Written by Grade 5A as their Summative Assessment in Unit 1
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Why Do Females Experience Puberty Before Males? by Annica Ang Have you ever wondered why females are so much taller than males by the time they start to experience puberty? There are still numerous ongoing studies as to why most females experience puberty sooner than males however, none of said studies can be labeled as conclusive. To understand why females experience puberty before males, we should first identify the cause of puberty. In the brain, there is a gland called the hypothalamus. This gland secretes a hormone called gonadotropin (GnRH) that causes the pituitary gland that is connected to the hypothalamus to release two hormones. Studies show that leptin, a hormone acting mainly in the requirement of fat storage, plays a significant role in female puberty. Leptin sends signals to the hypothalamus gland and boosts GnRH pulsatility in hypothalamic neurons, directly having an effect on the anterior pituitary. The hormones that are released are called the luteinizing hormone as well as the follicle stimulating hormone. In females, these hormones send a signal to the organs such a the ovaries to release sex hormones, one of which is the estrogen. Estrogen is one of the factors that contributes to the development of a female secondary sex characteistics. During puberty, males and females experience new and unfamiliar things, such as deeper voices, wider hips (for females), pubic hair, and bigger body parts. A theory by Paul B Kaplowitz, author of PubMed, states that the majority of female children's bodies contain more fat content than that of males. According to Kaplowitz, Link Between Body Fat and the Timing of Puberty, females had approximately 50% more body fat than males. Studies show that males aged 3–8 years old have less body fat than females of similar age, height, and weight.
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This
study
demonstrates
that
significant
gender
differences
in
body
composition are apparent before the onset of puberty. Puberty also tends to start earlier in females who are slightly stout and tends to start later in females who are very underweight and malnourished. Studies about why females experience puberty first are still inconclusive. Research is still ongoing. Most agree though that body fat plays a big role in children’s growing stages.
Sources: ●
www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
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www.npr.org/
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www.stanfordchildrens.org/
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www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/puberty#:~:text=Puberty%20occurs%20when%2 0a%20part,girls%20and%20testosterone%20in%20boys
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www.livescience.com/38324-what-is-estrogen.html#:~:text=At%20the%
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20onset%20of%20puberty,first%20part%20of%20the%20cycle
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What Happens in Boys During by Leonard Asinas Puberty? What happens in boys during puberty? Boys going through puberty experience many changes. These changes can be physical or can be seen using the eyes. Some boys experience these changes early, and some experience it late. What are those changes? The first one is Adam's apple. Boys going through puberty can feel their Adam’s apple in front of their throat. It is because the larynx or the “voice box” grows larger, this causes for the voice to be deeper. It is called Adam’s apple because sometimes, it looks like a rounded apple. Only boys have Adam’s apple. Other changes that happen during puberty is growing hair in different parts of the body. Hair grows in different parts of the body. Sometimes in legs, underarms, and pubic areas. Boys also grow hair on their faces. At first, the hair that grows is thin, straight, and short. But, as we grow older, the hair becomes longer, thicker, heavier, curlier, and darker. Overall, there are a lot of changes that can happen during puberty. Most changes are physical or can be seen using the eyes. The first change that a boy going through puberty is feeling his Adam’s apple in front of his throat. The other change that can be felt is growing hair in different parts of his body. With all these facts, a boy going through puberty needs to relax, ask someone who knows about puberty, and take care of his body.
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Sources: ●
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/adams-apple.html
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https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/shaving.html
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https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/puberty.html
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc8BkLtXMCc
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Pain Pain Go Away!.. Come by Athena Isabel Cayas Again Another Day! What is fun about puberty? When us girls hit puberty, it is not long until we get our period. Our body starts to change dramatically and we need to be active because if not menstruation can be very painful. However, it’s not all bad, we just have to know how and when it happens, what to expect and be familiar with what to do so that we can smile, have fun and make it seem that it’s nothing. A girl may start her period anytime between 8 and 15. The first period normally starts about two years after the breasts first start to develop and pubic hair begins to grow. The age at which a girl's mother started her period can help predict when a girl may start her period. Menstruation can be different for every girl. A menstrual cycle begins with the first day of your period and starts over again after 28 days. During the “period” our body discards the monthly buildup of the lining of our uterus (womb). Menstrual blood and tissue flow from your uterus through the small opening in your cervix and pass out of your body through your vagina. At this time, a chemical called prostaglandin makes the uterus tighten up. The uterus, the muscular organ where a baby grows, contracts throughout your menstrual cycle. It is also because of this that it contracts more strongly. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels and cut off the supply of oxygen to muscle tissues and result in the pain or cramping you feel in your tummy area. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain with your period or can also be called menstrual cramps. Many women have painful periods but there are also those who don’t. The pain is most often cramps which are a throbbing,
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cramping pain. You may also have other symptoms, such as lower back pain, and headaches. Period pain is not the same as premenstrual syndrome or PMS. It causes many different symptoms, including weight gain, bloating, irritability, and fatigue. Premenstrual syndrome often starts one to two weeks before your period starts. Dealing with cramps every month can be as frustrating as it is painful. Many women wonder whether it is OK to work out during their period. The answer is an easy Yes! In fact, you may find that the more physically active you are the better it is for you in avoiding period pain. There are many remedies that might help you relieve period cramps besides exercise. Drinking more water can reduce bloating during this period and remove some of the pain it causes.
Drinking
herbal
teas
have
anti-inflammatory
properties
and
antispasmodic compounds that can reduce the muscle spasms in the uterus that cause cramping. While a brownie or french fries might sound delicious, foods high in sugar, trans fat and salt can cause bloating and inflammation, which makes muscle pain and cramps worse so better skip the treats during menstruation. Reduce your coffee intake but if you must, go for decaf. A little heat can help your muscles relax, improve blood flow and relieve tension so applying a heat pad to your tummy area is also a good remedy. However, if all else fails, a good old over the counter medication or pain reliever is your last bet. What's fun in puberty?....Everything can still be fun during puberty. Yes, menstrual pain is a bust but understanding how it works and knowing what to do to lessen or remove the pain like exercising, drinking more water, drinking herbal tea, skipping the treats, going for decaf, applying heat and taking OTC medication is our ticket way out. Lets stop worrying and just start prepping.
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Sources: ●
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-cause s/syc-20374938
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https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle
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https://medlineplus.gov/periodpain.html
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4148-dysmenorrhea
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https://www.womenshealth.gov/getting-active/physical-activity-menstrual-cycle
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https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menstruationpain-dysmenorrhoea
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https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/13-ways-to-stop-period-pain/
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How Does Our Brain Get Smarter When We Grow Up?
By Yohan Chua
Did you know that the brain continues to mature even if it's done growing? The brain is like the boss of your body; it controls everything you do, such as
learning, thinking, feeling, and even breathing. In fact, amazing
enough supercomputers could match its powerful ability to download, understand and react to the volume of information coming through your senses. Different parts of your brain control different functions. First, the largest part of the brain is the Cerebrum that takes up 85% of your brain! It's actually the thinking part of your brain that controls your muscles. Because of
the
Cerebrum, you can walk and play games. Next, the small but important part of the brain is called the Cerebellum. This helps to contain your balance and regulates your movements. Without the cerebellum, you can't balance yourself and you will keep on falling. Next is the brainstem, which is connected to the spinal cord. It controls those areas of your body that you don't need to work on, like breathing, maintaining your heart rate, digesting food and more! After that, there is a part of your brain called the Amygdala that is responsible for emotions, survival instincts, and helps to store memories of events. Because the prefrontal cortex is still developing, teenagers might rely on a part of the brain called the amygdala to make decisions and solve problems more than adults do. In general, the brain is an important organ in your body. So
It is
important to recharge your brain by getting enough rest and sleep and keeping yourself healthy.
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Sources: ●
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Smart-As-a-Teen
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https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/development/understanding-your-pre-teen/br ain-development-teens#:~:text=Because%20the%20 prefrontal%20cortex%20is,problems%20more%20than%20adults%20do.&text=The%20b ack%2Dto%2Dfront%20development,that%20are%20still%20under%20construction
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndDpjT0_IM0
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Why Do Girls’ Voices Get More High-Pitched While Boys’ Get Deeper During Puberty? by Katy Dizon Did you know that our voices change during puberty? The main body part that makes our voice change is the voice box. Your voice mostly changes when you're a teenager. The larynx, also known as the voice box, is located inside your throat. In puberty, the voice box makes more testosterones which will make people's vocal cords longer and deeper. Even if boys' voices get deeper and are more noticeable, both genders' larynx grow. This is what happens to your voice. The age range of boys' voices changing during puberty is from 12-16 years old. On the other hand, for girls, it's from 10-14 years old. Your larynx grows bigger during puberty. When your voice changes, you might get voice cracks for the first time. As people grow older, vocal folds stiffen, which results in the voice increasing in pitch. That's how your voice changes overtime. Boys' voices grow deeper than girls' since their larynx grows bigger than theirs. When boys' voices get deeper, it's called the "Adam's Apple". However, there is no such thing as "Eve's Apple". Those are the differences between boys and girls' voices during puberty. Overall, our voices change because of puberty. Both genders' voice deepens although they experience it differently. This is how our voice changes.
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Sources: ●
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/changing-voice.html#:~:text=When%20you%20speak% 2C%20air%20rushes,the%20sound%20of%20your%20voice.&text=That's%20why%20yo ur%
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https://health.clevelandclinic.org/voice-changes-what-can-they-tell-you-as-you-age/
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TED-Ed: Why Does Your Voice Change As You Get Older?
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How Does Puberty Affect Teenage Girls?
by Pearl Lukman
Have you ever experienced puberty? Puberty is something that we experience at the age of 11 --12 the youngest age to start puberty is 7-8 year old. There are many changes that adolescents experience during puberty especially for girls. Although some effects can be painful, it’s important to learn how to take care of yourself and your body, so you can have a smooth puberty experience. For example, girls develop breasts at this stage. The breast grows bigger and more fragile. Another example of change in teenagers is having menstruation. Menstruation is the way to get rid of unfertilized eggs and harmful chemicals from the body. Some of the effects of menstruation to girls include experiencing cramps and stomach aches. In general, these changes happen to prepare the female's body for pregnancy.You might think why is it so important to take care of ourselves. If you don’t take care of your body, then there might be bad consequences, such as having infections and skin problems. You’re also very vulnerable to teasing or bullying, so it’s important to keep yourself clean. It is recommended to wash your face,buy deodorant for body odor, and use pads for menstruation. Puberty can be exciting, but for some it can be a quite nervous experience. It is important to learn about the different changes that happen in puberty, especially for girls.
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Source: ● https://www.familyplanning.org.nz/advice/understand-your-body/changes-at-puber ty :
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Why Do Women Get Menstruation?
by Satyana Ocampo
What is menstruation? A lot of young girls question older girls about what they will experience during menstruation. It is important for them to know this because they will know how to feel once they reach puberty. So, what really is menstruation? Menstruation, also known as “period,” is something all women experience once they enter puberty. A monthly period is normal vaginal bleeding that happens as a part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Every month, a woman's body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining. Most females get their first period at 12, but getting it at any age between 10 and 15 is completely normal. Every girl's body has its own pacing. When women get menstrual pain, it is called Dysmenorrhea. Most scientists say that when you menstruate you might be more moody. For example, you might get more frustrated, sad or even more angry than usual. How does menstruation work? The monthly period happens when the uterus lining sheds, causing all the blood to come out. The egg travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the wall of the uterus, where over time it develops into a baby. If the egg isn't fertilized, the uterus lining breaks down and bleeds, causing a period. A period happens because of changes in hormones in your body.
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Menstrual pain seems hard. How do we get rid of this pain? Menstrual cramps usually occur when your uterus contracts shed the uterine lining. This can make you feel pain in your stomach, lower back, groin or your upper thighs. Getting regular exercise really helps to cure your cramps or pains. This is because when you exercise, your brain releases hormones called endorphins. Endorphins stop pain receptors in your brain, which results in blocking pain signals from your cramping. Put a heating pad, a hot water bottle on your stomach or even take a warm shower. Heat improves the blood flow and may cure the pain you are experiencing. With all this information, it is clear that it takes a lot of work to take care of our period pains.There are so many ways to take care of menstrual pains, being active, using hot compress, or taking medicine. Menstruation is a natural pain that all women will experience, that's why we need to know how to handle these pains. Sources: ●
https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/13-way s-to-stop-periodpain/ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/a q0001
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https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/menstruation .html
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https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/d efault?id=menstrual-cycle-an-overview-85-P0 0553 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles /10132-normal-menstruation https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/menstruation .html https://www.webmd.com/women/common-p eriod-problems
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Why Do Teenagers Change Their Interests?
by Joshua Pasco
Puberty can be many things! As we grow older our interests change over time. But why and how does this happen? When teenagers hit puberty, they change their interests and forget about their past goals sometimes if they don’t achieve them. When they start doing this, they will focus on it and ignore or try to ignore old habits, previous interests, or people getting in the way. What happens when teenagers change their interests? They will focus on whatever that is and If unsuccessful the teen might have depression or just sadness. Usually teenagers change their interests because they failed to reach their old goal and are now focusing on a new better goal. This is because they are older, and they feel like they can do most things. The brain will start focusing on that specific goal more often which will abandon the other goal and eventually forget about it. Some goals go so far to even lose a friend. Some just forget about their friends. In general, puberty can be rough sometimes
yet
it
is
a
great
experience. Everybody has to go through it, and it's worth it. Changing interests is normal so don't feel left out. Everybody experiences it!
Sources: ●
https://extension.umn.edu/teen-development/social-and-emotional-changes-teens
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https://bodytalk.org.au/puberty/social-changes/
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https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/adolescence.html#catskinproblems
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What do Girls Experience During Puberty?
by Solenne Pascual
What is puberty? Puberty is a period of one's life where he or she starts to mature physically and emotionally. With puberty comes hormones, mood swings, and a lot more. Some people get it later and some people get it sooner, but no matter what, we all experience puberty at some point. Girls experience puberty differently from boys, but how? One thing that only girls experience in puberty is the menstrual cycle, or otherwise known as periods. What is a period? A period is when the lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium, sheds. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone cause the lining of the uterus to build up. It then releases from the uterus out through the vagina. Signs that you might have your period is if you have a clear discharge from your private part. Menstruation can happen as young as 8 years old but it generally occurs during the ages of 11-15.
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So why does menstruation happen? As bizarre as it may seem, menstruation is a natural phenomenon and a way to get rid of unfertilized eggs in a female’s body. Periods last for usually 5 days or so, but it's not all the same for everyone. Some other physical changes that females experience is the development of breasts and hip enlargement. A female's hips get larger, so that she can be capable of carrying a baby during pregnancy. Breasts get bigger due to hormones. During puberty, hormones increase. Even as bizarre as these things may seem, all these things are normal and things that all females will go through.
Sources: ●
https://kidshealth.org/en/t eens/puberty.html
● https://youtu.be/cjbgZwgd Y7Q ●
https://www.betterhealth.vi c.gov.au/health/HealthyLiv ing/Parenting-children-thr ough-puberty
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https://kidshealth.org/en/ki ds/menstruation.html
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Why Do Boys Grow Facial Hair?
by Peyton Raymond
Did you know that you grow all types of hair during puberty? Facial hair is grown at the face and sometimes at the chin, cheeks, and the upper lip. Pubic hair, leg and underarm hair also start to appear. Boys grow hair because of a sex hormone called testosterone. There are a few explanations for how boys grow hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, the hair first starts as a root which is down at the follicle. Then the blood vessels feed the root where it creates more cells. After that, the hair grows through the skin. When the hair grows, the oil gland grows along the way. Lastly, the hair will die when it goes through the skin. The oil gland will make the hair shiny and smooth.
In addition, there are ways on how our hair protects us. Our hair in our heads is not just for physical appearance. It can also keep our skin warm and continue to make heat. Our hair in the nose, eyes, and ears defend us from dust and many other molecules. The eyebrows and eyelashes can protect us from any small molecules or particles that may go inside our eyes.
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There are different ways we can take care of our hair. Cleaning our hair is very important. First, you should wash your hair with warm water when you take a bath or a shower using your fingertips. Next, you should use shampoo to wash hair and soap to rub your body. After that, rinse all of the shampoo with water. Lastly, dry your hair gently with a towel and use a wide-tooth comb to untangle your hair. In conclusion, growing hair usually happens when you’re a teenager. It protects us from dirt and keeps our body warm. Taking care of our hair is important. Physical changes are normal during puberty and it’s good to know what to do when it happens.
Sources: ●
https://teens.webmd.com/boys/facial-hair-faq
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https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/hair.html
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https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/skin-hair-nails.html
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https://www.aad.org/public/parents-kids/healthy-habits/parents/kids/hair-grow s#:~:text=Your%20hair%20begins%20growing%20from,oil%20gland%20along%2 0the%20way.
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https://sons.co.uk/blogs/journal/hairy-subject-why-are-men-hairier-than-wome n
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https://www.supercuts.com/advice/beard-basics-tips-for-growing-and-maintain ing-facial-hair.html
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What Are Mood Swings?
by Carine Salvador
Have you ever wondered why your mood always changes? That's called a mood swing. It is a common concept used to describe rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions. People often describe mood swings as a “roller coaster” of feelings from happiness and contentment to anger, irritability, and even depression. A “mood swing” can last for hours, days, weeks, or even months. Typically, someone with bipolar disorder experiences one or two cycles a year, with manic episodes generally occurring in the spring or fall. A 2010 study of people with bipolar 1 disorder found that mood episodes lasted an average of 13 weeks. What are the causes of mood swings? Any rapid fluctuation in hormones is usually accompanied by irritability, recklessness, aggression and depression. In early puberty, teenagers are experiencing very rapid rises in the level of sex hormones. So mood swings at this early stage could be caused by hormones, although there is very little evidence to prove it.Girls will continue to experience fluctuations
in
estrogen
and
progesterone
levels
with
their
periods.
Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS is an acknowledged cause of irritability and mild depression. What are the ways to solve mood swings? First tip is to recognize you're not alone. Although not every teen experiences mood changes to the same degree, they are common.catch your breath. You may also count to 10 or.or do something that lets you settle down for a few moments, especially if you're feeling angry or sad. Try to look at the situation from your point of view as a family member/friend or peer.
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You can also talk to people you trust. Friends can help each other by realizing that they're not alone in their feelings. Talking to parents is important, too. Parents can share their own experiences dealing with bad moods. Plus, they'll appreciate it if you try to explain how you feel instead of just slamming a door. Teachers and guidance counselors are often good resources, and a doctor can help sort through questions about development. Keeping feelings inside can make them seem much worse. Regular exercise also helps and
produces more beta-endorphin, a
hormone that controls stress and improves mood. Go for a run, play some sports, ride a bike/or scooter, or punch a punching bag and if you don't have one try a pillow. Lastly, get enough sleep! Though it can be hard to find enough time, getting adequate rest is very important. Being tired can lead to more sadness and irritability. To sum it up, mood swings happen in adolescents and are very common at puberty stage. Now you know what mood swings are! Always remember Mood swings are something common in puberty and they won't last long so don't worry!
Sources: ●
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bad-mood.html#catskinproblems
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/emotions/teenagers/moods.shtm
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www.verywellmind.com/what-are-mood-swings-1067178#:~:text=The%20%22mood%20swing%22 %20phenomenon%20is,1%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BF
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Why Do We Gain Weight by Naiara Vasquez-Prada During Puberty? Do you find that your body is becoming different as you get older? When we hit puberty changes in our bodies happen because of different factors. We need to know what these factors are, so we know how to deal with them.
It is easy to get conscious and insecure when we see a difference in the shape and size of our bodies when we hit a certain age. When we go through puberty, we can gain more weight because of the increase in sex hormones, especially in females from 7 years old all the way until 16 or 18. It is not only becoming fat, and our skeletal mass also may increase making our bodies look fuller. So what can we do about this? The first thing is to eat healthy and start exercising. Limit eating junk food and eat more meat, fish, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. It is important to be aware of the changes in your body, but remember that it will eventually balance out later on. It is also important to take care of your mental health. If your changing body is affecting you, talk to an adult. In general, a lot of changes occur in puberty, like facial changes, growth, and others. Gaining weight is one of the important ones. Remember that at the end of the day, it is most important to be comfortable in your own skin and body. Allow these changes to take its course, and you will eventually grow out of them.
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Source: ● https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-organic-food#:~:text=The%20most%2 0commonly%20purchased%20organic,that%20only%20use%20natural%20substances.
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Why Do Teens Get Mood Swings?
by Zara Mughal
What is a mood swing? A mood swing is a phenomenon to describe rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions. Most people describe mood swings as a roller coaster of happiness, anger, irritability, and depression. It can start as early as age 9. Puberty is a process that takes place for several years. Most girls finish puberty by age 14. Most boys finish puberty by age 15 or 16. Why do we get mood swings? Your hormones are tied to your emotions, so changes in your hormone levels can lead to mood swings. That's why teenagers are often described as "moody''. When it comes to risk factors for mood, a number of factors may come into play. However, the biggest contributors to mood swings include diet, sleep, and substance abuse. Significant hormonal shifts that occur during puberty can affect mood. As teens mature, they commonly experience increased irritability, intense sadness, and frequent frustration from these chemical changes. Why do we get mood swings? Your hormones are tied to your emotions, so changes in your hormone levels can lead
to mood swings. That's why
teenagers are often described as "moody''. When it comes to risk factors for mood, a number of factors may come into play. However, the biggest contributors to mood swings include diet, sleep, and substance abuse.
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Why do we have mood swings? The main causes of mood swings are your hormones anxiety is a mental health condition and it also changes how your body works. It reduces your hormone balances and changes your brain chemicals. Overall, Significant hormonal shifts that occur during puberty can affect mood. As teens mature, they commonly experience increased irritability, intense sadness, and frequent frustration from these chemical changes.
Sources: ●
Why Am I in Such a Bad Mood?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_swing
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Pimples are A-Okay By Annica Ang
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Taking Care of My Face By Leonard Asinas
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Puberty
By Pearl Lukman
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Got Menstrual Cramps? an advertisement by Satyana Ocampo
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A Late Bloomer by Solenne Pascual
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