High schoolers are easily categorized into a faithful stereotype: tired. Overworked, stressed about class, moody with parents, the works. However, some high school students battle much more than just the regular teenage woes.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic health condition in the U.S. The CDC also states that the healthcare needs of chronically ill children can be complex and long-term, both with daily management and addressing potential emergencies.
While these students may appear like any normal teenager, they face their own medical struggles, which, if not properly managed, can have serious effects on their health.
Sofia Gladman is a senior at NDB who suffers from Epilepsy. This chronic neurological condition causes sudden and unprovoked seizures, which can occur at any time. While this illness is for life, its symptoms can be medicated, and it can affect people of any age.
“I have [seizures] pretty frequently, about once a month. It’s a hard feeling to describe, similar to standing up too fast and with colorful things in your vision. I take Keppra for it, which is a long-term medication that I have to take every morning and night,” shared Gladman.
Gladman also described how her illness impacts her academics. “I’ve had about two seizures at school, which is hard because I need to miss class and I can’t do homework. I also have a lot of doctor’s appointments, and I often need to see my neurologist for medication. I also have to have my medications with me at all times and have to make sure my teachers know about my condition,” Gladman explained. “It’s pretty hard having [epilepsy] and I definitely wish I didn’t.”
Unfortunately, many younger people who face chronic health conditions have no diagnosis for their symptoms and are often undergoing rigorous testing and trying out new medications before finding complete answers to their medical problems.
Senior Ari Salerno has battled numerous health problems for the majority of her teen years and has yet to find a proper diagnosis for all of her symptoms. She was diagnosed with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophageal esophagitis in 2022; a long-term condition where stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus, causing inflammation and irritation of the esophageal lining. This condition can lead to painful swallowing, chest pain, and other complications, which greatly affect quality of life if not managed.
“I’ve gone through a lot of testing, and it’s really hard to say exactly because I haven’t gotten a formal diagnosis for certain aspects of it. But specifically, the acid reflux interferes with my gastrointestinal tract; what I eat, how I process my food, how I digest my food…” shared Salerno.
Furthermore, while NDB offers a variety of options for its lunch menu, some students, such as Salerno, struggle with dietary restrictions due to medical problems, often finding it difficult to find balanced school meals.
“Sometimes I can eat the school lunch…but the issue is that a lot of the vegetarian options are too hearty, or they include something very acidic, like tomatoes…I have been on a multitude of different medications. Unfortunately, none of them have been successful. I do see a lot of different doctors very often, like weekly, so I do miss class a lot, or because of intense symptoms or just appointments.”
While teenagers across the globe will be battling these conditions that will stay with them for life, it is important to raise awareness and, therefore, find empathy for these young adults who face diet problems, medication juggling, and even misdiagnoses. For anyone facing these troubles on top of the regular homework battles and teenage-drama woes, NDB sends their well wishes and support from the entire community.
