Health: The Ultimate Treasure –

Notes

Meaning of Health-
•Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well‑being, not just the absence of
disease.
•A healthy person can work efficiently, think clearly, and enjoy life.

Importance of Health
•Health helps us:
•Study and work better
•Fight diseases
•Live a happy and active life
•Good health is the real wealth of life
.
Dimensions of Health
Health has three main dimensions:
a) Physical Health
•Proper functioning of the body
•Achieved by:
•Balanced diet
•Regular exercise
•Clean habits and sufficient rest
b) Mental Health
•Ability to think positively and handle stress
•Maintained by:
•Positive attitude
•Proper sleep
•Sharing problems with others
c) Social Health
•Ability to interact well with others
•Includes:
•Cooperation
•Respect
•Good relationships

Factors Affecting Health

Health is influenced by:
•Nutrition
•Personal hygiene
•Environment
•Economic conditions
•Lifestyle habits
•Emotional well‑being
Balanced Diet
A balanced diet contains all nutrients in correct amounts:
•Carbohydrates – Energy
•Proteins – Growth and repair
•Fats – Stored energy
•Vitamins – Protection from diseases
•Minerals – Healthy bones and blood
•Water & Roughage – Digestion

Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene prevents diseases. Important practices:
•Bathing regularly
•Washing hands before meals
•Keeping nails trimmed
•Wearing clean clothes
•Brushing teeth daily

Exercise and Rest

•Regular exercise keeps the body fit and strong.
•Examples: walking, cycling, yoga, sports.
•Proper sleep and rest help in:
•Growth
•Repair of body cells
•Mental peace

Diseases
A disease is a condition that affects normal body functions.
Types of Diseases:
[Link] Diseases
•Spread from one person to another
•Examples: malaria, tuberculosis, COVID‑19
[Link]‑communicable Diseases
•Do not spread
•Examples: diabetes, cancer, heart disease

Prevention of Diseases
•Maintain cleanliness
•Eat nutritious food
•Drink clean water
•Get vaccinated
•Exercise regularly

Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle includes:
•Healthy eating habits
•Avoiding junk food
•Avoiding harmful substances (tobacco, alcohol)
•Managing stress
•Positive thinking

Mental and Emotional Well‑being

•Sharing feelings reduces stress
•Meditation and hobbies improve mental health
•Positive emotions help in healing the body

Conclusion
•Health is the most valuable treasure of life.
•It must be cared for every day through good habits and discipline.
•A healthy person leads a happy and successful life.

Question/Answers
Question [Link] the diseases shown in the images as communicable or non-communicable.

Answer.
Communicable diseases (spread from person to person):
•Cold and flu
•Typhoid
•Chickenpox
Non-communicable diseases (do not spread person to person):
•Diabetes
•Asthma

Question 2. Diseases can be broadly grouped into communicable and non-communicable

diseases. From the options given below, identify the non-communicable diseases.
(i) Typhoid. (ii) Asthma
(iii) Diabetes (iv) Measles
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (iv)

👉
Answer: (b) (ii) and (iii)
Asthma and Diabetes are non-communicable diseases.

Question 3. There is a flu outbreak in your school. Several classmates are absent, while some
are still coming to school coughing and sneezing.
(i) What immediate actions should the school take to prevent further spread?
Answer.
Immediate actions by school:
•Ask sick students to stay at home
•Maintain cleanliness and hygiene
•Ensure proper ventilation in classrooms
•Encourage use of masks
•Inform parents and spread awareness

(ii) If your classmate, who shares the bench with you, starts showing symptoms of the flu, how
can you respond in a considerate way without being rude or hurtful?
Answer.
•Be kind and understanding
•Suggest them to take rest
•Avoid close contact politely
•Encourage them to inform teachers/ parents

(iii) How can you protect yourself and others from getting infected in this situation?
Answer
•Wash hands frequently
•Cover mouth while coughing/sneezing
•Avoid sharing personal items
•Maintain distance from infected persons

Question 4. Your family is planning to travel to another city where malaria is prevalent.
(i) What precautions should you take before, during, and after the trip?
Answer
Before:
•Consult doctor, carry medicines
•Pack mosquito repellents
During:
•Use mosquito nets
•Wear full-sleeved clothes
After:
•Watch for fever symptoms
•Seek medical help if needed
(ii) How can you explain the importance of mosquito nets or repellents to your sibling?
Answer
•They protect from mosquito bites
•Prevent malaria transmission

(iii) What could happen if travellers ignore health advisories in such areas?
Answer
•They may get infected with malaria
•Disease may spread further

Question 5. Your uncle has started smoking just to fit in with his friends, even though it is well
known that smoking can seriously harm health and even cause death.
(i) What would you say to him to make him stop, without being rude?
Answer
•Explain health risks (lung damage,cancer)
•Encourage quitting for better health
•Suggest healthier habits

(ii) What would you do if your friend offered you a cigarette at a party?
Answer
•Politely refuse
•Say it is harmful to health
•Stay firm in decision

(iii) How can schools help prevent students from indulging in such harmful habits?
•Awareness programs on harmful effects
•Counselling sessions
•Promote healthy lifestyle activities

Question 6. Saniya claims to her friend Vinita that “Antibiotics can cure any infection, so we
don’t need to worry about diseases.” What question(s) can Vinita ask her to help Saniya
understand that her statement is incorrect?
Answer
Vinita can ask:
•Do antibiotics work on viruses?
•Why are antibiotics not useful for colds and flu?
•Can misuse of antibiotics cause resistance?

Question [Link] following table contains information about the number of dengue cases
reported in a hospital over a period of one year:
Make a bar graph of the number of cases on the Y-axis and the month on the X-axis. Critically
analyse your findings and answer the following:
Bar graph

(i) In which three months were the dengue cases highest?

[Link], August, September (65 cases each)

(ii) In which month(s) were the cases lowest?

[Link] (10 cases)

(iii) What natural or environmental factors during the peak months might contribute to the
increase in dengue cases?
Answer Rainy season → water stagnation
•Increase in mosquito breeding

(iv) Suggest a few preventive steps that the community or government can take before the peak
season to reduce the spread of dengue.
Answer
•Remove stagnant water
•Use insecticides
•Maintain cleanliness
•Community awareness campaigns

Question 8. Imagine you are in charge of a school health campaign. What key messages would
you use to reduce communicable and non-communicable diseases?
Answer
•Maintain personal hygiene
•Exercise regularly
•Eat balanced diet
•Get vaccinated
•Avoid junk food and smoking
•Keep surroundings clean

Question 9. It is recommended that we should not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a
cold, a cough, or flu. Can you provide the possible reason for this recommendation?
Answer
•Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses
•Colds and flu are caused by viruses
•Misuse leads to antibiotic resistance

Question 10. Which disease(s) among the following may spread if drinking water gets
contaminated by the excreta from an infected person?
Hepatitis A, Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Cholera, Chickenpox.
Answer. Cholera , Hepatitis A