Top Three Vists to Your Health Services
Students often ask us what kinds of illnesses or problem areas
we are mostly likely to encounter at the on-campus Student Health
Service. Our staff is skilled in a variety of medical areas and
can handle student complaints from head (headaches) to toe (toe
fungus). But they agree that there are probably three top areas
a concern that students would like to address when they come here.
The Top Three are URI's or upper respiratory infections; gynecological
concerns; and mental health concerns.
Upper Respiratory Infections:
Especially in the winter months, many of our student concerns center
around colds, sore throats, and coughs-all components of upper respiratory
infections. Simply put, a URI is viral infection of the respiratory
tract. Colds usually start slowly with a runny nose or headache
(as opposed to the flu which tends to come on quickly and usually
involves fever, body aches and fatigue). When a person has a cold
their mucus membranes increase secretions to fight the infection
which is why there is a lot of sneezing and nose blowing. A sore
throat may or may not accompany a cold. Most colds go away on their
own but the symptoms can be relieved somewhat by drinking fluids,
resting and taking over the counter medication to dry up the excess
mucus. If the sore throat lasts for more that a week or there is
fever or swollen glands, it is wise to see a practitioner.
Gynecological:
Gynecological concerns are a reason many female students visit
the Student Health Service. These concerns may be requests for
contraception,
including emergency contraception, testing for sexually transmitted
infections, a pap test (which is a test for cervical cancer) or
just a regular check of the health of the reproductive organs.
It is generally recommended that women over the age of 16 have
regular
gynecological exams, called pelvic exams. Women who have not had
a previous pap test or pelvic exam should indicate this when they
schedule their first such exam with a practitioner.We have brochures
that explain both procedures and can help a student know what
to
expect when she visits the clinic.
Mental Health:
The third of our Top Three areas
of concern for students is mental health concerns. In recent
years,
students have become more aware of the resources available for
a variety of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety
disorders,
attention deficit disorder, and issues related to drug and alcohol
abuse. Practitioners can answer questions students have about
these
issues and refer the patient for assessment or counseling. Appropriate
medications may be prescribed when needed.
Websites:
For general information, the following websites may be helpful
http://www.add.org
For information about attention deficit disorder http://www.adaa.org
For information concerning anxiety disorders http://www.depression-screening.org
For information on depression http://www.nmha.org
-National Mental Health Association website
If you have any questions about the Top Three or other services
of our clinic, please e-mail us at: healthservices@stcloudstate.edu
|
