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Many teenagers consider it uncool to sit in the pediatrician's office for a checkup surrounded by toddlers and Tonka toys. But while they may have outgrown visits to the pediatrician, medical experts say they shouldn't skip regular checkups.
A recent report suggests, however, that many teenagers aren't getting proper preventive care and that they often find themselves in medical limbo between the time they stop seeing their pediatrician to the time they start seeing a doctor years later as adults.
Statistics from a report published in the journal Pediatrics showed a drop in the numbers of young people aged 11 to 21 making doctor visits. In 1994, 15 percent of doctors' visits were by that age group. Last year, only 9 percent of all doctors' visits were made by teens.
Parents and doctors apparently gear preventive care toward young children and less so toward teenagers. However, regular checkups are equally as important to a teenager's health. A doctor's checkup provides an opportunity to instill the value of preventive medicine, identify chronic disease processes and address health issues, such as drinking, smoking, drugs, diet and sexuality.
Generally, when the adolescent reaches the age of 12 or 13, consider changing from a pediatrician to a family practitioner or general internist. No specific tests are required at this particular age, though baseline blood, urine and cholesterol testing should be part of any comprehensive initial physical with a new doctor.
A visit with a new physician can provide a chance for the doctor to have a heart-to-heart talk with a teen about sex, drugs, drinking and diet without mom or dad around. The doctor should be approachable so that the teenager feels comfortable talking to him or her. Many pediatricians are comfortable doing this.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fewer teens are engaging in sexual behaviors that put them at risk for unintended pregnancy. However, the discussion of sexuality and risky behaviors with teenagers remains an important health issue.
A family doctor is also a good person to reinforce a message that teenagers may hear at school and home about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and smoking. Alcohol is the number one drug problem among teens.
Body image matters to teenagers, so frequently family doctors get questions from young people about pimples, acne, warts and other skin conditions that typically plague them. Teens also worry about their weight. A doctor should discuss healthy eating practices, such as eating a well-balanced diet and drinking less soda (which undermines bone growth plate integrity and bone density health). Teens who eat more natural foods and less processed foods are also much better off. The doctor can provide realistic expectations about a teen's weight and be on the alert for signs of eating disorders, which are an increasingly common problem.
Nutritional supplements are another good subject for doctors and teens to discuss. A doctor can talk with a young patient about what is safe and effective. Supplements that build muscle mass have become the rage among weightlifters and other young athletes. However, a doctor should stress to young people that they can build lean muscle mass more naturally through safe and supervised exercise and through good diet, rather than supplements.
The American Medical Association recommends all adolescents should engage in moderate amounts of daily physical activity, whether that is a 30-minute walk, a 15- to 20-minute jog or a game of basketball. The benefits of physical activity include helping build and maintain healthy muscles, bones and joints; controlling weight, building lean muscle and reducing fat; preventing or delaying the development of high blood pressure in adolescents; and help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.
Regular teen checkups are important for mental as well and physical reasons.
Emotional changes can be dramatic during adolescence. Many teens describe puberty as being on a roller coaster of emotions. They can be happy one moment and sad the next.
Mood swings are fairly common, but unfortunately depression has become a major problem among young people in our high-stress society. Teen suicide rates have tripled in past years. Screening for depression, recognizing it and addressing it might help to lower these high rates. A doctor can recommend a child psychologist the teen can speak to or suggest joining a support group, depending on the nature of the problem.
There is no set rule for how often teens need to get a checkup. Federal health guidelines call for a yearly checkup. Many young athletes do have an annual exam, usually required by the school or team. But interim checkups are usually adequate. Whether it is every year or every couple of years doesn't matter as much as simply ensuring teens don't skip a doctor visit just because they stop going to the pediatrician, whether it is a family physician, internist or pediatrician.
Facts about teens' health
- Although teen pregnancy rates have been decreasing significantly in the United States, this nation has the highest teenage pregnancy rate among developed countries. (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
- Nationwide, 9.2 percent of students had gotten pregnant or gotten someone pregnant. Most of those pregnancies were unintended and almost one third ended in abortions. (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
- Nationwide, 58.4 percent of students have tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs). (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
- Nationwide, 28.3 percent of students have used alcohol and 22.4 percent have used marijuana. (2004 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
- Almost 30 percent of students think they were overweight, and 44 percent are trying to lose weight. (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
- About 63 percent of students nationwide participated in activities that made them sweat and breathe hard for at least 20 minutes on three or more days. (2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, CDC)
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External Source
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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