Overall Health Tips for College Students
Remember Your Check-Ups
Get Vaccinated
Get Adequate Sleep
Move It
Balance Your Diet
Maintain Mental Health
Avoid Substance Abuse
Educate Yourself on Campus Security
Know Help Numbers for Sexual Violence
Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Get regular check-ups at your school or local health clinic. See a health care provider anytime you have a health concern or problem. Health care providers can help you learn ways to stay healthy, and they can spot problems early.
Protection from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You can also develop risks for new and different diseases. Vaccinations are needed throughout your adult life to help you stay healthy. Be sure to ask your health care provider about getting vaccinated against meningitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, flu, and other diseases. You can also take this simple quiz to determine which vaccines you need and create a printout to take to your next health care appointment.
It's a challenge in college to pull late-nighters studying and still get enough sleep to function.
Adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day, although individual needs vary. Lack of sleep can be a risk factor for many chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and depression. Students who work or study long hours may not get enough sleep at night. As a result, they may be sleepy and sluggish during the day and have trouble concentrating, participating in class, taking tests, or making decisions. Sleepiness can also cause car and machinery-related crashes, which cause significant rates of injury and disability each year. Driving while sleepy can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Both are preventable!
You should get at least 2½ hours of physical activity a week. Regular activity helps improve your overall health and fitness. It also reduces your risk for many chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. Find something you enjoy, such as jogging or running, dancing, or playing sports. To meet the guidelines for regular aerobic activity, you can do nearly any activity, as long as it's done at moderate or vigorous intensity for at least 10 minutes at a time.
Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and are the best eat-on-the-go foods. Eat regular healthy meals to help keep up your energy. Once you're in college, your eating habits may change. You may notice you've gained or lost weight. Cafeterias, all-you-can-eat dining facilities, vending machines, and easy access to food 24 hours a day make it tempting to overeat or choose foods loaded with calories, saturated fat, sugar, and salt. Or, on the other hand, you may not eat enough because of stress or other reasons. If you are concerned about your weight, talk with your health care provider about diet, physical activity, and other health habits.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, and can help you deal with a tense situation, study harder for an exam, or keep your focus during an important speech. But if you cannot shake your worries and concerns, or if the feelings make you want to avoid everyday activities, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Everybody has the blues, feels anxious, or gets stressed at times. But depression is more than a bad day. Depression often goes unrecognized and untreated and may lead to tragic results, such as suicide. For youth between ages 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Suicide is a serious--but preventable--problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.
Eating disorders are serious medical problems and are more common in females than males. Although they are marked by severe disturbances in eating behavior, they are more than just a problem with food. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are all types of eating disorders. Eating disorders often develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but can occur during childhood or later in adulthood.
Some college students have a lot of pressure to use alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes, especially when trying to make friends and become part of a group. Drinking on college campuses is more widespread than many people may realize. College students commonly binge drink, which for men is defined as having five or more drinks, and for women, four or more drinks, on an occasion.
Alcohol and other drug use among young people are major public health problems in the United States. Substance use and abuse can increase the risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, violence, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Educate Yourself on Campus Security
Know how to contact your campus security office (x5000 CSB x2144 SJU), and call 9-1-1 if needed in an emergency.
Know Help Numbers for Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is a significant problem in the United States. SV refers to sexual activity where consent is not obtained or freely given. Anyone can experience SV, but most victims are female. The person responsible for the violence is typically male and is usually someone known to the victim. The person can be, but is not limited to, a friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence and needs help, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or your local emergency service at 9-1-1.
Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Nearly half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed each year are among young people aged 15-24 years. Women can have long term effects of these diseases, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, tubal scarring, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. About 1 in 4 (26 percent) of all new HIV infections is among youth ages 13 to 24 years. About 4 in 5 of these infections occur in males.
All information directly from the CDC. Check out the useful links tab for more information.