KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR

PROTECTION”

PRACTICE #2 HEALTH AND MECHANISMS OF ITS SUPPORT

study of the basic principles of human life and

COMPETENCES health preservation; learning the key principles of
a healthy lifestyle.

2.1. THEORY

Valeology is the science about the organism’s genetic and physiological re-
serves that ensure the stability of physical, biological, psychological, socio-
cultural development and preservation of human health under the influence of
external and internal factors that change permanently.
Human reactions to the influence of external and internal factors are
realized due to the combination of the human’s organism’s physical and men-
tal capabilities, an indicator of which is the health condition.

Health is the condition of complete physical, mental and social well-being of

a human, and not merely the absence of disease or physical affliction.

Health is a complex (multilevel) condition that requires comprehensive

researches. For a deeper understanding of the concept, let’s consider which
levels of health exist.

Individual health is health, which is formed both in society and based on

physiological and mental characteristics of the individual and his lifestyle.

Social health is the health of the population in general.

Thus, health is the organism’s ability to ensure the implementation of

genetic programs, unconditional reflex processes, generative functions, men-
tal activity and human phenotypic behaviour. It allows human to adapt to
macro- and microenvironment, to be productive in the various aspects of life.

A genotype is a complex of all organism genes that determine hereditary

properties.
The interaction of genotype and environmental conditions create the or-
ganism phenotype.

1
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
A phenotype is a set of organism’s signs and properties that was formed in
the process of its individual development.
Clinical indicators of an individual: height, body weight, eye colour, hair
type, blood type, etc. are phenotypic.
The following indicators estimate individual health:
subjective – well-being, working capacity, sleep, appetite;
objective – anthropometric characteristics (body weight, height, chest
circumference, neck, thighs, abdomen, etc.), respiratory rate, the vital capa-
city of the lungs, pulse, blood pressure and others.
The following indicators estimate social health:
demographic indicators – the number, composition, movement of the
population both in the form of migration processes and natural (birth rate,
mortality, natural population growth, average life expectancy, etc.);
indicators of physical population development;
indicators of morbidity, injuries and disability.
According to the current views, there are automatic mechanisms of self-
organization that ensure the formation, strengthening and maintenance of hu-
man health. The most important means of maintaining human health are
homeostasis and adaptation.

Homeostasis is a hereditary ability of the human’s organism to maintain vital

functions in various environmental conditions.
The homeostatic mechanisms include thermoregulation, the con-
stancy of the blood composition and the level of sugar in it, the osmotic pres-
sure, etc. Human health is maintained if the organism’s internal environment
stability is maintained, or its violations are short-term. In the case of persistent
disturbance of homeostasis to maintain health the organism uses another
ability – adaptation.

Adaptation is the process of an optimal life activity strategy development by

the organism for adapting to environmental conditions that changed signific-
antly.
The signs and properties, that are most beneficial for the organism,
form during the process of adaptation. The final result of the adaptation pro-
cesses is the formation of a new homeostasis level, which ensures the vital
activity of the organism in the environmental conditions that changed.

2
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
If in the process of adaptation the organism goes beyond its capabilit-
ies, there is a risk of disease. It happens because individual capabilities of the
organism do not meet the requirements of new environmental conditions.
Factors that affect human health
Type of effect on human health
Factors group
Positive Negative

Healthy heredity, absence Hereditary diseases,

Genetic of morphofunctional prerequisites hereditary proneness
disease, etc. to diseases, etc.

Bad levels of domestic,

Environmental Good levels of domestic, industrial,
industrial, natural, ecological
conditions natural, ecological conditions
conditions

A lack of monitoring of the

Monitoring of the population health,
population health, a low level of
Health care a high level of preventive measures,
preventive measures, absence
comprehensive medical care
of comprehensive medical care

A permanent place of residence, an An absence of a permanent

active lifestyle, social and place of residence, a low
Lifestyle psychological comfort, a complete physical activity, social and
and rational diet, the absence of bad psychological discomfort, a poor
habits, etc. diet, bad habits, etc.

The positive influence of each factors groups provides a human with

significant potential for physical, mental and intellectual working capacity that
is the foundation of full value life.
One of the valeology concepts is "a healthy lifestyle". Among the sig-
nificant number of its definition, the most acceptable is the following.

A healthy lifestyle is a human lifestyle that corresponds to genetically de-

termined typological features of a human, specific living conditions and ori-
ented at the formation, maintenance and strengthening of health, and a per-
formance of human socio-biological functions.
In this definition the emphasis is on the individualization of the concept
itself; it means that the healthy lifestyles should be equal the number of
people. This factor is essential because an effective system of a healthy life-
style should account the next moments:
typological features of a human (for example, type of the nervous sys-
tem, mechanisms of vegetative nervous regulation, etc.);

3
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
age and gender;
the social situation in which a human lives (for example, family status,
profession, working conditions, material security, etc.);
human life orients.

2.2. PRACTICE

TASK №1. Assess the health condition with the help of L. Ryder’s quiz.
Determine the factors that negatively affect health.
INSTRUCTION. Read the questions carefully. Familiarize with the sug-
gested sets of possible answers. From the proposed list of answers, choose
the one that best suits your opinion. Circle the number of this answer.
ATTENTION! There are five parts of quiz. Each part has a separate key
for interpreting the results, which is down below after each one.

QUIZ
PART 1. Assess your health condition:
1 – very bad;
2 – bad;
3 – satisfactory;
4 – good;
5 – excellent.
KEY TO PART 1. This part of the quiz measures health self-esteem. Low
self-esteem is usually associated with high levels of stress and low life satis-
faction.
Brief conclusion to the part 1:My mood can be described as satisfact-
ory, as now there is an intermediate stage towards reaching a good.

PART 2. Evaluate to what extent you agree with each of the following
statements (table 2.1).
Table 2.1
The list of statements and their assessment
Rather Rather not Not
№ Statements Agree
agree agree agree

1 Most likely, I'm a nervous person 1 2 3 4

2 I am very worried about my work 1 2 3 4

4
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
3 I often feel nervous 1 2 3 4

4 My daily activities are very stressful 1 2 3 4

During the communication with people, I
5 1 2 3 4
often feel nervous
By the end of the day, I am completely
6 1 2 3 4
exhausted physically and mentally
7 Tension often arises in my family 1 2 3 4

KEY TO PART 2. Part 2 of the survey is a scale of psychosocial stress.

When processing the data, you should calculate the sum of points for all
seven questions. After that, the obtained value you get to divide by 7. Then,
you should from 4 deduct the obtained score. The result is a stress indicator
on the psychosocial stress scale, which can be from 0 to 3 points. Depending
on the obtained score of psychosocial stress, you can belong to a group with
high, medium or low levels of psychosocial stress (table 2.2).
Table 2.2
The level of psychological stress
Середній бал
The stress level
Men Women
High 2,00 – 3,00 2,18 – 3,00
Medium 1 – 1,99 1,18 – 2,1
Low 0,00 – 0,99 0,00 – 1,1

Brief conclusion to the part 2:After completing a survey on the psycho-

logical stress scale, I found that I belong to a group of people with low
level of stress.

PART 3. Evaluate how you feel lately. Circle a suiting answer (table 2.3).
Table 2.3
The list of statements and their assessment
Rather Rather
№ Statements Agree Not agree
agree not agree
I am satisfied with the last year of
1 4 3 2 1
my life
2 The mood got worse 4 3 2 1

3 In general, my life is going well 4 3 2 1

5
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
4 My well-being deteriorated 4 3 2 1

5 I feel happy 4 3 2 1
There were changes in my life for
6 4 3 2 1
the worse
There is a source of joy and sup-
7 4 3 2 1
port in my life
I have problems that greatly spoil
8 4 3 2 1
my mood
9 My life got better 4 3 2 1

10 Many things fail 4 3 2 1

KEY TO PART 3. Part 3 of the survey is a life satisfaction scale. This

scale assesses a person’s subjective state of satisfaction-dissatisfaction with
life. To calculate the indicator on this scale, it is necessary from the sum of
points scored under paragraphs 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 deduct the sum of points scored
under paragraphs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Indicators of life satisfaction are in the range
from -15 to +15 points.
The result from -15 to -5 points is an indicator of a low level of satis-
faction with life, i.e. indicates a dissatisfaction, stress, pessimism, the need
for psychological help.
The result from -4 to +4 points indicates the average level of satisfac-
tion with life.
The result from +5 to +15 points indicates a high level of satisfaction
with life in general, psychological well-being and optimistic worldview.

Brief conclusion to the part 3: I did the survey and determined that my
result indicates the average level of satisfaction with life.

PART 4. Factors are down below, which can influence your health condi-
tion (table 2.4). Estimate your living conditions on a five-point scale: 1 – very
bad; 2 – bad; 3 – satisfactory; 4 – good; 5 – excellent.
Table 2.4
The list of living conditions and their assessment
Assessment,
№ Living conditions
points
1 Your living conditions 4
Living conditions in the residence area (shops, services, transport,
2 4
etc.)

6
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
3 Ecological conditions in the residence area (purity of air, water, etc.) 5
4 Your working conditions 5
5 Money, income 3
6 Opportunities to use money 4
7 Health care 5
8 Possibilities of receiving information (radio, television, periodicals, etc.) 5
9 Leisure, sports, entertainment 4
10 Opportunities to communicate with art (movies, museums, books, etc.) 2
11 The political situation in the region of residence 4
12 Social and legal protection (security sense) 4
13 Freedom of religion, political activity, etc. 4

Overall score:

KEY TO PART 4. Part 4 is a scale of satisfaction with living conditions. It

is necessary to calculate the total sum of the points at all questions to obtain
an indicator on this scale.
A score of fewer than 32 points indicates a low level of satisfaction
with living conditions, low life quality of and the need for psychological aid.
A result from 33 to 46 points means that living conditions are satis-
factory.
A score of more than 47 points indicates a high level of satisfaction
with living conditions and high life quality.
The questions on which you scored 1-2 points are the stressful aspects
of your life. The questions on which you scored 4 - 5 points are the aspects of
life that satisfy you.

Brief conclusion to the part 4: I have a score more than 47 points (53 ex-
actly). It means that I have a high level of satisfaction with living condi-
tions and high life quality.

PART 5. The life aspects on which the human health condition can de-
pend are in table 2.5. Estimate how you satisfy with different parts of your life.
Use a five-point scale: 1 – not satisfied at all; 2 – not satisfied; 3 – to some
extent satisfied; 4 – moderately satisfied; 5 – completely satisfied.

Table 2.5
Life aspects and their assessment

7
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
Assessment,
№ Life aspects points
1 Job (attitude to work, opportunities, etc.) 4
2 Relationships in the family 4
3 Children: their health and well-being 4
4 Food 5
5 Vacation 5
6 Material well-being, security 5
7 Communication with friends, with people close in interests 5
8 Situation in society 5
9 Life prospects 5
10 Love, sexual feelings 3
11 Favourite activity, the opportunity to express yourself in something 5
Overall score:

NOTE: during the fill the questions 1, 2 and 3 there may be difficulties, that is why
you need explanations:
question 1: "If you are not currently working, evaluate your attitude to this fact";
question 2: "If you live alone, evaluate how you satisfy your family status";
question 3: "If you do not have children, evaluate your attitude to this fact."

KEY TO PART 5. Part 5 is a scale of satisfaction of basic life needs. It is

necessary to calculate the total sum of the points at all questions to obtain an
indicator on this scale.
A score of fewer than 30 points indicates a low level of satisfaction of
basic life needs, stress and the need for psychological aid.
The result from 31 to 41 points indicates the average level of satisfac-
tion of basic living needs.
A score above 42 points indicates a high level of satisfaction of needs,
psychological well-being.

Brief conclusion to the part 5: I have a score above 42 points (50 ex-
actly). It means that I have a high level of satisfaction of neds, psycholo-
gical well-being.

GENERAL CONCLUSION BY TASK 1: TO SUM UP, I ASSESSED MY HEALTH WITH

THE HELP OF L. RYDER`S QUIZ. IN GENERAL, I AGREE WITH TEST RESULTS.

8
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
TASK №2. ASSESS THE HEALTH CONDITION WITH THE HELP OF
THE QUIZ
INSTRUCTION. Read the questions, choose from the list of answers the
one that suits you best and circle it.

QUIZ
1. What would you do if you see that the bus arrives at the bus stop ear-
lier than you:
a) you would try to catch up with him;
b) you would skip it because there will be the next;
c) you would speed up yourself – maybe the bus will wait for you?
2. Would you go on the camping trip in the company of people much
younger than you:
a) no, you do not go on the camping trip at all;
b) yes, if you at least a little like them;
c) reluctantly because it can be tedious?
3. If you have a working or study day harder than usual, do you lose the
desire to do something in the evening that promises to be interesting::
a) the desire doesn't disappear at all;
b) the desire disappears, but you hope that you will get better, and
therefore you don't refuse from the intention ;
c) yes because you can get pleasure from it only after a rest?
4. What do you think about a camping trip with the whole family:
a) you like it when others do it;
b) you would be happy to join them;
c) you need to try once that understand how you will feel in such a tour?
5. What do you usually prefer to do when you get tired:
a) you go to bed;
b) you drink a cup of strong coffee;
c) you walk in the fresh air for a long time?
6. What is most important for maintaining good health:
a) you need to eat more;
b) you need to move a lot;
c) you need don't get tired?
7. Do you take medication regularly:
a) you don't take medication even during the illness;
b) in extreme cases you take vitamins;
c) yes, you accept?

9
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
8. Which dish do you prefer (and eat more often) from the following:
a) pea soup with smoked ham;
b) yoghurt;
c) a cake with cream or whipped cream?
9. What is most important to you when you go on vacation:
a) that there be all the conveniences;
b) that there be at least a minimum opportunity to play sports;
c) that there be minimal conveniences?
10. Do you feel the weather change:
a) you feel sick for a few days because of it;
b) you almost do not notice that the weather has changed;
c) yes if you are tired?
11. What is your condition if you do not get enough sleep:
a) bad;
b) once or twice you are not enough sleep - everything goes wrong;
c) you are so used to it that you no longer pay attention?

KEY. Count the number of points for answering the questions using ta-
ble 2.6.
Table 2.6
The number of points for answering the questions
Question Answer – points Answer – points Answer – points
1 а – 10 б–5 в–6
2 а–2 б – 10 в – 10
3 а – 10 б–6 в–2
4 а–1 б – 10 в–4
5 а–6 б–4 в–9
6 а–1 б–9 в–5
7 а–6 б–9 в–3
8 а–4 б – 10 в–1
9 а–0 б – 10 в–6
10 а–0 б – 10 в–6
11 а–0 б–7 в–2

Overall score

More than 80 points. You feel great because you are healthy, but
mainly because you are not just a supporter of a healthy lifestyle, but also
lead it in real life.

10
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
From 50 to 80 points. There is nothing wrong with your well-being, al-
though, it happens that you are irritated or tired. It will benefit you to change
something in your life. (58)
Less than 50 points. You are too overwhelmed; do not monitor your
health. It would be best if you changed your lifestyle.
CONCLUSION BY TASK 2:ACCORDING TO THE TEST RESULTS I CAN SAY THAT
THERE ISN`T SOMETHING SERIOUS WITH MY WELL-BEING.

TASK №3. ASSESS YOUR IMMUNITY CONDITION USING THE

FOLLOWING QUIZ.
INSTRUCTION. You get to answer the following questions to assess your
immunological status. The more questions you answer "yes", and the larger
the number of this question, the greater the immunodeficiency you have.

QUIZ
1. Do you sometimes have problems with respiratory disease (bronchi-
tis, sore throat, otitis)? Yes
2. Do you have respiratory diseases more often than 1-2 times a year?
No
3. Is it difficult for you to have respiratory diseases (how long does the
disease last, do you treat at the hospital bronchitis, pneumonia)? No
4. Does it happen that you have a temperature of 37.0 – 37.4 0С for a
week or more without reason? No
5. Do you have any chronic inflammatory diseases (chronic bronchitis,
tonsillitis, otitis, nephritis, sinusitis, etc.)? Yes
6. Do you suffer from furunculosis, abscesses? No
7. Do you suffer from fungal diseases of the skin and mucous mem-
branes? No
8. Do you suffer from periodontitis, caries, stomatitis? Yes
9. Are you worried about frequent exacerbations of herpes? Yes
10. Do you suffer from dysbacteriosis, chronic diarrhoea of unknown
origin? No
11. Do you have any autoimmune, allergic diseases? No
12. Do you have HIV? No
13. Do you suffer from any congenital anomaly of the immune system?
No
14. Do you have any type of cancer? No

11
KUZNETS KHNUE TRAINING COURSE “LIFE SAFETY AND LABOUR
PROTECTION”
CONCLUSION BY TASK 3: ACCORDING TO THIS TASK I GAVE SOME PROBLEMS
WITH HEALTH BUT I DON’T THINK THAT THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS AND I AM
TRYING TO SOLVE THEM AND IMPROVE MY LEVEL OF HEALTH.

THE GRADE FOR PRACTICE #2

12