Year 7 Biology: Exercise, Asthma and Smoking

Introduction

Hello Year 7! Today, we’re going to talk about three important topics: exercise, asthma, and smoking. These topics are all connected and understanding them is essential for keeping our bodies healthy. Let’s dive in!

What is Exercise?

Exercise is any activity that makes your body move. It helps keep our hearts strong, muscles fit, and lungs healthy. When we exercise, our bodies need more oxygen, which we breathe in.

Key Benefits of Exercise:

• Improves Fitness: Makes your heart and lungs work better.
• Boosts Mood: Exercise can make you feel happier.
• Keeps Weight Healthy: Helps maintain a healthy weight.
• Builds Strength: Makes your muscles and bones stronger.

Tips for Exercising:

• Find Activities You Enjoy: Whether it’s football, swimming, or dancing, find something fun!
• Start Slowly: If you’re new to exercise, start with short sessions and gradually increase.
• Stay Consistent: Try to exercise regularly, like 3-4 times a week.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways in your lungs. People with asthma may have trouble breathing, especially during exercise, when they are sick, or when they’re around certain triggers (like smoke or pollen).

Symptoms of Asthma:

• Coughing: This can happen at night or during exercise.
• Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing.
• Shortness of Breath: Feeling like you can’t get enough air.
• Chest Tightness: Your chest feels tight or uncomfortable.

Managing Asthma:

• Use Inhalers: Some people use inhalers to help them breathe better.
• Avoid Triggers: Stay away from things that make asthma worse, like smoke or strong perfumes.
• Stay Active: Exercise is important, but talk to a doctor about what’s safe for you.

What is Smoking?

Smoking is when people inhale smoke from burning tobacco. Tobacco contains harmful chemicals that can damage the lungs and airways.

Why is Smoking Bad?

• Causes Lung Damage: Smoking can lead to serious diseases like lung cancer.
• Worsens Asthma: If you have asthma, smoking can make symptoms worse.
• Harms Others: Secondhand smoke (when someone else is smoking near you) can also be harmful.

Tips to Avoid Smoking:

• Stay Informed: Learn about the dangers of smoking.
• Choose Healthy Friends: Spend time with people who don’t smoke.
• Talk About It: If someone offers you a cigarette, say no confidently!

Connecting Exercise, Asthma, and Smoking

• Exercise helps strengthen your lungs, which is important for everyone, especially if you have asthma.
• Smoking can damage your lungs, making it harder to exercise. If you have asthma, smoking can make it even worse.
• Healthy habits like not smoking and exercising regularly can help keep your lungs strong and functioning well.

Summary

In summary, exercise is important for everyone, especially for those with asthma. Smoking is harmful and can make asthma worse. Always choose healthy habits to help your body stay strong!

Questions for Understanding

Easy Level Questions (1-20)

1. What is exercise?
2. Name one benefit of exercising.
3. What does asthma affect in the body?
4. Why might someone with asthma cough during exercise?
5. What is an inhaler?
6. List one symptom of asthma.
7. What does smoking harm in the body?
8. Why is secondhand smoke dangerous?
9. How can exercise help with asthma?
10. Name one way to avoid smoking.
11. What is one activity you enjoy for exercise?
12. What does wheezing sound like?
13. How often should you exercise to stay healthy?
14. What is one sign that someone might have asthma?
15. Why is it good to talk about smoking?
16. Can exercise make you feel happier? (Yes/No)
17. What should you do if you are around smoke?
18. Is swimming a good form of exercise? (Yes/No)
19. What should you do if you feel tightness in your chest?
20. Why is it important to choose healthy friends?

Medium Level Questions (21-40)

21. How does exercise improve lung function?
22. What are two triggers for asthma?
23. Explain how smoking affects the airways.
24. How can being active help someone with asthma?
25. Why is it important to talk to a doctor about asthma?
26. What is the role of an inhaler in asthma management?
27. How does regular exercise help with maintaining a healthy weight?
28. What are some activities that can help improve fitness?
29. Why might someone with asthma need to avoid exercise in certain situations?
30. How can peer pressure influence smoking habits?
31. What can you do if someone offers you a cigarette?
32. Why is it important to know your asthma triggers?
33. What happens to the body when it doesn’t get enough exercise?
34. List two reasons why smoking is harmful to others.
35. How can you encourage someone to stop smoking?
36. What are the long-term effects of smoking on health?
37. How can exercise help reduce asthma symptoms?
38. What is a good strategy for staying active?
39. Explain why staying informed about smoking is important.
40. What might you feel if you are having an asthma attack?

Hard Level Questions (41-60)

41. Describe how the lungs work during exercise.
42. What chemical changes happen in the body when someone smokes?
43. Discuss the impact of smoking on heart health.
44. How can asthma management change over time?
45. Explain the relationship between exercise and mental health.
46. What are the benefits of being smoke-free for young people?
47. How does climate (like cold weather) affect asthma symptoms?
48. What are the consequences of ignoring asthma symptoms?
49. Discuss how society views smoking today compared to the past.
50. Why might schools implement no smoking policies?
51. How can parents influence their children’s choices about smoking?
52. Describe the importance of regular check-ups for asthma patients.
53. What role does exercise play in preventing chronic diseases?
54. How can technology help people with asthma?
55. Discuss the benefits of group exercise.
56. Why is hydration important during exercise, especially for those with asthma?
57. How does the body cool down after exercise?
58. What are the risks of vaping compared to smoking?
59. Explain how to prepare for exercise if you have asthma.
60. How can you support a friend who has asthma during physical activities?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. Exercise is any activity that makes your body move.
2. One benefit is that it improves fitness.
3. Asthma affects the airways in the lungs.
4. They might cough due to difficulty breathing.
5. An inhaler helps people with asthma breathe better.
6. One symptom is wheezing.
7. Smoking harms the lungs.
8. Secondhand smoke can cause health problems for others.
9. Exercise helps strengthen your lungs.
10. One way is to learn about the dangers of smoking.
11. Answers will vary (e.g., football, swimming).
12. Wheezing sounds like a whistling noise.
13. You should exercise 3-4 times a week.
14. A sign might be coughing or shortness of breath.
15. It’s good to talk about smoking to encourage healthy choices.
16. Yes.
17. You should avoid it and move to a smoke-free area.
18. Yes.
19. You should talk to a doctor.
20. It’s important to choose healthy friends to support good habits.

Medium Level Answers

21. Exercise increases the amount of oxygen in the lungs.
22. Two triggers might be smoke and pollen.
23. Smoking can narrow the airways and make breathing difficult.
24. Being active can strengthen lung capacity.
25. It’s important to ensure proper asthma management.
26. An inhaler provides medication to help breathe.
27. Regular exercise helps burn calories and maintain weight.
28. Activities like running and cycling improve fitness.
29. They might need to rest or use their inhaler.
30. Peer pressure can encourage unhealthy choices.
31. Say no confidently and explain why you don’t smoke.
32. Knowing triggers helps avoid asthma attacks.
33. The body may feel tired and weak without exercise.
34. Two reasons are it can cause diseases and affect children.
35. Encourage them to talk to a doctor or seek support.
36. Long-term effects include lung cancer and heart disease.
37. Regular exercise can strengthen the lungs and reduce attacks.
38. A good strategy is to set a regular schedule.
39. Being informed helps make better choices about smoking.
40. You might feel scared or struggle to breathe.

Hard Level Answers

41. The lungs expand to take in more air during exercise.
42. Chemicals from smoking can harm lung tissues and blood vessels.
43. Smoking can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure.
44. Management can change with age and health status.
45. Exercise releases endorphins that improve mood.
46. Smoke-free young people have better health outcomes.
47. Cold air can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
48. Ignoring symptoms can lead to serious health issues.
49. Society now often views smoking as harmful and undesirable.
50. Schools want to protect students’ health.
51. Parents set examples through their own choices.
52. Regular check-ups help monitor asthma control.
53. Exercise can help prevent conditions like diabetes.
54. Technology can monitor symptoms and medication use.
55. Group exercise can motivate and make it fun.
56. Hydration helps prevent asthma symptoms during exercise.
57. The body cools down through sweating.
58. Vaping can also be harmful and addictive.
59. Prepare by using your inhaler and warming up.
60. Support can include encouraging them to take breaks and use their inhaler.

Feel free to ask any questions or discuss what you’ve learned today! Keep up the great work in biology!