TEENAGERS HEALTH INTRODUCTION
The
road from childhood to adulthood is often
challenging both physically and mentally.
There are unprecedented issues that can
begin in adolescence and continue through
the teen years and into early adulthood.
Everything from acne to eating disorders can
affect many facets of a teen’s life.
The teenage years can also
be especially challenging for parents. The
following sections offer a brief description
of several health issues that often affect
teens.
ACNE
According to the American
Academy of Dermatology, over 95% of
teenagers suffer from acne. The condition
can range from mild and hardly noticeable to
severe and disfiguring.
Because teens are often
very sensitive to how they appear to others,
acne can greatly affect self-esteem. Thus,
it is important to take the condition
seriously and seek treatment if necessary.
Teen acne is caused by the
surge of hormones called androgens that
appear at puberty. Androgens cause more oil
to be produced by sebaceous glands that can
block pores and cause pimples. Eating
chocolate or greasy foods does not cause
acne, nor is it caused by poor hygiene.
Genetics, though, may play a factor in the
development of acne.
The good news is that
there are many ways to treat and prevent
acne including the use of topical
antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids,
laser therapy, and dermabrasion.
BIPOLAR DISORDER
Teens with bipolar
disorder experience both manic and
depressive symptoms. High and low moods may
alternate. While the condition often first
appears in childhood or during the teen
years, it is rarely clinically diagnosed
until adulthood. Children of parents who
have bipolar or who have a family history of
drug and alcohol abuse are at a higher risk
of developing bipolar condition.
The manic symptoms
associated with bipolar may include severe
agitation, marked increase in energy level,
increase in self-esteem, inability to sleep,
risk-taking behavior, grandiose ideas,
distractibility, and increased
verbalization.
The depressive symptoms,
often a stark contrast, include crying,
feelings of sadness or despair, thoughts of
death or suicide, low energy level,
excessive sleeping, and overeating.
Bipolar disorder can
respond well to medications, psychotherapy,
and education. A thorough evaluation of the
teen or child by a psychiatrist is needed
before a diagnosis can be made.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Drug and alcohol abuse is
a common problem in the United States that
poses a major threat to the safety, health
and well-being of teens. Over 75 percent of
all high school students have tried alcohol.
Almost 30 percent admit to a recent bout of
binge drinking. Risks involved with teen
alcohol usage include accidents, unprotected
sex, and alcohol poisoning. In fact, the
leading cause of death in teens and young
adults is auto accidents related to
drinking.
Marijuana is the most
common illegal drug to be utilized by teens,
followed by cocaine, inhalants, and club
drugs such as ecstasy. Recently, there has
been increased use of methamphetamines,
commonly called speed, meth, or crank. This
drug is particularly dangerous as it is
highly addictive and can cause strokes,
seizures, and mental problems. Hallucinogens
like LSD, prescription cold medicines and
painkillers are also frequently abused by
teens. As well, there is growing usage of
illegal anabolic steroids by athletes trying
to build muscle and lose body fat.
Because a teen’s body and
brain are still growing, alcohol and/or drug
abuse can seriously affect proper growth and
development. Experimentation with drugs and
alcohol can escalate into abuse more rapidly
in teenagers that can lead to long- term
health and social problems.
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