Staying Healthy

 To do your best in college, you need to

be of sound mind and body.
 Which leads to the subjects of
 Sex
 Alcohol
 Drugs
 Handling stress
 And using common sense…
Sexual Decision Making
Encouragers: Discouragers:
 Hormones  Family values &
 Peer pressure expectations
 Alcohol/other drugs  Religious values
 Curiosity  Sexually transmitted
 The Media diseases
 An intimate relationship  Fear of pregnancy
 Concern for reputation
 Feeling of unreadiness
 Avoid Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that

are contracted primarily through sex: intercourse,
oral-genital sex, and anal-genital sex.
 STDs affect about 1 of every 6 adults.
 With certain STDs you may show no immediate
symptoms and still pass the disease on to someone
else who will suffer.
 AIDS can be transmitted by sexual contact, sharing
hypodermic needles, blood transfusion, or other direct
contact of cuts or mucous membranes with blood and
sexual fluid.
 Common STDs are: Chlamydia. Human Papilloma
Virus, Gonorrhea, Herpes, Hepatitis B & C, HIV/AIDS
 Reducing the Likelihood of Contracting an STD

Abstinence is the only 100% Options for Safer Sex

effective strategy • celibacy
 Assess your partner’s risk • abstinence
status • masturbation
 Obtain prior medical • monogamy
examinations • Condoms
• COMMON SENSE
 Use condoms
 Avoid having sex with
multiple partners
Protect Against Unwanted Pregnancy

 Use a method that you  Abstinence

feel comfortable using.  Oral contraceptives
 Condoms
 Discuss birth control with
your partner.  Diaphragm
 Spermicides
 Always protect yourself.
 IUD
 There are numerous
 Norplant and Depo
contraceptive choices,
Provera
including:
 Tubal ligation and
Vasectomy
Unhealthy Relationships
 Intimate partner violence
 Sexual assault
 Relationships with teachers

Rape and abuse are legally and morally wrong—seek

help if you are a victim of sexual assault or are in an
abusive relationship.
 Alcohol
 Alcohol is the most widely used drug in our society.
 Alcoholism is the third leading killer in the U.S.
 Each year about 25,000 people are killed and 1.5 million
injured by drunk drivers.
 More than 60% of homicides involve the use of alcohol.
 About two-thirds of aggressive sexual acts toward women
involve the use of alcohol by the offender.
 Alcohol: Three Reasons
College Students Drink
1. Social learning: learning by watching
others. Major sources of social
learning include peers, parents and
the media.
2. Drinking to feel good.
3. Drinking not to feel bad.
College Students and Alcohol

What happens to students when

they drink?

 1,400 students a year die.

 70,000 students are sexually
assaulted or raped.
 400,000 students have unprotected
sex.
 500,000 students get injured.
Source:2001 study done by the Task Force on College Drinking
Myths versus Realities of Student Drinking: How many
have you had?

 Number of Drinks Consumed per Drinking Occasion

5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2 number of drinks
1.5
1
0.5
0
Self-reported Estimate for peers
(actual) (perceived)

SOURCE: Smith, B., Stamper, G. and Grant, R. (2001)

 Alcohol and Behavior
Blood Alcohol Level
(BAC) is affected by:
 Driving, riding a bicycle
whether you are male and other activities are
or female impaired at BAC levels
how much you weigh lower than the legal level
how fast you drink of .08.
how much you drink
 Most people “pass out” at
a BAC of .25.
Heavy Drinking:
The Danger Zone
Excessive alcohol use can cause:
 alcohol poisoning causing coma & death
 respiratory depression, choking and respiratory arrest
 lacerations and fractures
 unwanted or unsafe sexual activity
 anxiety attacks and other psychological crises
 worsening of depression or other conditions
 Long-Term Effects of Drinking
 An alcoholic is medically defined
by these symptoms:
 Significant tolerance for alcohol.
 Withdrawal symptoms.
 Uncontrolled overuse of alcohol.
 Repeated attempts to cut down on use.
 Preoccupation with drinking.
 Making new friends who drink.
 Continued heavy drinking despite social, academic,
legal or health problems.
What to Do If You Have a Drinking
Problem…

 Admit that you have a problem - this is a difficult thing to do,

but it’s the first step in helping yourself. It’s a myth that you have
to hit rock bottom before seeking help.
 Listen to what others are saying to you - chances are if you have
a problem, someone close to you has told you about it. Stop
denying it and realize they are trying to help you.
 Seek help for your problem - there are lots of resources to help
you that are confidential and are led by people who have
successfully combated their substance abuse problem.
Why Do People Take Drugs?
 Drugs help them adapt to or escape from an ever-
changing, stressful environment.
 Drugs can reduce tension and frustration, relieve
boredom and fatigue, help us ignore the world’s
harsh realities.
 Drugs can provide brief tranquility, joy, relaxation,
kaleidoscopic perceptions, surges of exhilaration.
 Drugs offer practical uses; keeping you awake to
study, for example.
 Drugs are also used for social reasons; making us feel
more at ease around others.
For better or worse, to alter consciousness…
The Increase of Drug Use By College
Students
 Many college students take drugs
more than they did in high school due
to:
 greater freedom from parental
supervision.
 high levels of stress and anxiety
associated with academic and
financial concerns.
 peer use of drugs for recreational
purposes.
 Tobacco: Never Smoke
 Smoking accounts for more than
one-fifth of all deaths in the U.S.
 It causes 32% of coronary heart disease cases in the
U.S.
 It causes 30% of all cancer deaths in the U.S.
 It causes 82% of all lung cancer deaths in the U.S.
 Passive smoke causes as many as 8,000 lung cancer
deaths a year in the US.
Dealing with Stress…
 The Stress Response
 Adrenaline makes:
 Blood pressure go up.
 Quickened heart rate.
 Constricted arteries.
 Dilated pupils. What causes it?
 Decrease in effectiveness Stress has many sources,
of immune system. but major life events
(like a death in the family)
and daily hassles are most
closely linked to stress
production.
Experiencing Stress
Physiological changes can  Psychological changes can
include:
include:
 Rapid breathing
 Confusion
 Fast heart rate
 Trouble concentrating
 Tension
 Upset stomach  Poor memory
 Heart problems  Irritability
 Insomnia  Frustration
 Headaches  Depression
What Do College Students Stress Over?

 Studying
 Grades and competition
 Intimate relationships
 Professors and class
environment  Finances
 Too many demands  Parental conflicts and
 Papers and essay exams expectations
 Career and future success  Roommate conflicts
Which causes:
 Lack of
motivation
• Lost sleep
• Low
attendance
Managing Stress
 Avoid stress by avoiding stressful
people and situations.
 Stress is a personal perception:
work to change your responses to
stressful events.
 Modify your lifestyle.
 Get enough rest
 Get enough exercise
 Get proper nutrition
 Learn relaxation techniques.
 Keep things in perspective.
Pursue and Maintain Physical Health

 Develop Healthy Behaviors and Address

Problems
 Exercise Regularly
 Get Enough Sleep
 Eat Right
 Never Smoke
 Avoid Drugs
 Make Smart Sexual Decisions
See Stress As a Challenge Rather Than a
Threat
 What is stressful often depends on how you
interpret events.
 To cope successfully
 See the circumstance as a challenge to overcome
rather than an overwhelming, threatening stress.
 Have good coping resources such as friends,
family, a mentor, and your college counseling
center.
 Seek Emotional Support
 In stressful times, family, friends, classmates, and coworkers
can reassure you that you are a valuable person who is loved.

 Knowing that others care about you can give you the
confidence to tackle stressful circumstances.

 Recognize the potential support in your own life.

 You can also improve your ability to cope by joining

community groups, interest groups, or informal social groups
that meet regularly.
Stay Healthy!
 Your health is arguably your greatest asset.
 You owe it to yourself to maintain it properly.
 The result of maintaining your health is a happy,
productive life.