Subject Code Health 4 The Adolescent: Advocating for Lifelong Learning and Healthful

Community
Module Code​ 1.0 Consumer Health
Lesson ​Code​ 1.3 Health Products
Time Frame 60 minutes/ 2 Sessions

Components Tasks TA ATA

(min)​a (min)​b
Target By the end of this learning guide, the students should be able to:
1 min
1. apply decision making skills in choosing health products; and
2. formulate criteria in choosing health products.

Hook ● List all the health products you use every day.
● Why do you use these health products? 9 mins
● Is there a health product/s you use that causes negative effects in your
body? Yes or No? What are these health products?
● Do you purchase health products based on the advertisement or
promotion?
● How do you choose health products that you use every day? Do you have
a criteria in choosing and buying health products? List down your
criteria.

Ignite What are health products?

10
Filipinos spend lots of money each year on health products ranging from mins
over-the-counter drugs or OTC to cosmetics. Health products help relieve
symptoms, aid in curing illnesses and provide cosmetic effects. Sadly, many of
these are not needed, do not provide advertised effect and may have potential
harm to health.

Over the Counter Drugs – more than half a million OTC health care products are
available, varying from mouth washes to pain relievers. Some of the most
beneficial OTC drugs can be unsafe. The following are examples of risks of using
these drugs:

● Pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen can harm stomach lining and lead to
ulcer while large dosages can bring kidney damage.

● Acetaminophen, used for fever and pain reliever for children, if taken in
heavy doses can cause bleeding and liver pain. These pain relievers should be
taken with food and a glass of water to avoid irritation to the stomach lining.
● Prolonged use of nasal sprays that relieve congestion swells and worsens the
congestion of the blood vessels in the nose. This is called the rebound effect.
It can also result in bleeding and loss of sense of smell.

● Frequent use of laxatives destroys flora in the intestinal tract, making

constipation even worse. Exercise and high-fiber diet are safer alternatives for
promoting normal defecation.

Cosmetic Products – many of the health care products are intended for external
use. Some have little effect but due to advertising campaigns and misconceptions,
they are extensively used.

Skin Products​. OTC skin rejuvenators have never shown effectiveness in

changing skin properties. Moisturizers help the dry skin. Deodorants and
antiperspirants help control body odor but no product can prevent sweating in
extremely hot weather or during exercise. Sweating is the primary means of
cooling the body. Regular washing is essential if the bacteria and other
odor-causing substances are to be removed.

Hair products​. Several products are designed to remove hair like shave. Tweezers
used to pluck unwanted hair may present some danger of infection when adjacent
skin may not be clean. Chemical products are usually safe but there is always the
possibility of skin reactions, irritations, and infections. A dermatologist should be
consulted if any symptoms appear.

Most hair-restoring products do not work and many products advertised in the
media are not yet proven effective. Expensive surgery can replace lost hair
painfully and completes in a year or two.

Some people may have allergic reactions to hair cleaning products, but this tends
to be atypical. Dandruff, a scalp problem from dead skin cells, is not usually a
problem when hair is washed daily. People with a severe problem may wish to
use an anti-dandruff shampoo. However, antidandruff shampoos only help control
dandruff but cannot cure it. Dandruff poses no health threat unless it is a
symptom of psoriasis, seborrhea, or dermatitis, which requires a physician’s
attention.

Hair-coloring products are used for cosmetic reasons but can cause skin irritation
or harm the eyes upon direct contact. Test the product on a small area of the hair
before covering all the hair with the product.

Oral Products​. Oral products include toothpaste, mouthwashes and gargles. Water
supply containing fluoride also helps prevent dental cavities. It is unwise to
purchase toothpastes with whiteners since they contain abrasive ingredients that
damage the teeth. Mouthwashes and gargles do little to eliminate bad odor or treat
a sore throat. Odors are carried from the intestines to the lungs and exhaled
through the mouth. Bad breath may be symptoms of infections, tumors or
 diabetes. Excessive mouthwash use can dry the mucous membranes, making a
sore throat even more irritated.

What is Health fraud?

Health frauds are articles of unproven effectiveness being promoted to improve
health, well-being or appearance. These articles/blogs can be drugs, devices,
foods or cosmetics for human use.

Do you know how health frauds are promoted?

Health fraud marketers use some of the following techniques to promote their
products: one product cures all, personal testimonials, suggests that a product
can bring quick relief/improvement or quick cure especially if you have a
serious condition or disease. They claim it is all natural and suggest that it is
safer than conventional treatments, using phrases such as “miracle cure”, new
discovery or exclusive products.

To avoid purchasing products that will bring harm to your body make sure it is
tested. Consult health professionals and doctors especially if the product is new.
Check with the Food and Drugs Administration(FDA) and Department of
Health to find out if there are issues/complaints about the product or
manufacturer.

Activity 6:
39
Navigate Search for 5 different health products that you usually see now on TV, mins
newspapers, magazines or internet. Answer the following:

Name of Health Purpose Do you think What do you think are

Products of these these health the reason/s why people
health product/s is purchase these products?
products harmful? Yes
or No? Why?
 Activity 7:

Look for a video/ blog who’s a victim of harmful health products in the
Philippines and answer the following based on the video/blog.

1. Name/ Title:
2. Source:
3. What happened?
4. What are the reasons for using the product?
5. What are the short and long term effect/s?
6. Do you think it can be prevented? Yes or No? Why?
7. What will you do to protect your friends and family from harmful health
products?
8. What have you learned from the video/blog?

Knot We need to admit that most of us are dependent on different health products. It is 1 min
very important to evaluate health products such as Over-the-counter drugs, food
supplements, cosmetic, skin, hair and oral products to avoid becoming a victim of
health fraud. Being a wise consumer of health products will prevent and protect
your family from being a victim of harmful health products that may lead to short
and long term effects to your body.

a​
TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher
b​
ATA- actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
References:

Anspaugh, David J. and Gene Ezel (2009). Teaching Today’s Health (9​th​ Ed.) San Francisco, CA: Pearson
education, Inc.

Hales, Diane (2009). An Invitation to Health 2009-2010 Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage
Learning.

Kritz M (2012). Development, Reliability, and Effectiveness of the Movement Competency Screen
(Thesis). Auckland University of Technology.

Meeks, L., P. Heit & R. Page (2012). Comprehensive School Health Education (8th Ed.). Blacklick,
Boston: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.

UNACOM, Social and Human Sciences Committee (2009). The Health Education in Philippine Basic
Education: A Resource Book on Health for Teachers. Volume 2. UNESCO: National Commission of
the Philippines.

Prepared by: Lualhati F. Callo Reviewed by: Jennifer Joy P. Balangue

Position: SST IV Position: SST III
Campus: Main Campus Campus: Main Campus