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Health Homework!
by Laura Lambert, 09.21.04
There's a lot more to sex ed that just girl parts and guy parts. |
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Just when you thought you had all the homework you could handle, teenwire.com® brings you health homework! No need to moan and groan — health homework is more about life than it is about school. It's easy and empowering, and getting an A is one of the best things you can do to stay happy and healthy.
Sex Ed 101
There's a lot more to sex ed that just girl parts and guy parts. For teens, especially those who are sexually active, assignment number one is to get regular medical checkups. For girls, regular Pap tests can screen for hormonal conditions and precancerous cervical cells. For guys, regular checkups can catch early signs of testicular cancer, which can affect men as young as 15. And sexually active teens who haven't consistently practiced safer sex should talk to their clinicians about getting tested for sexually transmitted infections. Teens can also talk to their clinicians about their birth control options.
Dr. Scott Spear, who treats college students at the University of Wisconsin's health services center in Madison, says that teens can start taking their health into their own hands even before college. "Older teens can start developing their own relationships with a health care provider," he says. This can mean making your own appointments and seeing a doctor or other clinician alone, without a parent present.
Remember, many health care providers — and all Planned Parenthood clinicians — will keep a teen's medical history and questions confidential, which means you can talk to your provider about things that might be too sensitive or embarrassing to ask your parents. Just be sure to ask about your provider's attitudes about confidentiality before your visit.
For more info on taking charge of your sexual health, check out
Smoking Stinks!
In 2003, teen smoking was at the lowest level in more than 13 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Part of your health homework is to help keep those levels down!
For info on how to stop smoking, check out
The Deal with Diets
Teens who need to lose or gain weight should know that there are right and wrong ways to diet — if you need to, your homework is to learn the difference and choose wisely. The right way to diet means working with a clinician or a trained nutritionist to make sure you're getting all the vitamins and nutrients a teenage body needs.
For information about how to avoid dieting the wrong way, check out:
Advanced P.E.
More than 60 percent of all Americans are not physically active enough to enjoy to health benefits of exercise. Your assignment is to get off your duff and join the other 40 percent who enjoy a good workout.
To learn about getting active, check out:
Intro to Stress Management
Stress happens. Your homework is to learn how to deal with it. Assignment number one in stress management is to remember to breathe — it's a great relaxation technique for everyday stress. More serious stress, such as stress from unhealthy or violent relationships, may benefit from professional help, such as a psychologist or counselor.
For more ways to mange your stress and get yourself organized, check out:
Earning Extra Credit
These assignments are just for starters. Health homework also includes stopping substance abuse, making good choices about birth control, practicing abstinence or safer sex, getting enough sleep, and cultivating healthy relationships with friends, partners, and family. Teens with pre-existing or chronic conditions, such as diabetes, can talk to their clinicians about the additional homework they need to do to stay healthy.
Remember, even though you can learn about things like sex, stress, and smoking in health class, it shouldn't stop there. Health homework is a life-long course in taking care of number one — you. |
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