Revised 08/2022

HLT 110 - Personal and Community Health (3 CR.)

Course Description

Introduces students to the basic concepts of health and dimensions of wellness through exploration of a variety of personal health topics. Identifies factors that affect the health status of individuals in addition to health promotion and disease prevention at the personal and community level. Lecture 3 hours, Total 3 hours per week. 3 credits

General Course Purpose

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

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

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