Intermediate 1
Biology
Health and Technology
Summary
Notes
P.McCaughan
Health and Technology
The meaning of Health
There are three sides to the health triangle; if any of the sides
were removed the triangle would collapse. The same can be
applied to your health – if any one side is not right you will not
feel so healthy.
1. Give two examples
of an activity to
maintain good
physical health.
2. Give two examples
of an activity to
maintain good
mental health.
3. Do the same for
social health.
4. What is the normal
range of body
temperature?
5. Name two negative
health effects
caused by obesity.
A healthy lifestyle includes:
 Eating an appropriate range of foods.
 Taking regular exercise.
 Taking part in fun activities.
 Doing a job that you enjoy.
 Relaxing regularly.
 Avoiding harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and
cigarettes.
 Having a healthy supportive group of friends who like
you for who you are.
Physiological Measurements
These include: temperature, body fat, blood pressure and
pulse rate.
Measurements can be taken using high tech and low-tech
approaches:
Physiological
measurement
Temperature
Body fat
Blood pressure
Heart (pulse) rate
High tech
approach
Thermocouple or
thermistor
Digital body fat
sensor
Digital
sphygmomanometer
Pulse meter or
heart monitor
Low tech
approach
Thermometer
Skin fold callipers
Stethoscope and
mercury
manometer
Finger and stop
watch
There are advantages and disadvantages to using high tech
and low-tech equipment.
A Healthy Heart
Heart and circulatory system
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body.
 Arteries carry blood away from the heart.
 Veins carry blood towards the heart.
 Capillaries link arteries and veins AND allow nutrients
and oxygen to pass from the blood to the body tissues
AND allow CO2 and other wastes to pass from the tissues
into the blood to be expelled from the body.
Test yourself Questions
1. What are the two types of physiological equipment?
2. Name four different physiological test carried out?
3. Name the three aspects of the health triangle?
4. Is regular exercise mental, physical or social?
5. Name two unnecessary health risks?
Pulse rate as a health indicator
Pulse rate can be measured using a pulse meter or heart rate
monitor.
- A normal pulse rate is 60 to 70 beats per minute.
Abnormal pulse rate can affect your health:
- A high pulse rate can lead to heart disease.
A low pulse rate AND a short recovery time are an
indication of fitness.
Your resting pulse rate can be reduced by regular exercise.
The concept of blood pressure
Blood pressure can be measured using a sygmomanometer
(note the spelling).
Normal blood pressure is 110/75
Blood pressure under different conditions and its
significance for health
Conditions that can lead to high blood pressure are:
- Being overweight
- A lack of exercise
Test Questions
- Incorrect diet
1. Name the three
- Excessive drinking
types of blood
- Stress
vessels.
Effects of abnormal blood pressure:
High blood
pressure
Low blood
pressure
Heart attack or
stroke
Fainting or heart
failure
Blood tests and cell counts
2. What is a normal
pulse rate?
3. Does Oxygen leave
the blood in the
lungs?
4. Why does the blood
go to the lungs?
5. Name one function
of capillaries.
These are used to detect:
o Anaemia – low iron content and red blood cell numbers
o Infection – presence of microbes and/or antibodies
o Leukaemia – white blood cell count
o Diabetes – high sugar concentration
o Blood groups – A, B, AB, O
Healthy Lungs
The lungs and breathing
Structure
Mouth and nose
Function
Allows air into the body and filters it on its
way to the lungs
Windpipe
Channels air into the lungs
Bronchus – two
(Bronchi – one)
Channels air into both the right and left
lungs
Bronchioles
Channels air into the air sacs
Air sacs
Allow for the exchange of gases. Oxygen
diffuses into the blood and CO2 diffuses out
of the blood and is exhaled out of the body.
Test yourself Questions
1. What is the normal pulse
rate?
2. What is the normal range for
blood pressure?
3. Name to factors that can
cause high blood pressure.
4. Name 4 things that can be
detected using a blood test
cell count.
5. A low resting pulse and a
short recovery time is a good
indicator of what?
6. Name a health effect that is
caused by low blood
pressure.
7. What is the name of the
instrument used to measure
blood pressure?
The physiological measurements of the lungs
Tidal volume – The volume of air inhaled and exhaled in a
normal breath.
Vital capacity – The maximum amount of air exhaled from
your lungs.
Peak flow – The maximum speed at which you can exhale.
The physiological measurements depend on a person’s age,
size, sex and level of fitness.
Health risks and the effects of smoking
Smoking increases the risk of cancers such as throat, mouth
and lung cancer. Smoking by pregnant mothers can
decrease the baby’s birth weight.
The harmful substances in cigarettes are:
- Nicotine – increases blood pressure and pulse rate.
- Carbon monoxide – decreases the oxygen carrying
capacity of blood.
- Tar – Damages the hairs the clean the passageways in
the lungs.
Aspect of blood
tested
Antibodies
White blood cells
Abnormal result Medical
indicating
condition
problem
indicated
Viral infection
Low content
Diabetes
Leukaemia
Copy and complete the table using the following answers:
Anaemia, high concentration, high number, iron, presence
and sugar.
A Healthy Body
The importance of diet and energy balance
Test questions
1. Name four
structures in the
lungs.
2. Describe one
process that occurs
in the air sacs.
3. What is the tidal
volume?
4. When blowing up a
balloon are you
more likely to use
tidal volume or
vital capacity sized
breaths?
5. How does carbon
monoxide affect
you?
A healthy diet should include a variety of food
including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Function of food
Energy-giving
Type of food
Carbohydrates –
starch, sugar and
fat
Examples
Rice, potatoes,
bread, cornflakes,
butter, milk and
cheese
Protective
Vitamins and
minerals
Vegetables and
fruit
Body-building foods
Proteins
Meat, chicken, fish
and eggs
1. Smoking increases the risk of several diseases – name two
of these?
2. What effects does smoking have on a baby’s birth weight?
The relationship between body fat and health
Body fat can be measured using callipers.
The normal ranges of body fat are between 20 – 25%.
-
Being overweight can lead to:
Heart disease
Kidney failure
Arthritis
Diabetes
Being underweight leads to:
- Cancer
- Anorexia
1. Name five food groups.
2. Is protein a bodybuilding
or energy giving food?
3. Are potatoes
carbohydrates or proteins?
4. Which food group is likely
to lead to obesity –
proteins, carbohydrates or
vitamins?
The relationship between body temperature and
health
Body temperature can be measured using a
thermometer.
Being too hot can lead to:
- Heatstroke
- Can indicate infection (your body is fighting)
Being too cold can lead to:
- Hypothermia (body temp below 35 Celsius)
- Death (body temp below 30 Celsius)
Babies and the elderly are particularly at risk.
Exercise and the health of muscles
Regular exercise maintains muscles strength, size and
efficiency.
Muscle mass decreases if muscles are not exercised
regularly.
Muscle fatigue is relieved through relaxation.
Reaction time as an indicator of health
Reaction time can be measured using a dropped ruler or
electronic timer.
Slow reaction
time
This can indicate:
diabetes, brain or nerve
disorder or arterial
disease.
Drugs, alcohol or excitement can affect reaction times.
Health risks and the effects of alcohol
Alcohol has an immediate effect on you and also a
gradual effect if you drink over a long term.
Short term damage
Long term damage
Slower reaction time
Poor muscle control
Poor judgement
Liver damage
Brain damage