College Students: Get an A+ on Your Health With These Back-to-School Tips by Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP

With all the things college students have to focus on, sometimes it’s easy for staying healthy to slip down the list. But not staying healthy can have a negative impact on grades and extracurriculars. 

Here are some simple ways college students can stay healthy:

• Eat right: Find fresh produce, lean meats and other healthier alternatives. College diets have a reputation for being heavy on junk food, but many schools have made a push in recent years to focus on offering healthy fare.

• Get more sleep: Sleep deprivation can cause serious damage to your mental and physical health. Many college students think that four to five hours is enough, it’s not. To maintain a healthy weight and overall optimal body function, students need at least seven hours of quality sleep per night.

• Manage stress: Find time to decompress from studying and stress, which can also take a toll on your physical health. High blood pressure is no joke.

• Don’t party too hardy: College has a reputation for wild parties, but the risks involved with binge drinking, drug abuse and risky sexual activity can’t be understated.

You can learn more about staying healthy on campus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

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