Case Based Questions: Health: The Ultimate Treasure | Science Curiosity Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

Case Study 1

Aryan recently learned that health is more than just the absence of disease. It involves feeling good physically, mentally, and socially. He understood that physical health includes eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Mental health means managing stress, staying positive, and having a good mindset. Social health is about having healthy relationships with friends and family. Aryan realized that to truly be healthy, he needed to focus on all these areas, not just on physical health. Aryan’s friend, Rohan, however, often looked stressed, complained of tiredness, and had trouble focusing. Rohan was always glued to his phone, skipped meals, and had trouble sleeping. Aryan wondered how he could help Rohan achieve a better balance for better health.

Q1: What does WHO mean by health being a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being?
Ans: WHO defines health as a complete state where a person is not just free from illness but is also mentally strong and socially engaged. It means being able to perform daily tasks efficiently, handle stress, and have good relationships with others.

Q2. How do lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise, affect physical health?
Ans: A balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial for maintaining a healthy body. They help improve energy levels, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, keeping the body strong and active.

Q3. How could Aryan help Rohan adopt a healthier lifestyle to improve his mental and physical health?
Ans: Aryan can encourage Rohan to balance his screen time with physical activities, eat healthy meals, and sleep at regular hours. He can also suggest relaxation techniques like meditation to reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

Q4. Why do people who have a healthy mind and body tend to handle stressful situations better? 
Ans: People with good physical and mental health can manage stress better because their bodies are strong, and their minds are more resilient. Healthy habits help them stay calm and focused, allowing them to deal with problems more effectively.

Case Study 2

Meera was fascinated by the ancient practice of Ayurveda, which focuses on balancing the body, mind, and surroundings for overall health. She learned that Ayurveda suggests eating foods based on one's prakriti (body type) and maintaining a daily routine (dinacharya) and seasonal routine (ritucharya) for well-being. Ayurveda emphasizes yoga, meditation, and cleanliness to maintain health. Meera decided to apply these Ayurvedic principles in her life to improve her physical and mental health, starting with balanced meals, regular exercise, and mindfulness practices

Q1: What does ‘prakriti’ mean in Ayurveda, and why is it important for maintaining health?
Ans: ‘Prakriti’ refers to a person's body type or constitution. Ayurveda suggests that people should eat foods and follow routines suited to their prakriti to maintain balance and prevent illness, ensuring optimal health.

Q2. Why is it important to follow a daily routine (dinacharya) and seasonal routine (ritucharya) in Ayurveda?
Ans: Following a daily routine (dinacharya) helps in balancing body functions, while a seasonal routine (ritucharya) helps adjust to seasonal changes. Both are crucial for maintaining health and preventing diseases by aligning the body’s needs with the environment.

Q3.  How can Meera incorporate Ayurvedic principles into her daily life to stay healthy? 
Ans: Meera can start by eating fresh, wholesome food suited to her body type, practicing yoga, and following a regular sleep schedule. She can also include mindfulness practices like meditation to reduce stress and improve her mental health.

Q4. Why is Ayurveda gaining popularity in modern times, especially for mental health?
Ans: Ayurveda is gaining popularity because it focuses on natural, holistic practices that promote mental clarity, reduce stress, and improve overall health. In today's stressful world, its practices like yoga and meditation offer simple solutions for mental well-being.

Case Study 3

Ravi noticed that his friend, Arjun, often got sick with colds and stomach issues. Ravi realized that Arjun’s poor hygiene habits, such as not washing his hands regularly and eating food without proper cleanliness, might be the cause of his frequent illnesses. Ravi learned that hygiene is crucial in preventing diseases. He decided to educate Arjun about the importance of washing hands before meals, covering his mouth when coughing, and keeping his surroundings clean to avoid infections.

Q1: What is hygiene, and how does it help prevent the spread of diseases?
Ans: Hygiene involves practices like cleaning the body, washing hands, and keeping the surroundings tidy. Good hygiene reduces the chances of infection by eliminating germs that can cause diseases.

Q2. Why is washing hands considered one of the most important hygiene practices? 
Ans: Washing hands removes germs that accumulate from touching surfaces, handling food, or touching face. This simple practice is key to preventing infections from spreading, especially diseases like diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Q3. How can Ravi help Arjun adopt good hygiene practices?
Ans: Ravi can teach Arjun the importance of handwashing before eating, cleaning his surroundings, and avoiding contact with sick people. He can encourage Arjun to practice these habits daily, making it part of his routine.

Q4. Why is hand hygiene particularly important in preventing the spread of diseases like COVID-19? 
Ans: Hand hygiene is important in preventing diseases like COVID-19 because germs, including viruses, are transferred to the hands from surfaces. Regular washing helps remove these viruses, reducing the risk of infection when touching the face, food, or other people.

Case study 4

Microorganisms are harmful in many ways. Some of the microorganisms cause diseases in human beings, plants and animals. Such disease-causing microorganisms are called pathogens. Some microorganisms spoil food, clothing and leather. Let us study more about their harmful activities. Pathogens enter our body through the air we breathe, the water we drink or the food we eat. They can also get transmitted by direct contact with an infected person or carried by an animal. Microbial diseases that can spread from an infected person to a healthy person through air, water, food or physical contact are called communicable diseases. Examples of such diseases include cholera, common cold, chickenpox and tuberculosis. When a person suffering from common cold sneezes, fine droplets of moisture carrying thousands of viruses are spread in the air. The virus may enter the body of a healthy person while breathing and cause infection. There are some insects and animals which act as carriers of disease-causing microbes. Housefly is one such carrier. The flies sit on the garbage and animal excreta. Pathogens stick to their bodies. When these flies sit on uncovered food, they may transfer the pathogens. Whoever eats the contaminated food is likely to get sick. So, it is advisable to always keep food covered. Avoid consuming uncovered items of food. Another example of a carrier is the female Anopheles mosquito, which carries the parasite of malaria(Plasmodium). Female Aedes mosquito acts as carrier of dengue virus. How can we control the spread of malaria or dengue? All mosquitoes breed in water. Hence, one should not let water collect any where, in coolers, tyres, flower pot, etc. By keeping the surroundings clean and dry we can prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Try to make a list of measures which help to avoid the spread of malaria. Several microorganisms not only cause diseases in humans and plants, but also in other animals. For example, anthraxis a dangerous human and cattle disease caused by a bacterium. Foot and mouth disease of cattle is caused by a virus. Robert Köch(1876) discovered the bacterium(Bacillus anthracis) which causes anthrax disease. Several microorganisms cause diseases in plants like wheat, rice, potato, sugarcane, orange, apple and others. The diseases reduce the yield of crops. They can be controlled by the use of certain chemicals which kill the microbes.

Q1: Disease-causing microorganisms are called ……………………………..
(a) Antibodies
(b) Macrophages
(c) Pathogens
(d) Eosinophils
Ans: (c) Pathogens
Disease-causing microorganisms are called pathogens. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that enter our body and cause diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, or malaria.

Q2: Which among the following insects acts as the carrier of the dengue virus?
(a) Female Anopheles
(b) Female Aedes
(c) Female Culex
(d) Ochlerotatus
Ans: (b)
The female Aedes mosquito is the carrier of the dengue virus. When it bites a healthy person after feeding on an infected one, it transmits the virus and spreads the disease.

Q3: Define the term “communicable diseases” with some examples.
Ans: Communicable diseases are microbial diseases that can spread from an infected person to a healthy person through air, water, food, or physical contact. Examples include cholera, common cold, chickenpox, and tuberculosis.

Q4: How can we control the spread of diseases caused by mosquitoes?
Ans: The breeding of mosquitoes occurs in water. Therefore, controlling the spread of such diseases involves preventing water from collecting in our surroundings, such as in coolers, tyres, flower pots, etc., and keeping the environment clean and dry.