Health knowledge every teen should know
You go to the doctor’s office with your teen for their annual checkup and expect the same chatty or sarcastic teenager they usually are at home. However, they clam up when the doctor walks in. Does this ever happen to you?
Teens are often accustomed to having their parents take the lead in making many important life decisions. However, it’s important for them to take the reins at this stage of their lives. Building up your teen’s health knowledge through conversations in early adolescence can help boost their confidence about taking care of their health long term.
Important health knowledge for teens as they grow into adulthood:
How to talk to and trust their health care providers
Teens are sometimes prone to dismissing adult advice, and they need the security of understanding that medical professionals have their best interests at heart.
Personal and family medical history
Your teen should know the medical history of their parents, grandparents and siblings. This may also spark an additional discussion on why family history is important for their future health.
Medications and/or vitamins they take and why
Teens can understand complex concepts, and they should not take medication blindly. They need to have a general understanding of how the medication works in their bodies, and what side effects could occur, including interactions with other medications or food.
What basic vitals mean
This includes knowing what is considered a normal, healthy reading for heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and temperature ranges.
Where to properly search for reliable health information
This is important as so much information, much of it being misinformation, is available at their fingertips. Explain how to vet a website as being reliable and trustworthy. This skill will serve them beyond health care.
How to call in a prescription
Help provide a list that includes the name of the pharmacy, name of the prescription, prescription strength and dosage. Also, explain where to find a prescription’s Rx number.
Putting the learnings to use
The more you educate your teens on these health topics, the more confident they will feel talking with medical professionals in the future. These conversations should be ongoing since more questions may arise as they put the learnings to use.
Jennifer Kober is a registered nurse for adolescents at Aurora Health Care.
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