eNEWSLETTERS

The Basics on College Students Health & Safety

College is full of exciting new things, along with new challenges, changes and responsibilities.  Whether you are an incoming freshman or a soon to be graduate, it is very important to include certain health and safety tips in to your daily college routine. 

Health and Safety Tips
Content provided by CDC.gov

• Get regular checkups
• Are you aware of the Affordable Care Act?  This act allows you to have health insurance coverage under your parents up until the age of 26.
• Find a doctor on campus or an urgent care facility around campus that is easily accessible for checkups as well as immediate medical attention.
• Don’t forget your Vaccinations and Immunizations!
• Do you know which vaccinations you should have going in to college? Take the Quiz! http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched/
• Sleep deprivation and Fatigue
• Not getting enough sleep can lead to chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and even depression.
• Students who stay up till odd hours of the night studying or partaking in other activities may experience sleep deprivation.
• Sleep deprivation can be dangerous and lead to numerous mishaps, such as car accidents, poor grades, poor accountability, mood changes, and problems with family, friends and relationships.
• How much sleep do you really need per night? http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need
• What to avoid;
• Avoid caffeinated beverages at least eight hours before trying to get some shut eye.
• Think about your sleeping environment; is it comfortable, is there anything distracting?
• Have a sleep schedule.  This helps your body function and regulate accordingly.
• Avoid pulling an all-nighter.
• Do NOT take any type of medication to help you stay awake for a longer period of time.
• Exercise
• The CDC.gov recommends you get at least 2 and half hours of exercise per week.  Regular exercise will help improve your overall health, as well as mood and will help reduce your risk for chronic diseases.
• Eating Healthy
• Weight gain: Avoid the Freshman 15
• Malnutrition: Eating disorders are a serious medical condition, which usually develop during adolescence or early adulthood.
• Healthy Eating Tips:
• Maintaining regular meals will help your energy levels.
• Eating fruits and vegetables are a healthy on the go option.
• Indulge in protein
• Don’t eat late
• Avoid over consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or soda
• Take time for you
• With all the changes you are facing and the increasing amount of time it takes you to study for just one class, don’t forget to take time for yourself.  It is important to ease the brain of all the stress and pressure it is facing.
• Develop a healthy network of friends.
• Talk with a counselor or advisor on school tips.
• Stay active- join a softball league or flag football group (you can stay social and active at the same time!)
• Visit a healthcare professional if you experience any feeling of depression or even if you just want to discuss your lifestyle habits.
• Avoid Substance Abuse
• There have been quite a few cases of college students drinking to excess; here are ways to avoid this happening to you or someone you know;
• Take the proper steps to know how much is too much for your body size.
• Hang out at places that you feel comfortable knowing the situation isn’t going to become out of hand.
• Avoid second hand smoke
• NEVER drink and drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Many college campuses now offer a sober driver program- look in to it, so you know what options you have available to you.
• Learn about Campus Security
• Check with your campus security headquarters to see when officers patrol the campus, where campus video cameras are located, where emergency call centers are, etc.
• Protect Your Body
• Sexually active adolescents (ages 10-19) and young adults (ages 20-24) are at highest risk for getting sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
• Prevention Tips:
• If you are a female who is under the age of 26, it is recommended that you get an HPV vaccination to avoid cervical cancer.
• If you are a sexually active female under the age of 25, it is recommended that you get tested for chlamydia and other STD’s once a year.
• If you are diagnosed with an STD it is very important to let your partner know, so they can be tested and receive treatment if necessary.
• The best way to avoid STD’s is to practice abstinence or to be in a long term monogamous relationship with a partner who has already been tested and known to be uninfected.
• For more information; please visit: http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-126783/Sexually-transmitted-diseases-STDs?q=sexually+transmitted+diseases

While college is a great experience, where you gain knowledge, discipline and friendships to last a lifetime, it is still very important that you take care of yourself and your body in every way possible.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CollegeHealth/
http://www.cdc.gov/family/college/
http://www.collegestudentsafety.com/costsati.html