Health and lifestyle
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Health and lifestyle
Historical development
The standard of living is high in present-day Norway. Medication is available for many serious diseases, and the welfare state has systems in place to ensure that medical help and medication are available to everyone. Children are offered free vaccination against a number of diseases. Many people used to die in Norway from illnesses linked to poverty, e.g. malnutrition and tuberculosis. Many people also died because no treatment was available.
The public health situation in Norway has improved greatly during the past 100 years. This is largely because the development of the welfare state provides more and better opportunities for living good and safe lives. People in Norway live longer than they used to do. Many elderly people are also healthier than old people used to be. This enables them to lead long, good and active lives.
This does not mean that Norway is a society without diseases. For example, many people suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. Diabetes and obesity are also increasing. Cardiovascular diseases, along with cancer, are the most common cause of death in Norway.
Preventing health problems
The state of our health is often linked to our lifestyle. This applies to both our physical and mental health. If we eat healthy food and are physically active, we have a better chance of staying healthy for longer. People who smoke have a greater risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Although the welfare state bears the brunt of the responsibility for safeguarding the health of the population, it is also in many cases up to the individual how they live their lives and look after their health.
Mental health is as important as physical health. Most people enjoy socialising with other people. Either in the form of living in a family, having good friends or having good colleagues. Having healthy thoughts, being calm within, sleeping well and otherwise being happy is also important for our health. There is a Norwegian saying that a good laugh helps you to live longer.
Diet
- Discuss the link between diet and health.
- Do you eat the same things now as you did before you came to Norway?
- Is there a link between climate and diet?
- What foods do you think are unhealthy?
- What foods do you think are healthy?
Many healthcare workers who are in contact with immigrants are concerned about their health. They are concerned because they see that more immigrants than Norwegians have the following problems, among others:
- diabetes
- obesity
- poor dental health
- malnourishment, a lack of iron and vitamin D in particular
- depression
Talk together
diabetes – cancer – asthma – obesity
allergy – cardiovascular diseases
- Discuss the link between lifestyle and these diseases.
- Are these diseases common in countries you are familiar with?
- Discuss the reasons immigrants can develop other health problems than those they had before they came to Norway.
- What can we do to look after our health?
It’s summer. The Hansen family’s three children, aged seven, nine and eleven, are on their school holiday. They are finding the days long and boring. Most of the children's friends are away or busy doing other things. Mum and dad come home tired after work and want to relax at home when they are off work. So the family spends a lot of time in their apartment.
- What do you think about the family’s situation?
- What do you think the parents should be thinking about?
- Could the situation affect the children’s and parents’ health?
- Could the situation affect anything else for the children?
Mehmet is in class six. He has a lot of good friends in his class. They play a lot of football at break time. Most of his friends also play in the local football team. They train two afternoons a week. Mehmet would like to play for the team, but his parents don’t like the idea. It costs money, and the family don't have much money.
- How could this situation affect Mehmet’s health?
- What do you think about the parents' situation?
Select the right answer
What is the standard of living like in Norway today?
Complete the sentence
We have a better chance of staying healthy for longer, if we ...
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What is right?
Select right or wrong
Read the statements. What is right? What is wrong?
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Read the statements. What is right? What is wrong?
Select the right image
Which images show a healthy lifestyle? You can select more than one image.