By Carrie Howard
Health issues and tips for college age women
By Carrie Howard
Managing Editor
There is more to being a healthy woman than just looking thin or fit. Total health encompasses more than just a bodily image. Being healthy means that a woman feels good physically, mentally, and spiritually. A lot of times, college-aged women overlook some major health issues than can affect them today and in the long future, so here are some tips to keep you happy and healthy during your college years.
DEVELOP A POSITIVE BODY IMAGE: Bad body image starts mentally, but can have serious physical implications. It’s OK to motivate yourself to exercise and eat right, but sometimes the quest to become thin can get out of control. According to the Academy for Eating Disorders, anorexia and bulimia affect people primarily in their teens and twenties, affecting about 5% of the total US population. Both of these diseases have serious health implications and can lead to death. So think positively about yourself!
STAY AWAY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE: The majority of college students drink… and it’s just not a glass of wine with a meal. Even though binge drinking is a major part of college “culture,” this temporary social adhesive can have lasting effects, which can include an increased risk in car crashes and date rape. Heavy drinking over a long period of time can lead to health problems such as cirrhosis of the liver and various types of cancer. According to the United Sates Government’s Office on Women’s Health, evidence suggests that the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver are more severe for women than for men. Compared with men, women develop alcohol-related liver disease more rapidly. Oh… and alcohol poisoning isn’t that fun either.
MAKE A TRIP TO THE GYNO: It isn’t pleasant, it isn’t fun, but it is oh-so-crucial to a woman’s well being. Take a look at these facts and statistics, and maybe the trip to the gynecologist won’t look so bad.
1.) The risk of a woman developing breast cancer over a lifetime is one in eight, and the risk increases with age.
2.) According to the Pap Smear Consensus Statement issued by a number of medical organizations, “All women who are, or who have been sexually active, or who have reached 18 years old, should have an annual Pap test and pelvic exam. This exam is crucial to determining the presence of cervical cancer.”
3.) The gynecologists can help you make informed decisions about pregnancy and birth control.
4.) The gyno can check you for STDs.
PRACTICE PROPER NUTRITION, DIET AND EXERCISE: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you hear it over and over again. You know the implications, so just do it! Lay off the greasy fast food and get your young and able body movin’!
KEEP YOUR MIND AND SPIRIT HEALTHY: Keep track of who you are and what you believe in. It is too easy to follow the crowd. Keep healthy friendships and stay in contact with a family that loves you, even if they are far away. Make sure you also have healthy dating relationships. If your partner says mean things to you, hurts you, or diminishes you, get out of the unhealthy relationship and seek help immediately!
Many college women suffer from depression. Common signs of depression include persistent sadness, loss of interest and pleasure in most activities, irritability or anger for no good reason, anxiousness or restlessness, feeling worthless or uselessness, wanting to be alone and to be left alone, inability to concentrate or make decisions, feeling slowed down mentally or physically, and having aches and pains that do not respond to treatment. If you or a friend have five or more of these symptoms for more than a two-week period, seek professional help.
DON’T SMOKE: You know it’s unhealthy and, well… it stinks. There are all sorts of new methods for weaning oneself off cigarettes. Try gum, the patch, or hypnosis: just try something!
STAY OUT OF THE SUN: Having skin cancer is not healthy or pretty. Being wrinkled at 40 is gross. A lot of college-aged women want to be nice and bronzed before, during, and after spring break… and sometimes the whole year through. According to the FDA, “UV radiation from the sun, tanning beds, or from sun lamps may cause skin cancer. While skin cancer has been associated with sunburn, moderate tanning may also produce the same effect. UV radiation can also have a damaging effect on the immune system and cause premature aging of the skin, giving it a wrinkled, leathery appearance.” YUCK!
GET YOUR Zs: Let’s face it, ladies, we don’t get enough sleep. Between jobs, partying, boyfriends, and homework, there is simply not enough time in a day. We might want to cut down on some of our activities considering how important sleep is to our health!
There you have it: the Eight Commandments to female college health. Now be like Moses, write them on a tablet, and practice them every day, or sooner or later, poor health may strike you down.
