| Changing
Bodies, Changing Needs: Teens, Ages 13 to 19 |
| It
would be nice if teens came with an owners' manuals, but, of course,
they don't. Actually that's part of the fun and challenge of parenting
teens. Each one is unique. The best you can do as a parent is to try
to guide your teen through the obstacle course of adolescence with
love, firmness, patience and healthy role-modeling. It is extremely
important to stay involved in your teenager's day-to-day life. Here
are some helpful tips: |
| SAFETY |
| • |
Openly
discuss and role-play ways to handle temptations, such as peer pressure
to have sex, drink, smoke and take drugs. |
| • |
Explain
the health risks of smoking, abusing household products such as inhalants,
and abusing alcohol and nonprescription and prescription medications. |
| • |
Insist
that your teen wear a helmet when cycling and appropriate protective
gear when engaging in other sports. |
| • |
Insist
that your teen always wear a seat belt. |
| • |
Talk
about the danger of handling guns. |
| • |
Offer
to pick up your teenager anywhere, anytime - with no questions asked
- if he or she is tempted to drive while high or drunk or is asked
to ride in a car driven by an intoxicated friend. |
| • |
Be
alert for signs of drug use, depression, eating disorders and gang
participation. If a problem seems too serious for you to handle alone,
seek help. Contact a health care professional, clergy member, support
group or school counselor. |
| NUTRITION
AND EXERCISE |
| • |
Provide
nutritional, well-balanced, high-fiber meals and snacks that are rich
in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Teens should consume
at least three servings of dairy foods per day. |
| • |
Challenge
your teen to seek out healthier alternatives to fast food. |
| • |
Limit
television watching and eating in front of the TV. |
| • |
Encourage
regular physical activity. Plan family outings, such as swimming and
hiking. Play sports together. |
| • |
Be
a healthy eating role model yourself. |
| WELLNESS |
| • |
Emphasize
the importance of self-care, including regular exercise, a balanced,
low-fat diet and regular oral health checkups. |
| • |
Answer
your teen's questions about sex honestly and provide resources to
help him or her make safe and healthy decisions about sex. |
| • |
Make
age-appropriate rules and follow through with your enforcement of
those rules. |
| • |
Encourage
your teen to get at least nine hours of sleep each night. |
| • |
Engage
in regular discussions about the powerful influences of peer pressure. |
| • |
Keep
the lines of communication open; avoid judging or preaching. |
| • |
Help
your teen learn how to roll with the punches and put life's stresses
into perspective. |
| |
Sources:
American Medical Association;The Nemours Foundation; and the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control |
| WHY
SO MANY TEENS HAVE ACNE |
| If
your teen has acne, she or he isn't alone. It occurs in almost 85
percent of 12- to 24-year-olds. Though the precise cause is unknown,
experts believe acne results from hormones, which increase during
puberty and can cause the glands to enlarge and make more sebum (oil).
Another factor is heredity. Stress, certain drugs, greasy cosmetics,
friction and environmental irritants can worsen acne. But it's a myth
that chocolate or other foods, or dirt, are to blame. |
| ACNE
SELF-HELP TIPS |
| • |
Wash
skin gently with a mild soap made for acne-prone skin. Scrubbing your
face or washing too often can make acne worse. |
| • |
To
help prevent scarring, avoid picking or frequently touching pimples. |
| • |
Shave
carefully to avoid nicking blemishes. Try both an electric razor and
a disposable razor (always use a sharp blade) to see which works better. |
| • |
Avoid
sunbathing. |
| • |
Use
only oil-free cosmetics. |
| • |
Try
over-the-counter acne treatments to help dry the skin and prevent
new blemishes. |
| • |
For
severe cases of acne, ask your pediatrician or dermatologist about
an oral prescription medication or a topical acne treatment. |
| |
Sources:
American Academy of Dermatology and the National Institutes of Health |
| How
to Quit Smoking Tips to Share with Teens |
| Tobacco
use produces substantial health problems among teens, including an
increase in the number and severity of respiratory illnesses, such
as asthma and bronchitis, and decreased physical fitness. Tobacco
use also increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema
and other health problems later in life. The first symptoms of tobacco
dependence among 12- and 13-year-olds can appear within days to weeks
after occasional use begins, often before the onset of daily smoking.
Here are some tips for teens: |
| • |
Choose
a "Quit Day" in the next two weeks. |
| • |
Use
the Internet: www.smokefree.gov, sponsored by the National Cancer
Institute, is one of several smoking-cessation sites for Web-savvy
teens. |
| • |
If
you are looking for a job, apply only at smoke-free workplaces. |
| • |
Get
involved in team sports where you are likely to meet friends who don't
smoke. |
| • |
Ask
your health care professional about treatments to quit smoking. Many
over-the-counter products that include self-help programs are available
for smokers 18 and over. For younger teens, ask your health care professional
for guidance. |
| • |
See
if your school or community offers N-O-T (Not on Tobacco), a teen
program of the American Lung Association, www.lungusa.org. |
| • |
Consider
enrolling in group or individual therapy aimed at smoking cessation. |
| Suggest
your teen do one of the following activities when he or she feels
like smoking: |
| • |
Go
for a walk. |
| • |
Call
a friend. |
| • |
Drink
water or juice. |
| • |
Take
a deep breath and count to five. Let your breath out slowly. Repeat
five times. |
| • |
Tell
yourself, "I can quit smoking." |
| |
Sources:
National Women's Health Report; American Lung Association; Tobacco-Free
Kids; and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
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