Your 17-Year Checkup

Checkups make sure you are growing well and help you find out if there are any health problems. Return in 1 year for your 18-year checkup.

• Make healthy diet choices:

  • Eat with your family as often as possible.

  • Eat a balanced diet that includes lean protein (like chicken and fish), whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

  • Get about 3 dairy servings a day. This can include low-fat or nonfat milk, fortified soy milk, and low-fat cheese and yogurt. Non-dairy sources of calcium include fortified juice, cereal, and bread; dark leafy greens; and tofu (calcium-set).

  • Eat iron-rich foods every day. Meat, poultry, seafood, beans, and iron-fortified items (such as bread and cereals) are all good sources of iron.

  • If you drink juice, limit it to 8 ounces (240 ml) a day of 100% juice.

  • Read food labels and limit foods that are high in fat (such as red meat), added sugar (such as soda and sports drinks), and salt (such as fast food).

  • Don't drink energy drinks. They can contain lots of caffeine or caffeine-like stimulants and may cause health problems.

• Balance screen use with healthy behaviors like:

  • spending time with others

  • getting at least 1 hour of physical activity every day

  • getting 8–10 hours of sleep each night

• Don't smoke (including e-cigarettes), use drugs, or drink alcohol.

• If you are sexually active, use a condom to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections or STIs (also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) and unwanted pregnancy.

• Remember that people in healthy relationships:

  • Treat each other with respect.

  • Communicate honestly.

  • Don't pressure each other for sex and always allow the other person to say no.

  • Feel good about what happens when they are together.

  • Settle disagreements peacefully, never with violence, yelling, or name-calling.

• Take responsibility for schoolwork. Ask for help, if needed.

• When you go out, tell your parents who you will be with and where you're going.

• Be thoughtful about how your texts or social media posts might hurt others. Tell an adult if you or someone else is the victim of cyberbullying.

• Read for pleasure. Choose books and articles about subjects you are interested in.

• Make plans for college or work.

• Spend time with family and find ways to help at home.

• Stay active in your community.

• Talk to your health care provider or parents if you think you may have an eating disorder. Signs can include exercising very often, refusing to eat, rapid weight loss, and binge eating (eating large amounts of food, sometimes secretly).

• Find ways to handle stress, such as talking about feelings, exercising, and enjoying relaxing activities (like listening to music or hanging out with friends). It is always OK to ask for help.

• Talk to your health care provider if you feel sad or hopeless a lot of the time, aren't enjoying the things you used to enjoy, or ever have thoughts of hurting yourself. These can be signs of depression and your health care provider can help you.

• Follow safe driving rules:

  • Everyone wears a seatbelt when in the car.

  • No drinking/drug use and driving or getting in the car with someone who has been drinking/using drugs.

  • No driving past curfew.

  • No driving with more than an agreed-upon number of friends in the car. States have different rules on this.

  • No texting or other cell phone use while driving.

• Protect your hearing:

  • Keep music at a moderate level.

  • Wear protective earplugs or earmuffs when close to loud noises and at car races and concerts.

• Be safe on the Internet. Don't give out personal information or post anything that you wouldn't want shared.

• Never take prescription medicines that were not prescribed for you by a health care provider.

• Use proper sports safety equipment, including helmets, mouth guards and eye guards, and padding.

• Do not carry or use weapons.

• Do not use tanning beds. They increase the risk of skin cancer.

• If you're worried that you have a drug or alcohol problem, talk to your health care provider about ways to get help. Signs of drug and alcohol addiction include:

  • a strong need for the substance

  • needing more of the substance to get the same effect as before

  • having problems when the substance is not used, such as shaking, diarrhea, and feeling sick

  • mood swings, no longer spending time with family and friends, falling grades, changes in sleeping patterns, and weight loss or gain

• Start to manage your own medical care. You can:

  • Schedule routine medical care (including with a gynecologist for young women) and dental visits.

  • Call your health care provider when you're sick.

  • Call for prescriptions that you need.

  • Be involved in the medical plan for any ongoing conditions such as asthma or ADHD.

  • Understand and follow your health care provider's instructions on immunizations and medical testing.

• If you live away from home:

  • Be sure you have your medical insurance information.

  • Know where to go for medical care (including birth control and mental health help).

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. Go to the dentist every 6 months.

• In the sun, use a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and re-apply every 2 hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

• Your health care provider can tell you about help that is available in the community or through a social worker. Talk to your health care provider if you're worried that you (or others in your family):

  • don't have enough food

  • don't have a safe place to live

  • don't have health insurance

  • have a problem with drugs or alcohol