Healthcare advice for the high school graduate

College Healthcare

Congratulations on your graduation from High School!  As you prepare to leave home, you should consider the following:

Freshman students face a myriad of challenges.  A freshman diet is typically poor.  New students rarely get enough rest.  And they live in tight quarters with hundred of other students.  This is like living in a new petri dish … new exposures, new weaknesses, and lots of new germs.  A “run-down” body is continually asked to mount immune response to a tidal wave of new pathogens.  All of these things taken together often result in sick freshmen.  To avoid becoming sick your freshman year, I recommend the following:

  • Do your best to eat a balanced diet and don’t skip meals.
  • Take a Multi-Vitamin every day.
  • Try your very best to get AT LEAST SEVEN HOURS of sleep a night.  Eight or nine would be better.  (I think you will find that your grades are better just from the better thinking ability that sleep gives your brain.)  Don’t fall into the trap of “I’ll catch up on Saturday.”  Your body does NOT work that way.
  • Find a physical activity to partake in at least 3 times a week.  The natural endorphins provided from exercise will ward off a lot of unhappiness.
  • Get a flu shot as soon as they are available.

If you do find yourself sick at school, please be aware that your university has a Health Center that your tuition pays for!  (In fact, they often offer the flu shots right there on campus through theHealthCenter.)  Do NOT let illnesses linger!  When unaddressed at an early stage, sicknesses can turn into more serious conditions that can result in hospitalization or your withdrawal from school.  SO get help early rather than later.

For emergencies, I recommend preparing a College Medicine Box with the following items:

  • Thermometer
  • Ibuprofen
  • Band-Aids
  • Neosporin
  • Hydrocortisone Cream (for rashes or itchy bug bites)
  • Benadryl (for allergic reactions or allergy symptoms such as sneezing or clear runny nose)
  • Cough Drops
  • Antacid (i.e. Tums)
  • Imodium A-D EZ chews (for diarrhea/ stomach upset)