5 health tips for teens heading to college

Heading off to college can feel a little daunting. For many teens, it’s the first time they’ve been completely independent and responsible for themselves. Doing well in college depends on staying healthy. Prisma Health offered five health tips for teens heading to college so they can be best prepared for what’s ahead.  

Avoid substance abuse

It’s important for your teen not to give in to peer pressure with when it comes to using alcohol, nicotine, marijuana or other illegal drugs at school. The young adult brain is still developing. We don’t know what profound impact those substances could have on their brain and continued development, so it’s best to avoid it.

Practice safe sex

For anyone who is sexually active, taking care to practice safe sex is essential. There are no cures for some sexually transmitted infections, which means they could affect someone for the rest of their life.

Prioritize sleep

Try to sleep at least eight hours every night. Getting adequate sleep is going to be important for academic success.

There’s also a lot of good evidence that adequate sleep is important for weight management. If your body is constantly running on empty, you’re going to do a lot more emotional eating, not paying attention to your portion sizes, late night snacking and all the bad things that can lead to the ‘freshman 15.’

Choose healthy food

The school cafeterias can be somewhat of a playground when it comes to meals. There’s options like pizza or ice cream that might seem like fun for every meal, and the newfound freedom could make it tempting to choose less-than-optimal foods.

To keep feeling your best, try to choose healthy foods, lots of veggies, some fruits and watch portions on all those sugary and starchy foods like pasta and rice.

Get vaccines

Stay up-to-date on vaccines. It’s important to complete the meningitis vaccine series before entering a residence hall setting where people are living in close quarters 24 hours a day. It’s recommended that both boys and girls complete their HPV vaccine to help prevent certain cancers caused by the human papillomavirus.

Teens heading off to college might also benefit from getting a COVID-19 vaccination and, of course, they’ll want to get their flu shot in the fall. Colleges usually offer flu shots at the student health center.

Don’t forget about mental health

College can be stressful, but resources are available. Most colleges and universities have student mental health centers, so identifying those ahead of time can be helpful.

Remember, if you had any accommodations for learning or anxiety or depression through school, those accommodations can be carried on throughout college as well, so be sure to provide the proper documentation to the college or university.