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The Teen Health Book: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being » (Reprint)

Book cover image of The Teen Health Book: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being by Ralph I. Lopez

Authors: Ralph I. Lopez, Kate Kelly
ISBN-13: 9780393324273, ISBN-10: 0393324273
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Date Published: May 2008
Edition: Reprint

Author Biography: Ralph I. Lopez

Book Synopsis

With the publication of The Teen Health Book parents finally have a single volume to help them navigate the confusing changes of the adolescent years. Dr. Ralph I. Lopez is a pioneer in the field of adolescent medicine, known by both parents and teens for his warmth, accessibility, and intelligent, firm responses on difficult subjects. In The Teen Health Book, he offers readers the cumulative knowledge and wisdom of his thirty years of practice and provides health and medical information in a clear, compassionate manner. Addressing both physical and emotional concerns, this essential guidebook discusses the full spectrum of adolescent issues from acne to sexual development, from sports and nutrition to alcohol and drug use. In addition, a comprehensive reference section details the typical health problems teenagers experience and how parents can deal with them.

Charlene C. Giannetti

Dr. Lopez knows adolescents and, more importantly, he likes them and cares about them....an indispensable guide for parents and adolescents.

	Acknowledgments	13
	Introduction	15
Part 1	The Onset of Puberty and the Changes It Brings	21
Chapter 1	Does Your Teen Need a New Doctor?	23
	Changing Thoughts on Teen Health Care	23
	Toward a More Teen-Friendly Environment	24
	An Increasing Need for Privacy	24
	The Importance of Confidentiality	25
	Considering a New Doctor	26
	Finding the Right Patient-Doctor Match	26
	Shifting Responsibility	27
Chapter 2	Puberty: Your Developing Child, Your Developing Teen	30
	So What Exactly Is Puberty?	31
	Talking (Out Loud) about Puberty	31
	Puberty Is More Than Body Changes	32
	Growth before Puberty	34
	How Male/Female Growth Is the Same	34
	Glandular Changes	36
	Skin Changes	36
	Male Growth Pattern	36
	Measuring Genital Development: The Tanner System	38
	Male Facial Hair	42
	Testosterone Makes Itself Known	43
	Same-Gender Talks Work Best at This Age	43
	Female Growth Pattern	44
	Pubertal Growth in Girls	44
	Menstruation	48
	So When Will It Start?	49
	Talking about Menstruation	52
	Moving On	54
Chapter 3	The Emotional Life of the Adolescent	55
	The Nature of Adolescence	56
	But Who Are They?	56
	Internal Pressures	58
	External Pressures	62
	Normal and Coping?	65
	Coping or Depressed?	66
	Suicide	67
Part 2	Health and Lifestyle Issues	71
Chapter 4	The Sleep-Deprived Teen	73
	Sleep Physiology	73
	Teen Sleep Requirements	74
	Why Teens Don't Sleep	75
	Helping Your Teen Fit In More Sleep	77
	Sleep Disorders	78
Chapter 5	Teens, Nutrition, and Eating Disorders	83
	Eating Well and Judging Nutritional Value	84
	What Calories Mean to Your Teen	86
	How Food Sources Vary	88
	The Need for Fat	90
	Teens and Cholesterol	93
	What Vitamins and Minerals Do	96
	Guiding toward Better Eating	100
	Weight Issues	102
	Eating Disorders	106
	Teens and Special Diets	114
Chapter 6	The Teen Obsession: Skin	118
	Acne	119
	Allergic Skin Reactions and Dermatitis	126
	Fungal Skin Infections	132
	Viral Skin Infections	134
	Moles and Spots	137
	The Importance of Sunscreens	137
	Tattoos and Piercings	138
Chapter 7	Teens and Sports: Sports-Related Injuries	143
	The Importance of the Physical Exam	144
	The Importance of Nutrition	146
	Body Types and Their Effect on Sports Participation	149
	Suiting Up Properly	150
	The Rise (and Fall?) of the Early Developer	154
	The Female Athlete	154
	General Health Problems	155
	Injuries and Treatment	158
	Remembering What Is Important	172
Part 3	Teen Sexual Practices and Issues	175
Chapter 8	Sexuality and the Adolescent	177
	Sex and the Teen	178
	But What Are They Doing?	179
	"What Is Normal?"	181
	Talking to Your Teen	184
	Teaching or Reaffirming Values	187
	The Homosexual Teen	189
	"Coming Out"	192
Chapter 9	Birth Control	195
	Abstinence, the Rhythm Method, and Withdrawal	196
	Intrauterine Devices	197
	Barrier Methods	197
	Hormonal Methods	204
	Newly Released Birth Control Methods	212
	Pregnancy	213
	Helping Your Teen (Both Sons and Daughters) "Do the Right Thing"	218
Chapter 10	Sexually Transmitted Diseases	220
	How Prevalent are STDs?	221
	Viral Infections	222
	Bacterial Infections	228
	Syphilis	232
	Fungal Infections	233
	Parasites	234
	Teen Awareness	236
Part 4	Teen Substance Abuse	239
Chapter 11	What Parents Need to Know about Substance Abuse	241
	Learning about Alcohol and Drug Abuse	243
	Recognizing a Drug User	244
	Finding the Right Time	244
	The Information Pipeline	247
	The Discovery: Your Teen Is Drinking or Using Drugs	248
	Getting Additional Advice or Help	250
	Putting a Teen into a Rehabilitation Program	252
	Is This an Emergency?	252
	Improving Your Knowledge	252
Chapter 12	Teens and Alcohol	254
	Alcohol as Part of the Teen Scene	254
	What Parents Should Know about Alcohol	257
	Measuring Alcohol Consumption	257
	Responsible Drinking	260
	So You Think Your Teen's Been Drinking	262
	If Your Teen Comes Home Drunk	265
	If the Shoe Fits	267
	Helping Your Teen	268
	The Party Scene	269
	The Underage College Years	269
Chapter 13	Teens and Smoking	273
	Marketing to Teens	274
	Why Teens Start	274
	The Effects of Nicotine	275
	Other Means of Taking in Nicotine	276
	The Gateway Theory	277
	Quitting	278
	Forming New Habits	284
Chapter 14	Marijuana	285
	A Few Definitions	286
	Understanding the Chemistry of Pot	287
	How Pot Is Used	289
	The Mind-Altering Aspects of Pot	290
	Drug Testing	293
	"How Can I Know What My Teen Is Doing?"	295
	Long-Term Use of THC	298
	Pot Is Illegal, but That's a Small Deterrent	298
	Therapeutic Use of Marijuana	299
Chapter 15	Hallucinogens and Stimulants	300
	About Hallucinogens	301
	Hallucinogens	302
	Stimulants	308
Chapter 16	Other Frequently Used Drugs	315
	Inhalants	315
	Amyl Nitrate, or "Poppers"	317
	Ketamine, or "Vitamin K"	317
	GHB	318
	"Roofies"	318
	Klonopin	319
	Opiates	319
	Barbiturates and Quaaludes	322
Part 5	The Adolescent, Head to Toe: Common Ailments	325
	Introduction	327
	Whole Body Issues	330
	Immunizations	330
	Fatigue	338
	The Head	347
	Headaches	347
	The Eyes	352
	The Nose	355
	The Ears	358
	The Mouth	362
	The Throat	365
	The Neck Area	368
	Neck Pain	368
	The Glands	369
	The Spine and Back	377
	The Spine	377
	The Back	381
	The Shoulders, Chest, and Heart	384
	The Shoulders	384
	The Chest	386
	The Heart	400
	The Abdomen and Digestive System	409
	The Esophageal Area	409
	The Stomach	411
	The Abdomen	415
	The Liver	420
	The Umbilicus, or Belly Button	427
	The Urinary Tract	428
	The Bladder	428
	The Kidneys	431
	The Female Reproductive System	436
	Timing of the First Pelvic Exam	436
	The Pelvic Exam	437
	The Rate of Female Development	440
	Menstruation	442
	Disorders of the Reproductive System	457
	The Male Reproductive System	464
	The Prostatic Gland	464
	The Penis	465
	The Scrotum	467
	The Testicles	468
	The Hips, Legs, and Feet	474
	Hip Problems in Adolescents	474
	The Legs	475
	The Knees	476
	The Lower Leg	479
	The Feet	479
	The Toes	480
	Web Sites for Parents and Teens	483
	Index	487