Most teenagers are less than concerned with medical conditions that could have a negative impact on their health. For that reason, it’s important that you all try to educate yourselves as quickly as possible. Contrary to popular belief, you are not immortal. If you fail to take certain precautions and notice certain symptoms, you could be in a lot of trouble. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that medical issues only affect older people. That simply isn’t the case. You stand just as much chance of contracting the conditions listed below as anyone else. Indeed, you have more chance with some of the things we’re going to mention.
If you want to improve your health in 2015, you must begin by increasing your knowledge.
Mono
For anyone who doesn’t know, the symptoms of mono can be rather painful and uncomfortable. However, the condition can be treated quickly and effectively with the right medications. Often referred to as the kissing disease, the virus spreads through saliva. That is why teenagers are at more risk than most. While you can get mono at any point in your life, most cases are in the 13 to 24 age group. If you suspect you might have contracted mono, you need to visit your family doctor as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis.
Arthritis
Most folks think arthritis is a medical condition that only affects older people. However, there are numerous types that can be hereditary. That is why it is not uncommon for teenagers to notice problems. If you experience a swelling in your joints, it is imperative that you seek a medical assessment. Arthritis can be managed effectively with medication in the vast majority of cases.
HPV
HPV is a group of around two hundred different viruses that tend to affect people in their late teens. It is a sexually transmitted infection that most people are unaware they’ve got. That is because it rarely produces any symptoms. Some strains of HPV can cause genital warts though, and a couple of strains are known to increase the chances of cervical cancer in women. Unfortunately, there is no way of testing for HPV in males, but there is an accurate blood test for females. If it makes you feel any better, it is estimated that around 75% of sexually active people will suffer from the condition at some point in their life. Most of them will never know they have it.
Chlamydia
As the second most common sexually transmitted infection, it is safe to assume that millions of people around the world have chlamydia at any one time. Thankfully, you simply have to visit your local sexual health clinic to find out if you are affected. While chlamydia is not a serious condition in most instances, it can become problematic if left untreated. Also, it is contagious, and so you could pass it onto other people.
Having learned a little more about some of the most common health conditions that affect teenagers today, we hope you will do some more research and expand your knowledge.
Stay safe!
