Using Campus Health Care Services
The college experience can very fun and very stressful at the same time. Too much of both fun and stress can be hard on the body -- even the body of a young person. At least once in his or her college career, a student may need to seek out campus health services.
Experts agree that factors that can harm a college student's health include:
* Stress due to grades and personal relationships
* Poor eating habits
* Disrupted sleeping patterns
These factors, alone or combined, can lower a student's resistance to illness. In preparation for the sicknesses that float around a college campus, incoming students should check out the student health resources to see what's available. At some campuses, students may not need to make an in-person introductory visit; many colleges include information about health services on their Web sites.
The Biggest Health Risks: Sex and Alcohol
For many students, college not only offers education; it offers opportunities to experiment. College might be your child's first real experience away from home. No longer held back by parental restrictions, some students increase their sexual activity and/or drug and alcohol intake.
Increased sexual activity brings increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, venereal warts, syphilis and AIDS. Each is highly contagious and easily contracted. These conditions can be quite serious or even life-threatening. Most college health services provide STD testing and treatment.
Drugs and alcohol can be just as dangerous. Responding to the increasing abuse of these substances, college health services now provide counseling as well as treatment.
Infections and Immunizations
Dormitory environments, where so many students live in close quarters, can be breeding grounds for serious infections such as meningococcal meningitis. Meningitis is highly contagious and infects and inflames the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It most often occurs when bacteria from an upper respiratory infection enters the bloodstream. College freshmen are especially prone to contracting the condition. Many college health care centers offer a vaccine that provides some protection against most strains of the bacterium that causes meningitis. In addition, these centers offer immunizations for other conditions.
An Ounce of Prevention
Before sending your son or daughter off to school, you may wish to sit your child down and discuss matters of health. Encourage him or her to use campus health services when necessary. Inform your child about health insurance coverage and options for medical treatment.
Also, encourage your children to stay in touch, even if only by email or regular mail. Staying in touch will help reduce your child's emotional stress and promote physical well-being.
In addition, you may wish to send them off to school with a first-aid package that includes some of the necessities for everyday medical issues, such as:
Experts agree that factors that can harm a college student's health include:
* Stress due to grades and personal relationships
* Poor eating habits
* Disrupted sleeping patterns
These factors, alone or combined, can lower a student's resistance to illness. In preparation for the sicknesses that float around a college campus, incoming students should check out the student health resources to see what's available. At some campuses, students may not need to make an in-person introductory visit; many colleges include information about health services on their Web sites.
The Biggest Health Risks: Sex and Alcohol
For many students, college not only offers education; it offers opportunities to experiment. College might be your child's first real experience away from home. No longer held back by parental restrictions, some students increase their sexual activity and/or drug and alcohol intake.
Increased sexual activity brings increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, venereal warts, syphilis and AIDS. Each is highly contagious and easily contracted. These conditions can be quite serious or even life-threatening. Most college health services provide STD testing and treatment.
Drugs and alcohol can be just as dangerous. Responding to the increasing abuse of these substances, college health services now provide counseling as well as treatment.
Infections and Immunizations
Dormitory environments, where so many students live in close quarters, can be breeding grounds for serious infections such as meningococcal meningitis. Meningitis is highly contagious and infects and inflames the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It most often occurs when bacteria from an upper respiratory infection enters the bloodstream. College freshmen are especially prone to contracting the condition. Many college health care centers offer a vaccine that provides some protection against most strains of the bacterium that causes meningitis. In addition, these centers offer immunizations for other conditions.
An Ounce of Prevention
Before sending your son or daughter off to school, you may wish to sit your child down and discuss matters of health. Encourage him or her to use campus health services when necessary. Inform your child about health insurance coverage and options for medical treatment.
Also, encourage your children to stay in touch, even if only by email or regular mail. Staying in touch will help reduce your child's emotional stress and promote physical well-being.
In addition, you may wish to send them off to school with a first-aid package that includes some of the necessities for everyday medical issues, such as:
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