Running head: PRESCRIPTION PAPER Prescription Paper Janet Ramirez Pasadena City College 1 2 PRESCRIPTION PAPER Abstract The author Rebecca Donatelle provides the knowledge of health and wellness in Health: The Basics. 3rd Custom Edition: Pearsons so individuals can pursue a healthy life. She explained that as a human being, it is my responsibility to focus on becoming a healthier individual. There are many elements such as the six dimensions, health and wellness, and assessment test that will direct us to a positive outcome. It is also important to recognize symptoms of depression and other unhealthy conditions that can interfere with accomplishing goals. Running head: PRESCRIPTION PAPER 3 Prescription Paper A long and healthy life revolves around the level of health and wellness. It is important to protect my body and surroundings to benefit from the environment and its resources to pursue a positive outcome. This topic will focus on the specific key points regarding my health: 1. Self-Assessment. 2. Ways to Improve or Maintain My Current Health. 3. Importance of Sustaining a Healthy Lifestyle. 4. 3 Goals to Improve a Healthy Lifestyle. 5. Overall Conclusion. Many factors contribute to my health; therefore, it is important to create a prescription that will guide me to achieve the six dimensions of health and wellness. The prescription will consist of goals and activities that will help me fulfill a healthy lifestyle. Self-Assessment The assessment test indicated that my general health can use some improvement. My current health and wellness is average; I go to the gym four times a week and play soccer games twice a week. My eating habits are not the healthiest because I do not consume the daily requirement of fruits and vegetables. The test results stated that intellectual and social health were in between average and excellent health. Also physical, environmental, and emotional health was average. Ways to Improve or Maintain My Current Health. Ways to improve my current health can be achieved by focusing on the areas that need improvement. In order to increase physical health by “stretching to increase body 4 PRESCRIPTION PAPER awareness” is to sustain a stable gym routine, sleep eight hours daily, and partaking in fitness programs such as yoga. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign claimed that taking a walk, using the stairs instead of the elevator, and parking farther away from the store are small changes that contribute to positive results (n.d.). Emotional health emphasizes that communicating about feelings is important to avoid chronic issues. Being able to open myself to other people appropriately is critical and it can be achieved by surrounding myself with positive people that motivate me to become a better person. The University of California, Riverside stated that learning to understand ourselves will help us overcome life obstacles (2012). Lastly, environmental health needs improvement in becoming more active to preserve natural resources, purchase biodegradable detergent, and inform elected leaders about environmental issues. The University of Baltimore declared that appreciating and protecting our surroundings would help us acknowledge the importance of our community and how it affects our health (2014). These tips will affect my health in a positive way. Importance of Sustaining a Healthy Lifestyle. The importance of sustaining a healthy lifestyle depends on exercise, eating habits, and acknowledging our surroundings. Author, Rebecca Donatelle, explained in Health: The Basics. 3rd Custom Edition: Pearsons that individual, biology and genetics, and social factors are critical to the outcome of long-term and short-term benefits in such a way as increasing life expectancy (2011). Donatelle emphasized on the importance of the six dimensions of health and their role in sustaining a healthy lifestyle. These dimensions must be achieved so the individual will not come across “chronic illness, irreversible disability, or death.” Therefore, the assessment test can guide individuals to Running head: PRESCRIPTION PAPER 5 improve on specific dimensions and outside resources can provide the help needed to achieve a great outcome. Alcohol, binge eating, sedentary, and smoking are factors that individuals must refrain from because they do not benefits their bodies in a positive way. Therefore, it is important to have a healthy social dimension because social groups can affect them in a positive or negative manner. Also, psychological health must be considered to sustaining a healthy lifestyle because it is reflected on mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. These dimensions define individual’s psychological health from social groups and selfefficiency. College students is the group mostly affected from psychological stress due to the overwhelming pressure that education can place on them. They might seek short-term solutions to resolve anxiety and depression that will temporarily resolve their problems. Therefore, it is important that universities such as University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign provide health services for college students to help them cope with disorders and unhealthy conditions to improve their psychological health. It is important that college students become psychologically healthy to concentrate on furthering their college education. 3 Goals to Improve a Healthy Lifestyle. Three goals to improve a healthy lifestyle are educate others and myself about health issues, be consistent with a healthy exercise routine and eating habits, and possess a positive mentality. These goals are a result from the assessment results, so achieving them will help me to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The best way to educate others and myself is to accept different opportunities that provide different experiences (University of Baltimore, 2014). The University of California, Riverside stated that in order to 6 PRESCRIPTION PAPER maintain a healthy lifestyle one must substitute destructive habits through exercising and continue a healthy habit (2012). Preserving a positive mentality will be difficult to pursue during overwhelming situations because it takes much courage and energy to refrain from negativity but it will help me to become a better person and provide positive energy to others. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign stated the importance of feeling positive and enthusiastic about life (n.d.). Other daily activities that will help to achieve my goals are practice communication skills through writing so I can express myself verbally and appropriately with others. Also, becoming more environmentally active by recycling, prevent littering, voting for electives that are concerned about the environment, and preserving natural resources. Overall Conclusion. Lastly, the importance of health is obvious but it takes time and energy to fulfill a healthy lifestyle therefore one must be consistent despite the obstacles that challenge us. The self-assessment test is the first step to acknowledge different areas that need improvement to achieve all six dimensions. Refraining from drugs, alcohol, and other unhealthy habits will make a great impact on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, it is necessary to set goals so one can keep focused and self-motivated. After all, mistakes can also benefit individuals if they learn from them. Running head: PRESCRIPTION PAPER 7 References Donatelle, R. (2011). Health: the basics. 3rd custom edition: pearsons. San Francisco, CA: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. University of Baltimore. (2014). Six dimensions of wellness. Baltimore, MD: Author. Univeristy of California, Riverside. (2012). Seven dimensions of wellness. Riverside, CA: Author. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (n.d.). Six dimensions of wellness. Champaign, IL: Author.