By Dr. Ryan Kelly, General Booth Pediatrics
Between school activities, sports, and jobs, teens often have busy schedules that make them less likely to see their pediatrician unless they’re sick. However, annual well visits are a crucial part of staying healthy during the teenage years.
Several key vaccines are recommended during adolescence, including booster shots and vaccines that safeguard against serious illnesses like meningitis and HPV-related cancers. Annual checkups help ensure teens stay protected.
But for teens, well visits go beyond just vaccines and sports physicals. They provide pediatricians with an opportunity to support young people through the physical, emotional, and social changes that shape adolescence.
A Check-In for Physical and Mental Health
The teenage years bring many changes in a short period, and annual visits give pediatricians a chance to check on growth, nutrition, sleep, and overall well-being. Your teen’s pediatrician may also screen for issues like high blood pressure, vision or hearing changes, anxiety, depression, or unhealthy behaviors before they become more serious.
Mental health is especially important. Well visits provide teens with a safe, private space to discuss stress, relationships, mood swings, school pressures, or other concerns they may not feel comfortable discussing elsewhere. They also offer opportunities for honest conversations about real-life topics that impact teens’ health and well-being every day.
Preparing Teens for Adult Healthcare
As teenagers grow older, well visits encourage them to take a more active role in managing their own health. Learning how to ask questions, understand medications, discuss concerns, and schedule appointments helps prepare them for adulthood and builds trust with their healthcare providers.
Building Healthy Habits for the Future
Well visits also give pediatricians the opportunity to guide teens on topics such as:
Substance use prevention.
When teens feel healthy, it can be tempting to skip annual checkups. However, preventive care is designed to spot issues early before symptoms worsen. Adolescence is a key period for supporting physical growth, emotional health, and making healthy choices.
Making time for a yearly well visit can help teens develop healthy habits, ask important questions, and feel more prepared for the years to come.
