“Wellness is a prerequisite for all else. Students cannot be intellectually proficient if they are physically or psychologically unwell." Ernest Boyer, a noted educator
--In your experience, how do health issues affect students’ academic performance?--
Most health issues we see at the University Health Center are episodic, but when a person doesn't feel well they usually don't perform well. When a person has a fever or even a cold, it's difficult for them to concentrate, which in turn makes it difficult to complete course assignments.
Some illnesses interrupt the sleep cycle, which interferes with the consolidation of memory, hence, effective learning. Speaking of which, this can cause a vicious cycle. If a student gets behind in a class, they may start worrying and may feel stressed. This in turn disturbs the sleep cycle and without adequate sleep, it's more difficult to concentrate.
So, here we have a common scenario: the student becomes ill, gets behind, stresses out, stress interferes with performance and so it goes. It's important for students to talk with their instructors early on so they can help the student stay on track.
--What are some things students can do to stay healthy?--
Well, staying healthy is sometimes harder than it sounds. One has to avoid germs that cause illness and have a good immune system. Some of the common advice runs counter to students' lifestyles, but to stay healthy it's best to:
• Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. The body repairs itself in one of deep stages of sleep. This helps the immune system.
• Eat a well-rounded diet. Remember, there are no junk foods, just junk diets.
• Address stress. The University Health Center’s Health Promotion and Outreach department can help students identify the source of the stress, recommend stress-busting steps, and, if needed, refer students to a counselor at the University Health Center’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Having support from friends really helps, too.
• Make time for friends.
• Exercise moderately.
• Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
• Get a flu shot. The University Health Center offers free flu shots for students.
--What can parents do to encourage their students to stay healthy?--
A parent’s job is to remind students what's true in life is true in college. They can check to see if the student is following the above steps, but must avoid nagging. Parents should be alert for signs that the student might be stressed and encourage the student to seek out resources here on campus….and encourage them to get their flu shot.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/92fj