health

• Health consumer – is a person who buys health products and avails of health services.

                  – buys products for physical, mental, and social health.

     – knows how to evaluate the products, services, and information being offered.
• Consumer health – decision you have made about a certain product or service; is a condition 

      enjoyed by the people who buy products and services that is considered safe. 

                   – enables you to have access on health information which allows you to participate 

                   in any healthcare decision-making; also helps you choose goods and services

                   wisely.

      – makes you aware of the rights and responsibilities that protect consumers from any risk of injury related to the purchased product or service.
• Health information – is any information or advice that comes from various sources like people you 

        know, advertisements, Web sources, and product packaging.
• 1. People around you –  may provide you with critical insight about a product, specifically its quality and price. 

  Sometimes, the pieces of information they provide come from firsthand experience.
• 2. Advertisements and packaging – can tell you a lot about a product, so make sure that you read everything.
• 3. Prints and media formats – Reports on the quality of certain health products issued by the media, academic 

  institutions, and scientific research laboratories are usually valuable, easily available, and inexpensive.
• Author – Before you read, look for the author. For health products, doctors are the best sources of information, 

  followed by subject matter experts and scientific researches.
• Evidence or proof – If the piece of information includes evidence or proof such as statistics, then there is a 

  decent chance that it is reliable. Take note, though, that even statistics can be fabricated or made up, so it is best to cross-check or validate them against other sources.
• Updated information – Information must be up-to-date for it to be reliable. For example, studies from the 

  1990s, while possibly true back then, might already be proven incorrect today.
• Health product – is anything that people buy to improve their health.

              – are tailor-made for physical, mental, and social health. some of these for physical needs include vitamins and minerals, food, antibacterial soaps, shampoos, and other grooming care products.
• Vitamins allow your body to grow and develop and they play a vital role in various body processes such as digestion and metabolism. 

  Minerals, on the other hand, are important as they help the body in absorbing essential nutrients such as vitamins.
• Food products – contain carbohydrates, fats, and protein help your body get the necessary energy and aid in 

  cell renewal for growth and development.

  • Insect sprays and creams – helps protect your skin from insect bites, thus helping you avoid certain diseases 

       such as dengue, fever and malaria.

  • Grooming care products – One of the most important aspects in maintaining good health is good personal 

  hygiene. Personal hygiene can only be improved using good personal care products that will make you feel and look good.
• Mental health – refers to your psychological well-being, confidence, and self-esteem.

             – influence the way you think, feel, and act.

             – include books, newspapers, musical instruments, and services that affect your 

                thinking.
• Social health – refers to how a person gets along with others.

            – influence the way you relate with others; help you relate better with other people.
• Health service – is the most visible function provided by the health system as it provides personal 

                            attention to specific health care needs.

              – must follow a certain standard to protect your health.

             – should always be monitored by health inspectors to ensure that the establishments 

  offering such services meet health standards, notably cleanliness and safety.
• Medical Specialists – help you with specific health problems; also take care of your physical health.
• • Cardiologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating heart diseases and blood vessels
• • Ophthalmologist – specializes in performing eye examinations and in diagnosing and treating eye 

       diseases; also writes prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses
• • Gynecologist – specializes in dealing with the health of the female reproductive system
• • Pulmonologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating pulmonary (lung) conditions
• • Hematologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating blood disorders and malignancies
• • Gastrologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the digestive system
• • Urologist – specializes in dealing with the urinary tract and the male reproductive system
• • Neurologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the brain, spinal cord, and 

           nerves
• • Dentist (Dental Surgeon) – specializes in diagnosing and treating oral diseases.
• • Nephrologist – specializes in diagnosing and treating kidney diseases
• Counselors – are trained to help others by giving psychological exams and appropriate 

          pieces of advice.
• Social workers – help people find resources to meet a variety of needs.
• Psychiatrist – a medical doctor who specializes in mental health and helps people who have 

            poor mental health
• Fraud – is an illegal act that a person commits when he or she deceives others to obtain money.
• Fraudster – person who commits fraud 
• Fraudulent Act / Sham – the act of committing fraud
• Health fraud – wastes the money of consumers and can sometimes cause delays in the proper 

  diagnosis or treatment of a disease.
• Scammer – sometimes called when a person commits fraudelent acts
• red flags – warning of possible danger or of a problem; include 

  pieces of information that promise quick cures or information. without any scientific backing.
• Telephone and email scam – may offer phony prizes such as a travel package.

  • Work-at-home scams – may offer you an online job and may ask you to invest.

  • Attracting consumer with the phrase "scientific breakthrough" – potential buyers are made to 

  believe that a product is the result of the latest scientific discovery or innovation.
• Myth – traditional story that explains a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon; sometimes involves supernatural 

           beings or occurrences.
• Prescription drug – is a medicine prescribed by a doctor. 

                                 – any prescription drug must only be taken upon the doctor's advice.

       – once you are prescribed a prescription drug, you must follow exactly the amount you should take, when to take it, and for how long.
• Antibiotic – is an example of a prescription drug that is often misused by many people

                    – is used in the treatment of infection caused by bacteria.
• 1. Anticonvulsant – drugs that prevent or reduce the severity and occurrence of seizures in several types of 

  epilepsy. 

                                – lowers the activity in the brain cells; relaxes the brain cells which in turn prevents seizures.