Teens deal with sports injuries, sore throats, fevers, flu symptoms, food struggles, and body stress all the time. This TeenThreads guide breaks down sports injuries, eating disorders, and common viral infections in a safe, realistic, teen-friendly way.

Important: This page is educational and does not replace medical care. Severe pain, head injury symptoms, breathing trouble, dehydration, fainting, severe food restriction, or worsening illness should be checked by a healthcare professional.

Quick Jump

• Sports Injuries
• Eating Disorders
• Colds, Flu & Viral Infections
• When to Get Help
• Trusted Resources
• 20 Quiz Questions

Often manageable with basic care:

• Mild soreness after exercise
• Minor sprains or strains that improve with rest
• Mild cold symptoms
• Temporary appetite changes during stress or illness

Get help quickly:

• Head injury with confusion, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, fainting, or trouble waking
• Severe pain, major swelling, deformity, or inability to bear weight
• Fever with breathing trouble, dehydration, chest pain, stiff neck, or symptoms that worsen
• Food restriction, purging, fainting, rapid weight change, or fear around eating

Sports injuries can happen from overuse, poor form, sudden impact, weak recovery, growth spurts, or training too hard too fast.

Common teen sports injuries

• Sprains: stretched or injured ligaments, often ankles or wrists
• Strains: injured muscles or tendons
• Shin splints: pain along the shin from overuse, common in running and jumping sports
• Concussion: brain injury after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body
• Overuse pain: pain from repetitive stress without enough recovery

Basic home care for mild sprains/strains

• Stop playing and rest the injured area
• Use ice wrapped in cloth for short periods
• Use compression if appropriate
• Elevate the injured area
• Return slowly after pain improves

MedlinePlus notes that sports injury care often begins with rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and continuing to play can cause more harm. MedlinePlus – Sports Injuries

Concussion warning signs

• Headache or pressure in head
• Dizziness, nausea, or balance problems
• Confusion or acting “not right”
• Memory problems
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Sleepiness or trouble staying awake

CDC lists urgent concussion danger signs such as repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, weakness, slurred speech, seizures, or trouble waking. CDC HEADS UP – Concussion Signs

TeenThreads prevention tips

• Warm up before sports
• Build training gradually
• Use proper shoes and protective gear
• Strength train safely
• Rest when pain changes your form
• Tell a coach or adult about head injuries immediately

Learn more:
MedlinePlus – Sports Injuries
MedlinePlus – Shin Splints Self-Care
CDC HEADS UP – Concussion Signs and Symptoms

Eating disorders are serious health conditions involving food, body image, emotions, control, and physical health. They can affect any gender, body size, background, or personality type.

Common eating disorders

• Anorexia nervosa: intense fear of weight gain and restriction that harms health
• Bulimia nervosa: cycles of binge eating and compensating behaviors
• Binge eating disorder: repeated episodes of eating large amounts with distress or loss of control
• ARFID: avoidant/restrictive food intake not mainly driven by body image
• OSFED: serious eating disorder symptoms that do not fit one exact category

Warning signs

• Skipping meals often
• Fear or guilt around eating
• Frequent body checking
• Rapid weight changes
• Feeling controlled by food rules
• Exercising as punishment
• Fainting, dizziness, feeling cold, or extreme fatigue
• Eating secretly or feeling out of control around food

NIMH explains that eating disorders are serious and can affect physical and mental health, but treatment can help. NIMH – Eating Disorders

What friends can do

• Do not comment on weight, shape, or “willpower”
• Say: “I care about you, and I’m worried about your health.”
• Encourage talking to a trusted adult or healthcare professional
• Do not make food jokes or body jokes
• Do not try to become their therapist; help connect them to support

TeenThreads recovery truth

Eating disorder recovery is not about “just eating.” It often needs medical, nutritional, and mental health support. Getting help early is strength.

Learn more:
NIMH – Eating Disorders
NIMH – Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know
MedlinePlus – Eating Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association

Colds and flu are viral infections. Antibiotics do not treat viruses. Most mild viral illnesses improve with rest, fluids, and symptom care — but some symptoms need medical attention.

Common cold symptoms

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Mild sore throat
• Cough
• Mild tiredness

Flu symptoms may include

• Fever or chills
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Headache

CDC says flu antivirals can be important for children with suspected or confirmed flu, especially those at higher risk, and work best when started early. CDC – Flu Treatment in Children

At-home comfort care

• Rest
• Drink fluids
• Use honey for cough only if age-appropriate
• Warm tea or soup
• Saltwater gargle if safe and tolerated
• Use fever medicines only according to label directions or clinician advice
• Stay home when contagious or feverish

Do not ignore

• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Blue lips or face
• Severe dehydration
• Confusion
• Fever that is very high, persistent, or worsening
• Symptoms that improve then suddenly get worse

Learn more:
CDC – Flu: What to Do If You Get Sick
CDC – Flu and Children
MedlinePlus – Common Cold
MedlinePlus – Flu

• Head injury with confusion, repeated vomiting, seizures, fainting, or worsening headache
• Severe injury pain, deformity, numbness, or inability to walk/use the injured part
• Breathing trouble, chest pain, dehydration, stiff neck, or severe fever symptoms
• Eating disorder signs such as fainting, severe restriction, purging, rapid weight changes, or feeling unable to eat safely
• Any symptom that feels dangerous, sudden, or rapidly worsening

If immediate danger exists, call emergency services now.

• MedlinePlus – Sports Injuries
• CDC HEADS UP – Concussion Signs and Symptoms
• NIMH – Eating Disorders
• MedlinePlus – Eating Disorders
• CDC – Flu
• MedlinePlus – Flu
• HRSA – Find a Health Center

• Emergency: call your local emergency number for urgent medical danger.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 — https://988lifeline.org/
• Eating disorder support: National Eating Disorders Association
• Find low-cost health care: HRSA Find a Health Center

1. What should you do immediately after a sports injury?
   Answer: Stop playing and assess the injury.
2. What does RICE stand for?
   Answer: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
3. True or false: Playing through serious pain can make an injury worse.
   Answer: True.
4. Name one sign of a concussion.
   Answer: Headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, or balance problems.
5. What should you do after a suspected concussion?
   Answer: Stop play and get checked by a qualified adult or clinician.
6. What are shin splints?
   Answer: Pain along the shin often caused by overuse.
7. Name one way to prevent sports injuries.
   Answer: Warm up, use proper gear, train gradually, or rest.
8. What is an eating disorder?
   Answer: A serious condition involving unhealthy patterns around food, body image, and health.
9. Name one eating disorder.
   Answer: Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, or OSFED.
10. True or false: Eating disorders can affect any body size.
    Answer: True.
11. Name one eating disorder warning sign.
    Answer: Skipping meals, fear of food, purging, rapid weight changes, or fainting.
12. Should friends comment on someone’s weight to “help” them?
    Answer: No.
13. Are colds and flu usually caused by viruses?
    Answer: Yes.
14. Do antibiotics treat viruses like colds?
    Answer: No.
15. Name one common flu symptom.
    Answer: Fever, chills, body aches, cough, fatigue, or headache.
16. Name one home comfort measure for a mild viral illness.
    Answer: Rest, fluids, warm tea, soup, or safe fever medicine use.
17. When should breathing trouble be taken seriously?
    Answer: Always; seek medical help quickly.
18. True or false: Flu antivirals may work best when started early.
    Answer: True.
19. What should you do if symptoms improve then suddenly get worse?
    Answer: Contact a healthcare professional.
20. What is the TeenThreads main message?
    Answer: Handle mild issues wisely, but get help fast for red flags.