What Have We Really Learned about Being Healthy?

This study is historical research designed to compare current health recommendations with those from texts from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Comparisons of the health recommendations regarding physical activity, nutrition, disease prevention, rest/sleep, mental/emotional health, and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use will be presented. Historical health knowledge and recommendations that are consistent and similar to current knowledge and recommendations will be discussed. For example, historical recommendations for physical activity include the need for regular exercise, the role of exercise in strengthening the heart, lungs, and muscles, the impact of exercise on appetite, and the effectiveness of hiking/walking as effective physical activity. In Newmayer and Broome's 1928 book entitled The Way to Keep Well their recommendation regarding walking/hiking is that “Hiking, or walking long distances in the open air, is a very popular exercise. There is probably no other form of exercise in which health, pleasure, and education can be more easily combined. It is particularly pleasant if a group of friends go on a hike together.” This is consistent with current recommendations that walking is an activity to be encouraged for most Americans and with recommendations related to the 10,000 steps per day. Another example of consistent historical and current recommendations from Newmayer and Broome's 1928 textbook entitled Health Habits is that “Everyone should drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, and also a glass before going to bed at night. Then, during the day, one should drink four glasses of water.” This recommendation is somewhat less than current recommendations of eight classes per day but is consistent with the need for water as a primary nutrient. Inconsistencies or discrepancies between historical and current health knowledge and recommendations will also be presented. For example of historical health knowledge that is inconsistent with current comes from Burkard, Chambers, & Maroney's 1936 book entitled Health by Doing, “Teachers and parents . . . know that the use of tobacco interferes with good attention and with learning.” This is inconsistent with indications from current neurology research that suggests that nicotine enhances mental alertness. At the conclusion of the presentation participants will be able to describe areas in which historical health knowledge and recommendations are consistent with current knowledge and recommendations. Participants will be able to describe areas in which historical health knowledge and recommendations are inconsistent with current knowledge and recommendations.