Top 9 Health Concerns for College Students (and How to Address Them) | Health & Wellness Services

2. Sleep

Getting enough sleep can be difficult in college. Work, classes, extracurricular activities, exams, and social engagements can all affect how much or how little we rest. With everything going on, it’s important to remind yourself that sleep plays an important role in your overall health and well-being. In fact, getting enough sleep can help keep your immune system running smoothly, improve your mood, and help you retain the information you learn in class. So, to feel your best, it’s best to aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

If you’re struggling to develop good sleep habits, the following tips may help.

• Reduce your caffeine intake during the day, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
• Avoid long naps during the day. Instead, focus on taking 20-30 minute naps.
• Reduce screen time at night. This includes mobile phones, laptops, gaming equipment, and televisions.
• Spend time outdoors during the day to let in more natural light.
• Go to the gym early in the day to avoid adrenaline rushing through your body and keeping you up at night.
• Create a nighttime routine that helps you relax and get ready for bed. For example, try brushing your teeth, reading a book, stretching, meditating, or drinking tea when you feel sleepy.
• Pick up complimentary sleep supplies like sleep masks, tea, earplugs, and aromatherapy rollers at the Wellness Suite on the third floor of the Wadenburg Health Center or have them delivered to your residence hall through Buff Box.
• If you suffer from insomnia, why not consider booking an acupuncture treatment? Acupuncture can help increase melatonin, reduce stress, and improve overall sleep quality.

Click here to learn more about improving your sleep

3. Sexually transmitted diseases

Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 people in the United States has a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? These types of infections are more common among young people and include oral, vaginal, anal, and genital sex. It can be transmitted from person to person through contact or through sexual contact, including sexual fluids such as semen.

Common sexually transmitted infections include human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

If you plan to be sexually active, follow these tips.:

• Use protective equipment such as dental dams, condoms, and finger caps. Free supplies are available at the Wardenburg Health Center and Buff Box.
• Take a test with your partner before you start dating. Keep in mind that the most common symptom of an STI is no symptoms at all.
• Discuss your condition and test results openly with your partner.
• Get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B.
• If you are at increased risk of infectious HIV, your health service will offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

If you or your partner has contracted a sexually transmitted disease, there’s no need to worry. Most types of sexually transmitted infections are treatable, and health services offer a variety of testing and treatment options.

Learn more about sexually transmitted infections

4. Seasonal diseases

Bacteria and viruses are rampant on college campuses. This is because students often live in small spaces, often attend social events, and may have many other students in their classes. The most common seasonal illnesses to be aware of include colds, flu, and coronavirus.

Avoid getting sick this year by:

• You can receive free influenza and coronavirus vaccines.
• Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
• Stay hydrated and get 7-9 hours of quality sleep.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• If the other person isn’t feeling well, reduce contact.
• Disinfect common surfaces in your home regularly.

If you get sick, monitor your symptoms and choose to stay home and wear a mask. It is important to know that viral infections such as the common cold cannot be treated by doctors. In such cases, you can use home remedies and other self-care methods such as cough drops, herbal teas, honey sticks for sore throats. Pick up free wellness supplies at the Wellness Suite at Wardenberg Health Center or have them delivered free to your dorm in a Buff His box.

If you have more severe symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing, it is best to make an appointment for medical services. Students also have access to care after hours, weekends, and breaks through AcademicLiveCare.

5. Meningitis

If there are many people nearby, it may not just be a seasonal illness. This is especially true for people living in dormitories or high-rise housing. In fact, college students are at increased risk of contracting meningitis.

Meningitis is a serious and sometimes life-threatening infection of the brain and spinal cord.

The best way to prevent the spread of meningitis is to receive the meningitis (Men-ACWY) vaccine. If you have not yet received the vaccine, you can schedule an appointment with your health service.

Symptoms of meningitis include:

• confusion
• heat
• headache
• sensitivity to light
• Stiff shoulder

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your health care provider for evaluation. It is important to detect meningitis infections early to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others and prevent serious nerve and brain damage.

6. Substance Use and Misuse

College comes with unspoken expectations regarding partying, drinking, and drug use.

Students may choose to use substances to deal with mental health issues, manage stress, increase energy to keep up with assignments, alleviate social anxiety, and more. However, substances can lead to undesirable experiences for students, including worsening mental health problems, lower grades, decreased learning and performance, legal issues, risky decisions and behaviors, accidents, and dependence on unhealthy coping mechanisms, among other things. may bring. In some cases, drug use can lead to increased emergency department visits, accidents, alcohol poisoning, overdose, addiction, and long-term health effects.

If you are interested in exploring or changing your relationship with substances, you can schedule a Buffs Discuss Substance Use session. These sessions are run by trained undergraduate peer facilitators to help students gain a deeper understanding of drug use and become intentional about their actions. If you’d like to work with our expert staff, check out our free, non-judgmental Substance Use Exploration Workshop.

UW-Boulder also has programs to assist students who are in recovery or are working toward recovery from a variety of unhealthy behaviors, including drug use. Health Promotion offers free support for nicotine cessation, including smoking cessation kits and coaching. Additionally, the University Recovery Community offers free peer support, weekly meetings, and social events to students in recovery or interested in recovery from a variety of drugs and other undesirable behaviors.

Students can pick up free naloxone or fentanyl test strips on the third floor of the Waldenberg Health Center or by ordering a Safer Night Out Buff Box.

7. Dietary changes

There are many different things that can cause changes in our eating patterns. In some cases, these changes are temporary, such as forgetting to eat lunch while studying for a test. However, drastic changes can lead to more serious or long-term eating problems, such as disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders.

For many students, college may be the first time they are given the freedom and responsibility to decide what, when, and how they eat. This, on top of other college stressors, can cause anxiety, especially for those who don’t know what food choices to make. Food anxiety can be further exacerbated by cultural beauty standards, body image, and comparing your body to those around you.

Here are some factors that can lead to unhealthy eating patterns.

• Change or loss of control: Experiencing so many new things at once can be exciting, but it can also cause stress and anxiety. As a result, people may be able to compensate by having more control over what they eat.
• Scholar: It’s natural to feel anxious from time to time about your grades, workload, and studies. However, if classes become too stressful, some may use food as a coping mechanism or as a way to create control and stability.
• Social group: Friendships play an important role in university life. However, it can also come with unspoken rules and peer pressure regarding food, body image, and exercise.
• Food availability: Our past experiences with food and our current circumstances can influence how we view and access food. People who are food insecure may not have adequate access to food, which can affect their eating habits.

If you’re confused about food or want to improve your relationship with food and exercise, there are resources on campus to help.