Not always — but many times — girls your age who are smokers are overweight, smell like cigarettes and have bad breath and stained teeth! You probably already know that smoking causes certain types of cancer and heart disease. But did you also know that smoking actually ages women?

Nicotine is a drug that’s extremely habit-forming. The bottom line: Get help before it’s too late!

P.S. There’s no physical reason for you to gain weight if you quit smoking. So if you quit and discover you are gaining weight, find out why this is happening. Are you using food to fill a void or to calm your emotions? Whatever the reason you think you may be gaining weight, talk to your parents about it and discusss whether you need to visit a doctor.

I’m 13 years old and have had three periods, but it’s been four months since my last one. Is this normal?
Most girls begin their periods between the ages of 9 and 15. If you haven’t started your menstrual cycle by the age of 16, it might be a good idea to see your doctor.

Yes, it’s normal for your cycle to be irregular the first couple of years. For example, you may skip several months between periods. You may also cramp a lot. If nonmedical remedies such as exercise and heating pads fail to control your pain, cramping can be reduced with either ibuprofen or Naproxen. Sounds to me like you’re pretty normal!

My joints constantly pop but don’t hurt. I don’t pop them on purpose, but I’m worried. Is something wrong?
It’s probably normal for most girls your age to experience some joint-popping, particularly when you’re going through a growth spurt. As long as your joints aren’t painful or swollen, I wouldn’t worry.

You brought up an important point: It’s a bad idea to intentionally pop your joints. This habit may lead to joint damage and ultimately arthritis.

I’ve been having really bad stomach cramps usually about the same time of every month. What could be wrong?
If you haven’t started your period yet, the cramping could be an indicator that you’re going to start soon. But if you have already started your period, and the cramping is not related to your period, it may be because of a number of medical problems too numerous to discuss in this column.

One common cause of stomach cramping in girls your age is irritable bowel syndrome of youth (IBS). This may be the problem if your pain is brought on by eating certain foods or by stress. Obviously, if the pain and cramping persists, I’d advise you to see your doctor!

I’m only 13 years old, but I’m very interested in becoming a medical doctor. How long would it take for me to become a doctor?
Good choice of profession, but be prepared to be dedicated and focused! More and more women are entering the medical field, and I think this is great! A career in medicine requires four years of college followed by four years in medical school. The size of medical school classes is limited, so it usually takes a high college grade average and a better-than-average Medical College Admission Test score to be admitted.

Once you complete med school, most graduates enter into a three- to four-year residency in a specialty area. That’s 11 to 12 years of schooling after high school, but it’s definitely worth it. Go for it!

These are the opinions of one physician and not necessarily those of Focus on the Family. In similar cases, you should consult your own physician.