| Did you know that 17.4 percent of teenagers in | | | | Another teen health problem to watch is |
| the U.S. in the ages 12 to 19 are overweight? | | | | depression. It can be triggered by something as |
| Adult Type 2 diabetes and heart disease are now | | | | simple as not making the football team or the |
| being reported among teenagers, all the more | | | | cheer leading squad. If you feel lazy, sad, and |
| reason for teenagers to be vigilant with their | | | | sometimes hopeless; or worse, if you feel suicidal, |
| health. Moreover, sexually active teenagers face | | | | then you might be suffering from depression. This |
| even more health risks than those that do not | | | | is a serious problem that you need to address |
| engage in sexual activity yet. Alcohol and | | | | immediately by talking to your parents or your |
| substance abuse and smoking, eating disorders, | | | | guidance councilor. Talking to your peers about it |
| depression, and sexually transmitted diseases are | | | | may not be as good a solution because they may |
| some of the most common health issues among | | | | not know on how to handle depression, worse if |
| teenagers. | | | | they themselves are suffering depression too. |
| To stay healthy, a teenager should avoid smoking | | | | Talk to your parents, teachers, or any authority |
| any type of tobacco product. Another health | | | | you feel comfortable confiding with. |
| advice is to avoid second hand cigarette smoke. | | | | Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a problem |
| A tobacco user teen is more likely to get heart | | | | among sexually active teenagers. Some STDs |
| disease, cancer or stroke in his/her adult age | | | | such as Hepatitis can even be contracted by |
| compared to nonuser. Avert alcohol and | | | | mere kissing. Teenagers already active in sex |
| substance abuse. It usually starts with | | | | must visit their school nurse's office and ask him |
| experimentation until the drug grabs hold of your | | | | her the repercussions of sexual intercourse. If |
| mind and you become addicted. | | | | your parents are open to this discussion, you |
| Perhaps more common to teenage girls, a teen | | | | should talk to them about it too. Obtain brochures |
| wants skinny body like ones she sees on the | | | | and pamphlets on safe sex to educate yourself |
| media. This perverted addiction to media leads to | | | | everything you need to know about the health |
| eating disorder, anorexia (intense fear of being | | | | issues of sex. Teenage pregnancy, which in itself |
| fat) and bulimia (vomiting to abort the digestion of | | | | has emotional, social, and health ramifications, is a |
| food ingested), which poses serious health | | | | great possibility among sexually active teenagers. |
| problem among 1% of American teens; it can kill. | | | | Perhaps the best way to stay healthy and fit is |
| If you have symptoms of anorexia and bulimia, | | | | to maintain a habit of good, well balanced diet, and |
| don't ignore it. Ask help from your parents or any | | | | exercise. Stay at bay from eating fatty foods |
| authority you trust to help you quit this potentially | | | | and trans-fatty acids to avoid problems such as |
| deadly habit. Although support groups can help; | | | | diabetes and obesity leading to heart problems. |
| however, kicking this deadly habit may require | | | | Joining sports and other outdoor activity is a fun |
| seeing a trained therapist. | | | | way to exercise and to stay fit. |