6 Ways for Teenagers to Take Control of Their Health

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I'm so sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your son to meningitis! These teenage vaccines are relatively new, so many parents don't realize that there's a simple way to protect teens and young adults from meningitis and pertussis.
And Muser, thanks so much for mentioning sleep as something key to health, both for teenagers and adults. If we had all learned good sleep habits as teens, we'd be better off.
I'm saying this as someone who wakes up at 3 AM worrying about what I need to get done!

Nancy Shute of DC 10:59AM May 03, 2010

Remember meningitis does not stop at the dorm room door.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis & founder/executive director of Meningitis Angels. www.meningitis-angels.org .
What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.
Knowing the early signs of meningitis & blood poisoning can improve detection of the disease & save lives? They are Unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands & feet & abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness.
Children in daycare & those of American Indian, Eskimo & African American heritage are at a higher risk for pneumococcal & HIB meningitis.
Visit the AAP, sound Advice on Vaccines: http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/soundadvice.html
Help Stop Meningitis!
Please join our cause and feature on your face book page. http://apps.facebook.com/causes/103719/35941843?m=6d54c0aa
Visit http:www.Parent2Parentonmeningitis.com

MeningitisAngels of TX 10:21AM May 02, 2010

Sleep as much as you can. You need it for good decisions about everything in life, including things that affect your health. The older you get, the more you will realize that most of the worst perfomances and worst decisions you ever make are made when you are short of sleep.
Take notice that adults have pretty much goofed up the system of health care delivery in America. Those adults have fixed it where most citizens can't afford to see a doctor or buy what he/she prescribes without subsidy from either an corporate employer program or a government program. Vow to change that as soon as you attain voting age. Hint: You will have to put people over corporations to have a chance in thunder of succeeding on this.

Muser of NM 1:07PM May 01, 2010