Adolescence is a challenging time for the child and the parents alike. Our healthcare providers partner with their young patients and parents to guide choices related to nutrition, exercise, physical and emotional development and more. Here’s what to know about this important time of life so kids grow into happy, productive adults.
Exercise and Nutrition
Because weight issues are so prevalent in the United States (about 22 percent of adolescents are considered obese), your healthcare provider should stress the importance of exercise and proper nutrition for tweens and teens. Less screen time and more physical activity, along with healthy eating at home and at school, are key to ideal weight and prevention of diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.
Also, when adolescents are active and within their ideal weight range, they struggle less with self-esteem issues, teasing and bullying from their peer groups, anxiety, depression and other mental/emotional health problems. So, parents and healthcare providers should partner with kids to develop routine exercise and healthy meals which deliver the nutrients necessary for growth and development and reduction of risk factors for chronic disease later in life.
Annual Check-ups
The annual check-up, or wellness visit, is a basic head to toe assessment of your tween or teen’s height, weight, vital signs and other measures of health and well-being. The provider assesses development of cognition, puberty, neuromuscular function, height, weight and more.
This visit provides time for questions and concerns which both the parent and the young patient have about a wide range of issues, including mental and emotional health. The CDC reports that almost three million children from ages 3 to 17 are diagnosed with depression annually. As such, open discussion of symptoms is always on the table at our office as well as development of treatment plans to manage mental health issues successfully.
Additionally, during the annual check-up, your teen’s doctor will run lab tests as needed, including blood work to test for anemia, a common blood condition among adolescent girls. Other assessments are basic hearing and vision screenings, assessment of heart, lungs, abdomen, ear, nose, throat and the musculoskeletal system.
As part of preventive care, your adolescent will receive age-appropriate vaccinations which protect against common communicable diseases. You will receive documentation of these shots for school, sports and other organizations which require them. We follow the vaccine schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for children ages seven to 18 years of age.
Finally, providers develop and adjust treatment plans for chronic disease management. These conditions include skin conditions, such as acne and eczema, allergies and asthma, diabetes and others. Medication refills are available at this time and also via our patient portal.
Peers, Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and Sex
Adolescence is the time for those important discussions surrounding sexuality, sexual behavior, tobacco, alcohol, drugs and peer relationships. Your healthcare provider is ready and willing to help you and your teen sort through the complexities of:
- Early sexual interactions
- Drug and tobacco usage
- Reckless driving
- Academic pressures
- Peer relationships
- Online bullying
Acute Care for Adolescents
Your pediatrician’s office is your adolescent’s go-to for the many diseases and conditions which happen quickly and need proper medical attention. More severe, life-threatening conditions require assessment at treatment at your local hospital ER.
Acute conditions your pediatrician sees and treats include diarrhea, strep throat, UTIs, upper respiratory infections, pink eye, asthma flare-ups and influenza. They can also treat sudden injuries such as sprains, fractures, cuts, burns, animal bites, and more.
Adolescent Medicine in Orlando, FL
At Premier Medical Group, we are committed to delivering the finest in adolescent medicine for families in the Orlando area.
If it’s time for your tween’s or teen’s annual wellness check-up, or if you wish to begin a relationship with our family medicine practice, please call us for an appointment. In Orlando, contact us at (407) 735-2114. We look forward to speaking with you soon!