The Beach Health Blog

Since summer is just around the corner, we all are excited to celebrate being finished with the semester and our vacation time! Some people choose to celebrate with alcohol and we encourage those who do drink, to celebrate responsibly! Many young people think that they will never experience alcohol poisoning, but it can happen fast, especially when you are not aware of how many drinks you have consumed. Alcohol poisoning is a scary thing to witness or go through yourself. First let’s go over what a stand drinks are so we can keep track of how many drinks we’ve had.           1 Standard drink = 12 oz. of beer or 1.5 oz. of liquor or 5 oz. of wine When someone drinks alcohol, it gets absorbed into the bloodstream, which creates intoxication. The level of intoxication can be measured by their blood alcohol content, also known as BAC. Tolerance masks the effects of alcohol, someone may feel fine but their BAC level will show their level of intoxication. Also, BAC continues

What images come to mind when someone says the word “condom”? A small, square shaped packet? A sex ed teacher using a banana as a display model? Most people tend to think of external condoms as the only types of condoms available, however there is another type of condom that lots of folks don’t even know about! Internal, or “female” condoms, are another type of condom that is a great option for people seeking protection from STI’s and pregnancy. It does this by creating a barrier between your genitals, and your partner(s). Internal Condoms Internal condoms are 79-95% effective, and are made of nitrile, which makes them a great option if you have a latex allergy/sensitivity. Female condoms look like large external condoms with a flexible plastic ring inside.  Check the expiration date.  Carefully open the packaging and take out the condom.  To insert the condom squeeze the inner ring between your thumb and middle finger. From there you can insert the ring into you

On average, Long Beach gets 287 sunny days per year—that’s a lot of possible sun damage! The sun gives off powerful ultra violet (UV) rays that have the potential to damage our skin. UV rays are harmful because they damage the DNA of our cells. Extreme or prolonged periods of sun exposure can lead to wrinkling, premature aging, and even skin cancer. There are several different ways to protect yourself from harmful UV radiation. 1. Dress Wisely Choosing an outfit that will protect you from the sun is one easy way for you to minimize the damaging effects of the sun. Tight knit long sleeve shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses are all great ways to help prevent UV rays from reaching your skin. Don’t forget those sneaky areas that need protection: the back of your neck, your ears, and even the top of your feet! 2. Location, Location, Location! Moving into an area with more shade, or creating some shade of your own (hello, beach umbrella!) is another easy solution to hel

College is one of the most memorable and fun experiences of our lives, but between school-related stress, personal life stress and in some cases personal trauma, college can also be one of the most stressful times of our lives. Luckily, The Health Resource Center (HRC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and other on campus organizations offer many support groups to help you rise above the stress in your life. The following are a list of on-campus support groups and resources available to you at CSULB! CAPS Groups: CAPS located in Brotman Hall room 226 also offers groups that cover a variety of topics, such as: Finding Your Calm: Tools For Coping With Anxiety: A 6-week structured group that will help attendees learn strategies to help them cope with anxiety. The first round of sessions has already started but the next round will start on April 2nd. This group is held in Brotman Hall room 226 on Mondays from 11am-12:15pm. If you have any more questions you can

Who’s hungry? I know I am! I have a treat for you! Here are five delicious and nutritious snacks that you can make in record time. Let’s get started! Short on Time? That’s more than fine! An easy option is celery sticks and peanut butter or carrots and hummus. These take hardly any time at all and can leave you feeling satisfied and energized. If You Have a Little Extra Time... Blueberry Oatmeal Greek Yogurt Muffins For more information on this tasty treat head here: http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2016/01/22/blueberry-oat-greek-yogurt-muffins/ Ingredients: 1 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, divided 1 cup rolled oats 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup blueberries, frozen or fresh Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease a muffin pan and insert liners. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl (1 cup f

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 and 25-34 (2017). NIMH also reports that men in both those age groups are shown to have higher suicide rates than women in those age groups (2017). Even though men are shown to have higher suicide rates, men strangely have the lowest rates of depression (NIMH, 2017). Obviously, this is a strange discrepancy, somehow men are suffering less from depression but taking their lives more than women. According to the American Psychological Association, men are less likely to report that they are suffering from depression and less likely to pursue treatment for depression (2005). That's why it’s important that if you think you may be suffering from depression to seek help. Hopefully, by reading this blog you can be more familiar with what depression is, the types of depression, the signs and symptoms, and where you can find help to recover. Types of

What HPV is and How It’s Spread Now you may be thinking…what in the world is HPV? Until a few years ago, I had no idea either. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is transmitted through genital skin-to-skin contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is the most common STI in the United States and the population most at risk to get HPV are people in their late teens to mid-twenties. The Details Since HPV is a virus, there is no cure. In most cases, a healthy immune system can help fend off the virus so it can clear the body on its own. People infected with HPV can transmit it to their partner(s) even if they don’t have any symptoms.  There are 40 types of HPV that are sexually transmitted. Symptoms of HPV include genital warts or genital cancers. Warts don’t cause cancer. They appear flat or raised in the genital area and may itch, but usually not painful. Treatment includes freezing them off

These are some of the most common issues that women face regarding their sexual health, especially when they are in college. Getting the facts, making a plan, and taking care of yourself are important steps to staying healthy. Unplanned Pregnancy Many couples become pregnant without really thinking or talking about it. So, If you are having sex and do not want to have a child now, a birth control plan is the best solution. Make a birth control plan.   Learn about the different methods! Condoms are very reliable, especially when used every time you have sex, for the entire time you are having sex (consistently and correctly). Choose a method(s) that works for you. Think about your health history, values, and lifestyle. You have lots of options, like pills, the ring, the shot, the implant, an intrauterine contraceptive, or even spermicides.  Get more information by checking out reliable websites (like Planned Parenthood ) or attend a sexual health workshop at CSULB in Studen