YOUR TEENS

Your health probably isn't your top priority at this point in your life. As a teenager, you've got a lot of other stuff on your to do list. There's homework, after-school activities, chilling with your friends, and maybe a little time to hang with your family.

The cool thing about your teens is that you're finally able to make some of your own choices. And some of the biggest decisions you get to make are about your health.

Why? Because healthy habits, like eating right and exercising, can help you feel good, look good and do your best in school, work or sports. Paying attention to your wellbeing at this age will pay off big down the road.

We know you like to live in the moment, but the good choices you make now about your health can help you later in life. Now is the time to take charge of your health. By doing so you can help prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and some cancers when you're older.

Getting to know a Southwest Health Center healthcare professional will make you feel more at ease when you do run into a health concern. It's nice to know your healthcare professional ahead of time, so you feel comfortable discussing what you need help with whether it's physical or mental concerns.

Your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional can help get you started on a healthy path by giving you nutritious eating and regular exercise advice. These two things will give you the energy to keep up with your busy schedule filled with school work, sports, drama class, band, hanging out with friends, and all the other things that are important to you.

Plus, at this time in your life, your body is going through a lot of changes. So, regular annual exams and monthly self breast exams are important to your reproductive health.