College can be some of the best years of a person's life. But it is also a critical time, a time when students need to be aware of their health and safety. For women, many on their own for the first time in their lives, developing the ability to safeguard their emotional and physical health is paramount.
According to Angela Diaz, MD, MPH, and Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center in New York City, "For young women, many health-related issues can arise during these formative years as a direct result of the fact that [they] are now out from under the supervision of [their] parents, and free to make many of [their] own choices."
Statistics reveal that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and alcohol binge-drinking are way up on college campuses across the country. As a result, students need to be aware of the risks and take precautions to lessen their chances of engaging in dangerous behavior.
In particular, women need to understand the dangers involved in binge-drinking and the unique health risks that may be posed, including: date rape, unwanted pregnancies and unprotected sexual encounters. According to numerous studies, over 90% of date rapes on college campuses involve the use of alcohol.
"New freedom may mean that [students] end up engaging in behaviors that pose significant health risks," says Diaz, "having sex, using drugs or alcohol, or maybe just getting too little sleep, eating too much junk food, or otherwise neglecting areas of [their] health [their] parents previously made sure [they] took care of. The consequences of these risky behaviors can potentially cause problems for the rest of [their] lives."
One important message for students, both men and women, is that this new found freedom is not just about facing new dangers, it's about embracing new responsibility—in ways that can benefit them for the rest of their lives. Giving students the tools they need to take charge of their own health and healthcare is critical as they embark on their transition into adulthood.
"The first step in the prevention of potential problems on campus is education and knowledge," says Diaz.
Here are a few tips for students leaving for college:
•Get to know the health center: many centers on college campuses have a variety of offerings which range from mental health services, eating disorder counselors and annual check-up appointments. Students should use the health center as a main resource, which is readily available whenever they need it.
•Maintain a regular exercise routine: all too often, students (who aren't involved in organized athletics) forgo exercise because they get too busy. Exercising several times a week is important to overall health and well-being.
•Try to maintain a balanced diet: when late night pizza breaks and beer take the place of home-cooked meals, students often suffer the consequences. Encouraging students to eat healthy, balanced, well-portioned meals is very important, and may prevent them from developing extreme dieting patterns or eating disorders. Many health centers have counselors on staff that can help manage and treat a variety of these conditions should they arise.
•Use the "buddy system": to prevent date rape or unwanted sexual encounters, women should use the "buddy system" when going out. Students should find a teammate, a sorority sister or friend to stick by their side as a "buddy," and they should return the favor.
•Know your limit: all students should learn their alcohol limit and know to cut themselves off when they've had too much to drink. This will ensure good decision-making and lower the chances of engaging in risky behavior. Additionally, female students should know that their tolerance will always be lower than their male counterparts. This is because women produce less of the stomach enzyme that breaks down ethanol; thus, after consuming the same amount of alcohol women have higher blood alcohol content than men, even after adjusting for size.
•Use protection: when sexual counters occur, students should always use at least one form of protection to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy.
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