Indianapolis, August 22, 2011 -- College is full of exciting new things, from meeting people to living away from home. But, college can also be stressful as you try to develop new routines, live on a limited budget, and manage responsibilities on your own. 
"When a young person goes off to college there are so many new experiences ahead and it can often be exciting, but also overwhelming. The key is to take things slow, don’t let the healthy habits you have developed over the course of your life slip and have a good support system in place," said Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, a physician at Wishard Health Services. "College is a real exciting time and offers many new and first time opportunities." 
Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber stressed it is important to take some preventive measures first before leaving for college. There are certain vaccinations needed for teens and college students and it is also a good time to get a health check-up from your doctor before going off to college. Once on campus find a health care provider at your school or local health clinic for routine check-ups and when you have health concerns. She said regular check-ups can help ensure you stay healthy and can help identify and correct problems early. 
Another common problem for many college students is sleep deprivation and fatigue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine. The stimulating effects of caffeine in coffee, colas, teas, and chocolate can take as long as eight hours to wear off fully. In addition, having a good sleeping environment and getting rid of anything that might distract you from sleep, such as noises or bright lights is important. Sleep deprivation can also lead to other problems such as unhealthy eating habits, stress and even substance abuse. 
"There are so many things that can cause a domino effect when it comes to a person's health. Certainly sleep, eating healthy and physical activity all are very important and can be drastically impacted when starting new habits associated with college life," Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber said. "At the same time there are so many resources available at universities and college that students can take advantage of such as gyms, walking and bike paths, exercise and nutrition classes and health food options offered at many cafeterias and food courts on campuses." 
Some additional health tips to keep in mind when going off to college include: 

• Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends. 
• Avoid pulling an all-nighter to study. 
• Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. 
• Talk with a nutritionist or dietician at a health clinic on campus or in the community about improving your diet. 
• Understand what you are eating when you go through the cafeteria line, ask about how the food is prepared and what is in it. 
• Visit the health center, and discuss concerns with a health professional. 
• If you have any chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, ulcerative colitis, etc, make an appointment to meet with the student health center early in the semester. Bring a copy of your records, medications, and the phone number and address of your specialist at home. 
• Work with campus leaders to increase the availability of healthy activities and safe places on campus to meet with friends. 
• If you are concerned about your or someone else's use of alcohol or other drugs, seek assistance from your parents, resident advisor, faculty advisor, student health/counseling services, or health care provider. 
• Avoid second-hand smoke. It is just as harmful as if you were smoking yourself. 
• Don’t drive after drinking or using drugs. 

Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber stressed that developing healthy relationships are very important and helps increase self-esteem, improve mental and emotional health, and help us have fuller lives. This can be especially important when starting something new like college. She said it is very important to have a strong support system in place. Campus and extracurricular activities such as getting involved with college and residence hall groups, playing in a college band, joining an intramural sports team, or writing for the school newspaper are great ways to meet new friends.