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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Teens
As teens grow, so does their need for privacy and independence. But you still play a big role in keeping your teen healthy. Many of our facilities offer special Teen Clinics with staff who are specially trained to deal with issues adolescents face as they mature.
Keeping Your Teen Safe [Read/Print full article]
Overview
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As a parent, nothing is more important than your child's safety. When your teen was younger, you childproofed the house and held hands while crossing the street. Now that your teen spends more time out in the world away from family, he or she makes more decisions independent of you.
You are a role model for your teen. Parents have the ability to influence a teen's attitudes much more than peers do. Even though your child might not seem to be listening and watching what you do, he or she probably is.
Help keep your teen safe by expressing your values, giving clear and consistent messages, and enforcing basic safety rules regarding physical safety, alcohol and drugs, sex, smoking, and emotional health. Help your teen stay healthy by providing a safe, supportive environment that encourages her to make smart choices for her mind and body.
Physical Safety
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Teens often feel invincible, but as a group, they are at risk for accidents and injuries. Help your teen stay safer by providing clear guidance, enforcing rules, and setting a good example.
Preventable accidents are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the U.S. Most accidents can be avoided with some basic safety measures. Try to:
- Talk with your teen about the risks of using alcohol and drugs. Accidents, such as alcohol-related car collisions, are a major killer of teens. Make an agreement that your teen will call you or a sober friend for a ride if she has been drinking. Emphasize that she should never drink and drive or get in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Be a good role model behind the wheel. Wear your seat belt, do not drink and drive, and do not talk or text on your cell phone while driving. If your teen drives, learn more about how to help him or her be safe on the road.
- Make sure your teen wears protective pads and a properly fitting helmet when riding a bike or scooter, or when skateboarding or rollerblading. If your teen plays any contact sports, skis, or snowboards, a helmet is essential.
- It's safest not to have a gun in the house. If you do own a gun, always unload it and lock it up. Store ammunition separately, locked up as well.
Part of being a teen is taking risks, but don't compromise on safety.
Alcohol and Drugs
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Using drugs and alcohol can harm your teen's general health, physical growth, emotional development, and school performance.
Teens who drink or use drugs are more likely to take dangerous risks, which can lead to accidents and injuries. To help your teen make healthy choices regarding alcohol and drugs:
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs, including prescription medications. Your attitude is one of the greatest influences on whether your child will use alcohol and drugs.
- Do not allow underage drinking in your home and keep alcohol and prescription drugs locked. Most teens who use alcohol or abuse prescription medication say that they have easy access to these substances at home.
- Be aware of your teen's friends. Always ask where your teen will be and with whom and check with parents of your teen's friends to ensure that they do not allow underage drinking.
- Be honest and open if your child asks about your drug use. Use your judgment about how much of your history to share. You may want to use this as an opportunity to share the lessons you've learned.
- Consider your own use. If you drink or use drugs to get high, we encourage you to cut back or quit. We can help you make healthy changes. Talk to your doctor or contact your local Health Education department to learn more about resources that can support you.
Sexual Health
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Teens who have accurate information and know that they can go to a parent with questions or concerns may be less likely to participate in risky behaviors.
Even if it feels a bit uncomfortable, let your teen know that you are always available to talk about any questions they might have. You may also want to initiate the conversation about safer sex.
Even before your teen becomes sexually active, it's a good idea to:
- Talk with your teen about sexuality, relationships, and responsibility. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence, condom use, and birth control.
- Talk about the possibility of unwanted pregnancy. If your teen has had unprotected sex, one option is emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). ECPs can prevent pregnancy if birth control wasn't used; however, ECPs are most useful if started within 72 hours after having unprotected sex. They can be used up to 5 days after intercourse.
- Inform your teen about chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can cause infertility if left undetected. Chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active young women every year.
- Help your teen avoid date rape. Make sure your teen understands that any kind of sexual contact must be consensual. If one person wants to stop or go slower, the other must respect those limits.
You may not agree with all of your teen's choices, but you can help keep him or her safe by sharing accurate information and keeping the lines of communication open.
Smoking
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It is no secret that smoking is dangerous and harms the health of your teen. Smoking increases the risk of:
- Several cancers
- Lung diseases
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
If you or someone your teen lives with smokes, your teen is breathing in secondhand smoke that can seriously harm his health. Protect your family from secondhand smoke by not allowing smoking in your home or car.
If you or your teen smokes, and you are thinking about quitting, we can help support you every step of the way. Quitting is the best thing you can do for your health and your teen's health. You can be tobacco-free.
Additional References:
- External Link to Quit Smoking
- PDF Link to Smoking and Teens
Stress
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It is normal for your teen to get stressed out at times. School, friends, parents, personal relationships, and work can all lead to stress.
Common stress signals in teens include:
- Headaches
- An upset stomach
- Being tired
- Sleeping problems
- Irritability
Consider the following tips when your teen is stressed:
Avoid overscheduling if it causes unhealthy reactions in mind, thoughts, or behavior. Maintain down time and family time to bond and connect. Even something as simple as a longer drive or a trip to the mall are times when you can connect with your teen.
Encourage your teen to laugh, cry, sing, or write in a journal to ease stress. Offer your unconditional love and support.
Set limits on screen time (computers, TV, and handheld devices) to less than an hour per day.
Ease performance pressure by asking open-ended, nonjudgmental questions such as "How was your day?" rather than "How did you do on the test?"
Avoid focusing on test scores and grades and encourage him to do his best in school and learn from any mistakes.
Encourage basic self-care behaviors such as:
- Eating healthy
- Getting 9 to 10 hours of sleep every night
- Getting regular exercise
For more information on helping your teen manage stress, please review our teens and stress topic.
Additional References:
Related Health Tools:
Newsletters
Podcasts
- Quitting Smoking Quitting Smoking
- Second-Hand Smoke Second-Hand Smoke
- Stress Management Stress Management
- Sexual Activity Sexual Activity
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.