HEALTH CONCERNS/CONCERNS RELATED TO PHYSICAL

CHANGES

CONCERN IN POSTURE

Posture is one of the first things an osteopath will look at in any patient visiting
the clinic. It can reveal many things about a person such as their physical
condition, mood and bad habits. It goes some way to explain why some
people suffer with certain injuries and in a proactive sense also allows an
osteopath to predict and prevent potential future injury sites throughout the
body.
Posture can be influenced by many things. Everybody’s posture has a strong
genetic element to it, as our body shape often resembles our parents.
However, there are environmental influences that occur throughout our
infancy, during our school years and into adulthood which we will discuss in
this editorial.

Body Odor
As children near puberty their bodies will likely begin to produce more strong-
smelling sweat. As a result, body odor may become a problem. Some children
who only needed to bathe a few times a week as preschoolers will probably start
needing to bathe every day by the time they've turned 9 or 10. Children may also
need to start using a daily underarm deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent body
odor from becoming a problem during the day.

Dental problems

There are a number of problems that affect the oral health of children,
including tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and
early tooth loss. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced with
permanent teeth, keeping baby teeth healthy is important to a child's
overall health and well-being. Dental decay is the most common chronic disease in young
people between the ages of 5 and 17, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Follow these tips to stop cavities before they start.

 Play it safe. Contact sports can cause oral injuries, but teens can prevent
injuries by wearing a mouthguard while playing sports. More than 200,000
injuries to the mouth and jaw occur each year, and dentists regularly recommend
the use of mouthguards in a variety of sports activities. Whether a mouthguard is
 custom-fitted by a dentist or bought at a store, teens should keep it clean by
rinsing it often and storing it in a ventilated container.

 Avoid oral piercings. People with tongue or other mouth piercings can easily
chip their teeth while eating, sleeping, talking and chewing. The fracture can be
confined to tooth enamel and require a filling, or it may go deeper, which can
lead to a root canal or tooth extraction.

Infections are also common with oral piercings. The tongue can swell after being
punctured, and in some cases can become infected and swell to such a degree
that it interferes with breathing. Unclean piercing equipment can cause other
infections, such as blood-borne hepatitis.

 Make time for healthy habits. Teens eat quick meals in the form of "nutrition"
bars and fast food to stay alert and on schedule between school, extracurricular
activities and part-time jobs. However, these habits can permanently damage
oral and overall health. Teens should have access to healthy snacks such as
apples, carrot sticks and cheese and should seek low or no-sugar drinks like
organic tea and coconut water. Keeping a travel-size toothbrush in a locker or
backpack can help teens keep up good teeth-cleaning habits by brushing after
meals and snacks.

Just like adults, teens should visit their dentist at least twice a year. Regular
dental visits and cleanings not only help keep teeth bright and shiny (a boost to
any teens self-esteem), they can also help catch minor problems before they
become worse.

Lack of Sleep
Children's moodiness can be affected by their lack of sleep. There are both
physical and social reasons for why sleep deficits may occur during puberty.
First, the body's sleep-wake cycle is dependent upon a "circadian rhythm" which
in turn, is influenced by hormones. During puberty, a natural shift occurs in a
teen's circadian rhythm that causes them to feel more fully alert later at night.
Unfortunately, they must still rise early for school and other activities. As a result,
they get less sleep than they require. This occurs just as their educational,
extracurricular, and social schedules become more demanding. Youth may also
develop an irregular sleep pattern, such as a desire to "sleep-in' during the
weekends, while simultaneously sleeping less during weeknights. This lack of
sleep can increase irritability and decrease concentration ability, and contribute
to children suddenly finding it difficult to complete tasks that were once simple.
This new struggle only adds to their frustration and moodiness.
HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO SOCIAL CHANGES

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. The development of a positive self-image
and a healthy self-esteem is very important for making a successful transition from child
to adult. Here are some suggestions for helping to encourage positive self-esteem in
your teen:

 Give your child words of encouragement each day.

 Remember to point out the things your child does right, not just the mistakes.
 Be generous with praise.
 Give constructive criticism, and avoid criticism that takes the form of ridicule or
shame.
 Teach your child about decision-making and make it a point to recognize when
he or she has made a good decision.
 Help your child learn to focus on his or her strengths by pointing out all of his or
her talents and abilities.
 Allow your teen to make mistakes. Overprotection or making decisions for teens
can be perceived as a lack of faith in their abilities. This can make them feel less
confident.
 When disciplining your child, replace shame and punishment with positive
reinforcement for good behavior. Shame and punishment can make an
adolescent feel worthless and inadequate.

Peer pressure

As children grow, they begin to spend more time with their friends and less time with
their parents. As a result, friends can influence a child's thinking and behavior. This is
the essence of peer pressure. Peer pressure can be a positive influence—for example,
when it motivates your child to do well in school, or to become involved in sports or
other activities. On the other hand, peer pressure can be a negative influence—for
example, when it prompts your child to try smoking, drinking, using drugs, or to practice
unsafe sex or other risky behavior.

Changes in relationships
You might notice that your teen:
 wants to spend less time with family and more time with friends
 has more arguments with you: some conflict between parents and children during the teenage years
is normal as teens seek more independence. It actually shows that your child is maturing. Conflict
tends to peak in early adolescence. If you feel like you’re arguing with your child all the time, it might
help to know that this isn’t likely to affect your long term relationship with your child
 sees things differently from you: this isn’t because your child wants to upset you. It’s because your
child is beginning to think more abstractly and to question different points of view
 HEALTH CONCRNS RELATED TO EMOTIONAL GHANGES
You might notice that your teen:
 shows strong feelings and intense emotions at different times. Moods might
seem unpredictable. These emotional ups and downs can lead to increased
conflict. Your child’s brain is still learning how to control and express emotions
in a grown-up way
 is more sensitive to your emotions: young people get better at reading and
processing other people’s emotions as they get older. While they’re
developing these skills, they can sometimes misread facial expressions or
body language
 is more self-conscious, especially about physical appearance and changes.
Teenage self-esteem is often affected by appearance - or by how teenagers
think they look. As they develop, teens might compare their bodies with those
of friends and peers
 goes through a “invincible” stage of thinking and acting as if nothing bad could
happen to him. Your child’s decision-making skills are still developing, and
your child is still learning about the consequences of actions.
 Moods and feelings
Your child might show strong feelings and intense emotions, and her
moods might seem unpredictable. These emotional ups and
downs can lead to increased conflict. They happen partly because
your child’s brain is still learning how to control and express emotions
in a grown-up way.
 Sensitivity to others
As your child gets older, he’ll get better at reading and understanding
other people’s emotions. But while your child is developing these
skills, he can sometimes misread facial expressions or body
language.
 Self-consciousness
Teenage self-esteem is often affected by appearance – or by how
teenagers think they look. As your child develops, she might feel self-
conscious about her physical appearance. She might also compare
her body with those of friends and peers.
 Decision-making
Your child might go through a stage where he seems to act without
thinking a lot of the time. Your child’s decision-making skills are still
developing, and he’s still learning that actions have consequences
and even risks sometimes.
HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO MENTAL CHANGES

An alteration in mental status refers to

general changes in brain function, such as
confusion, amnesia (memory loss), loss of
alertness, disorientation (not cognizant of self,
time, or place), defects in judgment or thought,
unusual or strange behavior, poor regulation of
emotions, and disruptions in perception,
For example, sometimes your mood will swing
between feeling confident and happy to feeling
irritated and depressed in a short span of time.
These frequent swings inhow you feel are called
mood swings. They may occur due to shifting
levels of hormones in your body and
other changes taking place during puberty.
Teens (12-18) Teenagers are still developing their
bodies and minds well into their late teens. During
the teen years they face a myriad of issues
ranging from growthspurts, acne, bullying, sexual
feelings and mood changes.
SEXUAL CHANGES

Adolescence is a time of first experiences, such as, among others, first sexual
relations. Indeed, the hormonal and physical changes experienced by teenagers
make them more aware of their sexuality. It plays a dominant role during this
transition phase and is the source of a lot of questioning. Teens need specific,
precise information about sexuality, as well as a supportive environment so that
they can understand their own behaviours and feelings in terms of love and sex. It
is therefore important to create an open climate for discussing subjects pertaining
to their sexuality. But talking about sex is not an easy thing, so it is also important
to choose the right time and the right strategy to broach the topic while still
respecting the teen’s privacy.

A FEW TIPS FOR PARENTS

If you are the parent of a teenager, here is some advice to help keep your family in
harmony during this most sensitive period:

 Don’t forget that even though your child makes his or her need for
independence loud and clear, he or she still needs you in many ways. Be
present and ready to help.
 Don’t judge too fast. Certain behaviours that, at first, might seem abnormal
to you may only be a normal manifestation of adolescence. Get informed
and talk to other parents; this might allow you to put things back into
perspective.
 Listen, be open and be empathic. Try to put yourself in your teen’s shoes
and listen to her or his point of view. To avoid confrontation, suggest
options instead of giving orders.
 Express your expectations clearly in terms of things that are non-negotiable
to you: curfew, grades, chores, etc. For things that you consider less
important, try to let go and work on your tolerance.
 Have confidence in your teen and show it. Also, make your teen feel that he
or she is important to you. Suggest sharing activities that your teen enjoys;
this will allow you to strengthen the bond and promote togetherness. Take
an interest in his or her life, friends and things that he or she cares about or
that are part of his or her daily life.
 If you notice worrisome signs such as changes in eating habits, significantly
lower grades, isolation or a communication breakdown, share your concern
with your teen with complete honesty and, if needed, seek help.
 HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO MORAL - SPIRITUAL

Young adolescents are interested in the bigger meanings of life. They want
to know where they belong and where they can make a difference. Parents
and teachers may notice that young adolescents experience and/or
express:
 an idealistic sense of social justice and fairness

 a need to have choices and make personal decisions

 a desire to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others
 an interest in learning about other cultures and beliefs
 a need to ask challenging questions about life and relationship.

Moral health is a person's sense of right and wrong and their

ability to behave in a moral manner. Not everyone would
agree on what moral behavior is, so what one considers
morally healthy, another may not.
Spiritual health means different things to different people. For
some, it is synonymous with traditional religion and being at
peace with God. For others, it involves the quality of personal
relationships or a love of nature. For all, spiritual health
involves a sense that life has meaning and purpose and that
you are in harmony with your purpose in life.