What is adolescent health?
Adolescent health includes all the changes you go through during the pre-teen and teenage years, or adolescence. The healthy habits your child develops during this time set the stage for optimal physical and mental wellness in the years to come.
Adolescence is a challenging time for many teens and their parents. Generally spanning ages 10-18, adolescence is when puberty, growth spurts, and transitions to adulthood occur.
It’s common for teens to experience stress during these changes, but the team at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. can help.
What are the physical aspects of adolescent health?
Eating well and exercising are the building blocks of good health at any stage of life, but especially during the rapid growth of adolescence. There are many ways for adolescents to improve their physical health, including:
- Getting 9-10 hours of sleep every night
- Exercising daily by participating in sports or other physical activities
- Eating a nutritious diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and fruits
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Using sun protection, including sunscreen
- Brushing and flossing teeth
- Learning about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and practicing safe sex
- Staying up to date on immunizations
The team at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. also caters to the specific women’s health needs of adolescent girls, including menstrual cycles and contraception.
What are the mental and emotional aspects of adolescent health?
A variety of factors can influence a teen’s mental and emotional health, including the many hormonal changes that occur at this age. Ways to improve your mental and emotional health during adolescence include:
- Balancing school, work, and friends
- Not taking on too much work
- Accepting yourself for who you are
- Learning stress-management techniques, like yoga
- Maintaining a good parent-teen relationship
- Paying attention to moods and feelings
The adolescent health specialists at Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C. screen for mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, at annual wellness exams. They can also teach you signs and symptoms to look out for and encourage you to ask for help when needed.
For comprehensive adolescent health care from a compassionate team, call Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., or book an appointment online today.
