Health Education for Young Adults

Health Education for Young Adults addresses preventive medical and behavioral issues of great importance in adolescence. The book is not intended to be an exhaustive review of medical diseases or an encyclopedia but rather an overview of problems that are critical to teenagers and adolescents in this time of their life, a discussion of important behaviors that can affect their health now and in the future, and a framework on which to add new information. Besides taking care of the more traditional medical problems as they occur, part of the challenge in keeping adolescents healthy now involves addressing different issues, such as alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, violence, and the impact of cultural stereotypes on self-image. We believe that educating teens about the risks of certain behaviors can give them confidence in making wise decisions and bolster their self-esteem. Being fully aware of how their behavior and choices earlier in life can have a detrimental effect on their health, now and later, will give them the tools to develop mature and independent thinking to prevent a vast array of medical problems and disease processes and allow them to choose a healthy lifestyle.