Are you in a bad mood?

Are you in a bad mood? Do you find that you are annoyed and irritable for no reason? Do you feel sad, worried, or helpless?

Teens experience a wide variety of feelings. Sometimes these are related to changing hormones within a changing body. Sometimes these are related to feelings of pressure to do well in school, excel in sports, and be accepted by friends. But how can you tell if you (or a friend) might need some help getting through a rough spot? One sign of concern is a change in usual behavior. 

Have you noticed…

• Wanting to be alone and not spend time with friends and family?
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits?
• Feeling tired or having no energy?
• Having trouble concentrating?
• Having poor performance in school?

If so, here are some things you can do:

• Talk with a trusted adult (like your parent(s) or guardian)
• See your health care provider
• Stay active
• Stay in touch with friends and family
• Eat a healthy diet, get regular activity, and the right amount of sleep
• Try to stick to your usual routine

- Amy B. at Sheridan and University of Colorado

Spit Tobacco

Skoal, Kodiak, Copenhagen, Levi Garrett, Beech Nut. Just a pinch between your cheek and gum…yep. Tobacco could never be easier. No smoke, no matches or lighters. A great faded circle on your wranglers. The ads make it look harmless, some of them even come in their own pouch to keep the tobacco from sticking between your teeth. But the yellow stains, the stench, is still the same. And the cancer causing tobacco is still there, right between your cheek and gum.

Nicotine is a stimulant, increases your heart rate, make you feel smarter for a few minutes.  You aren’t.  And nicotine is addictive. A few days of spit tobacco and your body craves the stimulant, your brain seeks out the short-lived “high”. And the cancer causing tobacco is still there. Yes, it makes your teeth yellow and eventually brown. The cool round fade will disappear eventually. But the thick white spot on the inside of your gums may not fade. It may be the early stage of cancer.

So it’s best not to use spit tobacco. And if you’ve got that white spot in your mouth, go visit your healthcare provider. Get it checked out. 

- Jack Westfall MD, Yuma Clinic and University of Colorado

"Staying Hydrated" - Water or Sports Drinks?

    

You've probably seen ads about how important it is to keep hydrated when exercising. If you're exercising on your own, or part of a sports team, you may be wondering how much you need to drink and whether sports drinks are a good idea.

Of course, if you get thirsty, you should listen to your body.  Ideally, you should keep up on your fluids to avoid getting to the point where you're really thirsty.  If it's a hot day and you're working up a sweat, drinking some water every 20 minutes or so is a good idea.  On the other hand, don't force yourself to drink so much water you feel uncomfortable.  It doesn't help, and in some cases it can even be a problem if you take in way too much water.

How about sports drinks?  They're fine, but in general water is just as good.  It is exactly what your body needs, and you won't get too many calories.  If you are exercising hard in hot weather for more than an hour, the electrolytes in sports drinks may give you a bit of an edge.  Just keep track of the calories, and don't chug sugary sports drinks all day long.

If you'd like more information, see this article on dehydration: http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/dehydration.html.

Finally. don't swap your water bottles with your friends.  Although rare, deadly bacteria like "meningococcus" can be spread when people share water bottles. This very thing happened in Fort Collins in 2010.

 Incidentally, if you're going to be living in a dormitory in college, you should consider getting the Menomune vaccine.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call one of our partner clinics.

- Steve Ross MD, University of Colorado