Preventative Measures and What Prevents Students from Taking Them

By: Stephanie Dunbar
Health Educator, Student Health Advisory Council Chair, & Health Education Student

Health plays a pivotal role in everyone's life.  Health can directly affect our ability to study, work, have relationships, perform physical activities, etc. As Ralph Waldo Emerson succinctly stated, "The first wealth is health." But if health is so important, why is this "wealth" too often overlooked? As a student at Chico State, I see a trend in my peers. Often, we do not realize the importance of health until it is too late. Take the flu for example, many of us were aware that the flu-season is upon us yet we fail to take any precautionary measures to prevent the illness. Instead, we stayed up late, got little sleep, and didn't make time for health protective behaviors thus, creating an opportune environment for becoming ill. When we did get sick (which was almost inevitable), it hit us hard and fast, preventing us from going to class, going to work, and doing activities for up to a week or more at a time. This lack of taking preventative measures is a learned behavior and because many of us are experiencing independence for the first time, we are directly setting the mold for how we are to manage our health in the future. The question is: Why do we do this?

There are a plethora of answers to this question and many of them revolve around the idea that, as students, we are not fully aware of the impact our decisions will have on our future health. It is no secret that college is a time to feel invincible. It is a new and exciting environment in which health takes a backburner to academics, a social life, etc. For many, staying in on a weekend because you are sick, "just isn't cool." Furthermore, staying in because you don't want to get sick is even less cool.

In addition, many students do not have the funds to pay for preventative treatments. Whether it be a sleep aid to help maintain adequate rest or an herbal tea which helps aid a scratchy throat, many students can't see the necessity of spending excess money to deal with something that hasn't happened yet. Also, transportation can play a big factor in their health choices.

Without a car, many students are deterred or even prevented from seeking out health care prior to illness, injury, or disease. It can be difficult to find the motivation to seek services such as a health education or a nutrition plan when one has to transport themselves to these offices.

Let's face it. College in general, is stressful. Though this stress is not always negative, it can wear down our bodies and minds. It is important to encourage your student to begin taking health protective measures such as getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and eating healthy.  With preventative measures as tools, students can arm themselves with the knowledge and power to protect their bodies.

The Student Health Center is here to help! Contact the Health Education Office for more information of preventative health and campus resources as (530)-898-4889. Also visit us online at www.csuchico.edu/shs where you can access health information as well as the Spring 2010 newsletter written by Health Education PR representative, Joey Combs.