Is Your Child Going to College?

Four Important Tips on Taking Care of Their Health

One of the most important moments on the road towards adulthood is being a college student. This is where your child will get to discover new ideas and interact with people from different backgrounds. However, if they don’t take precautions, they could also encounter situations that could affect their health.

At Triple-S, we offer four basic tips on how to help keep your child healthy as a future college student.

Vaccinate your child against meningitis – Meningitis can be a very serious and contagious infection that, in its most severe form, can cause brain damage or even death. If your child is going to college, make sure they get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria). In addition, annual vaccination against influenza is also important.
Talk about sexually transmitted diseases and safe sex practices – While it can be an uncomfortable topic of conversation, talking about it can help young people avoid major health concerns in the future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that half of all sexually transmitted diseases occur in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. If you have not been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, now is the time to do so. If you are already sexually active, it is important to be tested annually.
Don’t forget about their mental health – Between a pandemic and other disasters, our teens have been through some very tough experiences. Now that they are headed off to college, there will be new pressures and responsibilities that may affect their emotional well-being. Talk with them about these circumstances and remind them that it is brave to seek help when needed.
Encourage good eating and sleeping habits – While eating junk food and not getting enough sleep may seem like part of the college experience, these patterns eventually take their toll on us. Encourage them to manage their time well in order to avoid late night studying, to not forget the importance of physical activity, and to include more balanced meals as part of their diet.