identify community health and wellness resources and describe their contributions to improving personal and community health
• Information Literacy
• Evaluate consumer health information for reliability, accuracy and biases
• Select and utilize credible sources of health information
• Scientific Reasoning
• Identify and analyze the most important data required to understand community health issues, resources and behaviors
• Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific health information
• Personal Development
• Identify and apply the dimensions of wellness to the improvement of overall well-being
• Assess and analyze impact of personal health behaviors
• Explore concepts of physical activity, nutrition, stress management, social relationships, and other self-care strategies for improving health and preventing disease
• Identify personal health goals and evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken to achieve those goals
• Explain how an individual?s decisions and behavior impact their personal health status
• Introduction to Personal Health and Wellness
• Define health and wellness
• Identify the dimensions of wellness
• Distinguish between health prevention and risk reduction strategies
• Identify the levels of disease prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary)
• Define the dimensions of health
• Discuss the influence of culture on health
• Identify the social determinants of health
• Define health disparity
• Identify factors that influence health disparities
• Discuss the factors that shape health and health behavior change
• Construct one SMART goal for personal health change
• Discuss self-care tools, techniques and behaviors
• Consumer Health
• Describe the importance of health literacy in enhancing health
• Assess the quality and credibility of a website for health information
• Identify the various types of healthcare facilities and professionals
• Identify the main components of health insurance plans
• Distinguish between brand name and generic drugs
• Describe different types of complementary and alternative therapies
• Discuss ways to identify health fraud
• Emotional Health and Stress Management
• Identify characteristics of emotionally healthy persons
• Identify signs, symptoms, and risk factors of common mental health disorders
• Discuss treatment options for mental health disorders
• Define stress
• Identify the physical and psychological changes associated with the body?s stress response.
• Describe personal stressors impacting college students
• Discuss strategies, tools and techniques to minimize the impact of student stressors
• Identify ways of managing time more efficiently
• Describe relaxation techniques to help cope with stress
• Identify personal stressors and evaluate current management strategies
• Identify community resources related to mental health and stress management
• Sleep
• Identify specific types, causes, and potential remedies of sleep issues
• Describe the importance of stabilizing the circadian rhythm, production of melatonin and release of cortisol as a sleep strategy
• Describe SAD and potential remedies
• Describe the impact of poor quality and quantity of sleep on physical and mental health
• Identify specific lifestyle strategies and behaviors for repairing and healing sleep issues
• Physical Activity/Fitness
• Describe the components of a well-designed physical activity program
• Explain the key recommendations of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
• Describe the health benefits of regular physical activity
• List and describe various cardiorespiratory activities
• Explain the benefits of a muscle training program
• Define flexibility
• Discuss elements of exercise safety
• Identify community resources related to physical fitness
• Nutrition
• Identify the components of a healthy diet (carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals)
• Explain the key recommendations of the USDA Choose My Plate plan and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Create a healthy meal plan based on the components of a healthy diet and USDA healthy eating guidelines
• Dispel common nutrition myths and misconceptions
• Identify the components of the food label
• Interpret nutritional information provided on food labels
• Identify risks and benefits related to dietary supplements
• Identify personal impediments to creating and implementing a diet that supports optimal health and potential solutions to address those impediments
• Explore community resources related to nutrition
• Human Sexuality
• Define sexuality and sexual health
• Identify the factors that shape individual views on sexuality
• Identify bias and misconceptions related to sexuality issues
• Identify the different options for contraception and how they work
• List advantages and disadvantages of methods of contraception
• Describe the methods of STD transmission
• List and define common sexually transmitted infections
• Describe the signs/symptoms and treatments for various STDs
• Discuss strategies for reducing the risk of common STDs
• Explore community resources related to sexual health
• Substance Abuse
• Identify types of drug dependence
• Discuss the factors affecting drug dependence
• Describe the effects and health risks of commonly misused and abused drugs
• Describe available treatment methods for drug dependence
• Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate use of over-the-counter and prescription medications
• Describe the impacts of alcohol misuse among college students
• Define a standard drink for various types of alcohol products
• Describe the symptoms of alcohol poisoning
• Define alcohol abuse, dependence, and alcoholism, and list their symptoms
• List the health effects of tobacco use (smoking & smokeless tobacco) and vaping
• Discuss recommended strategies to quit smoking
• Describe the health effects of environmental, or secondhand, tobacco smoke
• Assess personal health risks associated with substance use, alcohol use, and use/exposure to tobacco products
• Identify community resources related to substance abuse
• Disease Prevention - Communicable and Non-Communicable
• Identify the factors involved in disease transmission
• Distinguish between communicable and non-communicable diseases
• Identify the characteristics of various non-communicable diseases
• Explain how different agents of infection spread disease
• Describe how the body protects itself from infectious disease
• Identify appropriate immunization schedules for various age groups
• Identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Identify management strategies for cardiovascular disease and diabetes
• Describe strategies for reducing risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease supported by research
• Describe how cancer develops
• Identify the risk factors for the most common types of cancer
• Describe lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk of cancer development supported by research
• List ways to reduce risk for the cold or influenza
• Explain the dangers of overuse or misuse of antibiotics
• Assess personal risk for communicable and non-communicable diseases
• Identify community resources related to disease prevention

Major Topics to be Included

• Introduction to Personal Health and Wellness
• Consumer Health
• Emotional Health and Stress Management
• Sleep
• Physical Activity/Fitness
• Nutrition
• Human Sexuality
• Substance Abuse
• Disease Prevention - Communicable and Non-Communicable