Author Description

Abstract: An informative, illustrated text for high school and college students focuses on physical and mental health promotion and health risk reduction. Factual guidelines are given for: growing old healthfully; coping with death and dying; emotional health; stress management; physical fitness and exercise; diet; weight management; the effects of alcohol abuse and cigarette smoking; the effect of psychoactive drugs on brain function; relationships, marriage, and sex; influences of pregnancy, childbirth, and genetic factors on personel health; and various health risks (communicable and non-communicable diseases; environmental pollution hazards). Information on consumer health, the US health care system, personal health records maintenance, and advances in holistic techniques and practices is included. A personal health and wellness profile questionnaire introduces each of the 22 text chapter themes. Emergency first-aid measures and nutritive values of foods are described in separate appendices. (wz).