The Health Crisis Among College Students

Whether it be the frat flu, a constant cold you can't seem to shake or mental health challenges, college can be a time when you may seem to be constantly sick. While managing your physical and mental wellness is already strenuous, colleges add an extra level of difficulty by lacking the right treatments and understanding.

Every year, students are introduced to a totally new germ pool when they go to college. For many students, college is the first time they are entirely independent. It's a completely new experience where students are in charge of themselves. On top of all these newfound responsibilities, college students deal with being sick for the first time away from home. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's a much more challenging world to navigate without the comfort of your home, parents and usual primary care physician.

Students tend to get sick at school more often than they do at home. Multiple factors contribute to this, including lack of sleep, increased stress levels, diet and the real kicker: going out. With the newfound independence college brings comes a freedom most students have yet to experience. There are many opportunities to go out with friends multiple times a week which constantly depletes your immune system.

There's a common misconception that alcohol cleanses your system, as rubbing alcohol would do to an exterior wound. Alcohol kills good bacteria in the intestines and the T-cells that fight off infection.

So how are universities prepared to deal with the constant sickness of their student body? If you're an Elon student, hopefully you will be aware of Student Health Services on O'Kelly Ave. by now. The student health center helps diagnose illnesses and provides immunizations and mental health support. Sometimes it's hard to get an immediate appointment for a sudden sickness; in that case, students can utilize Timely Care. Elon offers free on-demand telehealth services through Timely Care which allows students to quickly make virtual appointments to discuss mental health matters, symptoms and more.

Most of the time, if students need immediate care, they cannot get an appointment at the student health center until a day or two later. Urgent Care is an excellent alternative in this case and much better than the emergency room for non-emergency illnesses. One crucial thing Urgent Care can do that the Elon Student Health Center can't is give an IV. In the case of severe dehydration or food poisoning, students may need an IV to recover. It is important to know that Urgent Care can provide this for students in this condition.

Some local Urgent Care options include Cone Health Urgent Care and NextCare. As the seasons transform from summer to fall, the season of sickness is upon us. We at The Edge hope you stay healthy and know your options if you need treatment!