The communal nature of college classes and living environments offers some challenges to staying healthy. But careful students can prevent many illnesses by following various health tips, said Jane Galas, the advice nurse for University Health Services. Two important factors in warding off sickness are sleep and stress, Galas said. Sleep rejuvenates the body's cells, and if the body is deprived of sleep, cells don't get the opportunity to rejuvenate, she said. Stress can also pose health problems, she added.
Stress is a biggy.
It is important for students to follow these measures because the packed conditions of classes, dorms and apartments can make them vulnerable to illness, said Dr. Jordan Finkelstein, professor of biobehavioral health and a pediatrician at the University's Hershey Medical Center. Dorms have numerous rooms per floor and many people live with roommates, who all share bathrooms and water fountains. Conditions like these make it even harder to stay healthy in a population of 40,000 people. Conditions like these make it even harder to stay healthy in a population of 40,000 people. The human body is 92 percent fluids, so replenishing these fluids is an important preventive measure.