Teach your teenager to wage war against NCDs
NCDs stands for Non-communicable diseases. These include diseases like heart ailments, cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses and mental issues. Teaching young adults to know about them and stay protected from these later in life is equally important as academically nurturing the child and seeing them prosper in life. Adolescents and preteens are the years to sow the seeds of great habits in your children to ensure they have a fulfilling future. But of course, there are obstacles. Non-communicable diseases are hindrances that can derail your child from a dream life. But the good news is, they can be nipped in the bud.
As a parent you should be aware of the ways to safeguard your teenager from various risk factors of non-communicable diseases.
Obesity: Let the fat not pile up
Obesity is a slow poison that can later ramify into hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis, cancer and asthma. So, provide your bundle of joy a diet consisting primarily of vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products, and low-fat dairy products. Having fish, poultry, lentils and beans can also curb obesity in your child. You should also help your teenager in maintaining healthy weight by replacing junk food with nuts and dry fruits. Avoid processed food and go natural!
Say No to Smoke and Tobacco
Smoking and tobacco usage puts your child’s respiratory system at risk and cardiovascular ailments, various cancers & hypertension may also attack his/her immunity. Talk to your adolescent child about the health hazards of smoking and tobacco consumption. Your child should have the right knowledge and be confident enough to say no to peer pressure. Setting up rewards, keeping teenagers busy, getting professional help for him//her can also do wonders.
Boo the Booze
Teenagers consume alcohol to look cool and lots of non-communicable diseases lurk near them as a result. To help your child avoid alcohol, you should present yourself as a role model by avoiding drinking. You should also talk to teenagers about the harms alcohol brings to health and safety. Helping your child avoid alcoholic friends can also prove fruitful. Furthermore, you must teach your younger one about never drinking with strangers, avoiding drinking games and drunk driving.
Get Active
Sedentary lifestyle gives birth to various non-communicable diseases in teenagers. If your child is always lazing on the couch, then it can be alarming for his/her health. As a parent, you should set an example for your child by working out every day. Schedule your timetable and play or exercise with him. Enrolling him in a sports /physical activities like swimming, dancing, etc. is also a great thing to do. If your teenager finds exercising alone boring, then get friends involved to create a “Fit Friend- Circle”.
Bust the stress
Your teenager’s social world expands as he/she grows up and can face stressful situations at times. It can cause different non-communicable diseases. So, you should assist the child in managing loads of school homework, ensure 7 to 9 hours of sleep and provide a healthy diet. Praising good exam grades, helping in accepting failure and getting your child busy in his/her hobbies can drive away stress. Also, you must talk to the child if he/she seems stressed.
Along with it, protect your teenager from environmental pollution. Indoor plants, nature walks, masks, air purifiers can also help. Regular health checkups are essential for teenagers as much as for elders; hence your child needs to have a health checkup at least once a year. These extra precautions will pave way for a healthy life for your child.
