http://www.girlshealth.gov/

Illness & Disability

Home Illness & Disability

You may have heard about swine flu in the news. What is it? Learn more here.

Did you know that millions of young people have an illness or disability? An illness is a sickness. Some illnesses are acute, which means they come on quickly and are over quickly (like a cold or the flu). Other illnesses are chronic, which means they last a long time and perhaps a lifetime (like asthma or diabetes). A disability is a physical or mental problem that makes it harder to do normal daily activities. Many different kinds of illnesses and disabilities can affect people. If you have an illness or disability, you know that taking care of your needs can be hard sometimes. This section of girlshealth.gov will give you many tips to make living with your condition easier. Some things you can learn about here include:

Illnesses and disabilities can often come with hard words that you don’t understand. Have no fear! Medical words that you might hear at a doctor’s visit are included in the glossary so you can look them up and understand them better. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to explain anything you don’t understand in simple language.

• Some types of illnesses and disabilities and how each one affects teens in a different way
• Tips to boost self-esteem and cope during tough times
• How people with special needs can play sports and be active
• A special plan to help you do well in school
• Tips for getting along with family, friends, and classmates
• How to talk to your doctor and health care team
• Tools to help people with disabilities live independently
• Real people who have overcome disabilities to follow their dreams

If you know someone with an illness or disability, this section is for you, too. When you understand the types of challenges faced by someone with an illness or disability, you will know how to be a better friend or family member to this person.

You also will discover that all teen girls want many of the same things in life — to feel good about themselves and their relationships, to be able to take care of themselves and their needs, and to pursue their dreams.

Content last updated April 6, 2009

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