{"id":815,"date":"2009-12-22T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2009-12-22T14:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ehealth.cooperhealth.org\/?p=815"},"modified":"2009-12-22T10:00:39","modified_gmt":"2009-12-22T14:00:39","slug":"teens-preteens-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2009\/12\/22\/teens-preteens-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Your Teens and Pre-Teens Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Teens\"Parents of adolescents have many questions about the best ways to address their children\u2019s health during this particular stage of life.<\/p>\n

What steps can parents take to keep their teens and pre-teens healthy?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important steps parents can take are to keep the lines of communication open, and to empower teenagers through responsible decision-making and the establishment of trust,\u201d said pediatric specialist Lori B. Feldman-Winter, M.D., M.P.H.<\/a>, Head of the Division of Adolescent Medicine<\/a> at Cooper University Hospital.<\/p>\n

By way of good example, and by encouraging rapport in the home, parents can provide their children with the skills they need to handle the physical, emotional and psychological changes they face during adolescence.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaintaining healthy habits shifts from parental control to adolescent control, and parents can model healthy habits by engaging in regular physical activity and establishing healthy eating habits,\u201d Dr. Feldman-Winter said. \u201cThe most prevalent health problem affecting adolescents is obesity, followed by trauma due to accidental or intentional injuries, as well as other health concerns that arise from high-risk behaviors.\u201d<\/p>\n

For both teens and pre-teens, obesity can trigger health problems, such as diabetes. For pre-teens, emotional issues related to the onset of puberty can occur, particularly among those who go through puberty earlier than their peers. Older teens are at risk for injuries from playing sports and from high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol and\/or substance abuse. The late-teen years also are the most common period for mood disorders to become apparent, including anxiety and depression. For adolescent females, problems with menstruation and hormonal imbalances can occur.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important consideration when thinking about the medical needs of adolescents and the way to keep them healthy is their psycho-social history,\u201d Dr. Feldman-Winter said. \u201cMost serious health problems in the adolescent arise from behaviors that lead to accidents and injury. Other risk behaviors may increase the likelihood that the adolescent will become infected, such as with sexually transmitted infections. Since behavior is at the root of many health problems encountered by adolescents, we in Cooper\u2019s Division of Adolescent Medicine spend a lot of time taking detailed history while respecting the autonomy and privacy of our adolescent patients,\u201d Dr. Feldman-Winter said.<\/p>\n

With adolescence being a time of substantial physical and behavioral change, parents can be assured that physicians specializing in adolescent medicine can provide insights on, as well early diagnosis and treatment of, health and wellness issues specific to teens and pre-teens.<\/p>\n

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