Having a Healthy Relationship with Your Teen Dr. Jonas Aharoni, MD Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics UCLA Health – Burbank/Santa Clarita

Goal of Screenings for Your Teenager Important to integrate preventative care into routine health maintenance. Early identification of risk behaviors and disease Works as an adjunct to preventative services provided through school and the community

Goals of Teenager Encounter Update basic immunizations Screening and counseling to prevent injuries from violence and accidents Reduce high risk behaviors Promote dental health

Important Screenings Hypertension Obesity and eating disorders Hyperlipidemia Tuberculosis Learning or school problems Substance abuse Mental health and risk of suicide STDs

Anticipatory guidance for your teen Healthy dietary habits Reduction of injuries by wearing seatbelt and bicycle helmet Regular exercise Limiting screen time Optimal sleep of 8-10 hours per day Responsible sexual behaviors Avoidance of alcohol and tobacco Avoidance of risky online behaviors like “sexting” Ways of dealing with bullying

Immunizations They are safe!! Main vaccines for 11 years or older Human Papilloma Virus (causes cervical cancer and genital warts) Meningococcal Vaccine Annual Flu Vaccine Tdap booster

Puberty Adolescents experience cognitive, psychosocial, and physical maturation Increase in height and secondary sexual characteristics Fertility achieved Increase in bone mineralization and brain development Mean age is 10.5 in girls and 11.5 in boys

Hormonal Axis of Puberty

Pubertal Changes Growth spurt, lasts for about 2 years Bone growth accelerates Sequence of pubertal maturation: Breast development in girls Increase of testicular volume in boys

Issues Arising with Puberty Anemia and Iron deficiency due to menstruation Gynecomastia in boys due to increase in estrogen Acne due to higher levels of testosterone Musculoskeletal injuries, greatest risk of fracture around growth plates (Osgood-Schlatter disease) Accelerated progression of scoliosis Sexually transmitted diseases

Psychological Changes in Puberty Prevalence of depression may be twice as great in girls as compared with boys Boys tend to become happier with their appearance as puberty continues It is the opposite for girls Girls that go through puberty early may show greater risk taking behavior early on

Precocious Puberty Precocious puberty is traditionally defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of eight years in girls and nine years in boys May show early development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Confidentiality Some medical information is kept confidential from your teen and at their exam and we take time to discuss issues with them separate from their parent

Questions?

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