The Beach Health Blog

Most college students have this idea that sleep is not an essential aspect of their lives. However, late night partying, pulling all night study sessions, and drinking caffeinated drinks are what is expected to survive and succeed in the college world. As a result, students do not sleep well even when they try. This is usually because of sleeping way too long or not being able to sleep at all. What students need to know is that the lack of sleep really affects how they function in life. Having that adequate 7-9 hours each night can greatly improve health, test scores, and overall life. Here are three ways to improve sleep health: 1.  No Caffeine before Bed Caffeine is a well-known stimulant and the number one source college student use to stay awake. Caffeine can last in the body for up to 6 hours. The most well-known caffeine stimulant is coffee. In order to have better night’s sleep, one would have to cut off the coffee sometime in the mid-afternoon. How would a college ...

Many people have the desire to lose weight. Many of those who exercise simply do so for the purpose of losing weight. But the question is… Does your weight determine your health? Does being “thin” = “healthy” and being “fat” = “unhealthy”? Are you considered “overweight” or “obese” according to your BMI? Have you been on a restrictive diet because someone in your life has told you to lose weight? There is a new approach to health called Health at Every Size (HAES) that honors genetic diversity and promotes healthy lifestyles for each individual.   HAES promotes specific principles that lead to improved and lasting health for people of all shapes and sizes. Society perceives health as achieving an “ideal” weight and size. However, many of us do not fit within society’s definition of health. Many of us beat ourselves up for not being able to achieve that “ideal” weight and size projected through media, society, or culture.   We can’t assume that someone is “overwe...

“And If I asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself?” Unknown. One of the toughest parts of learning to love yourself is understanding the reasons why. We may think to ourselves “Why do I need to acknowledge I need to love myself to begin with?” or “If there are so many great things to love and admire then why does it not come naturally?” Self-love takes practice. It is a skill that we learn to develop and embrace on a daily basis. There will be good days, and not so good days with relapses, and that’s okay. The goal is progress not perfection.  There truly is no perfect way to begin, but here are some steps to start: 1. Understand and believe you are worthy You are worthy, you are beautiful, you have potential, you have what it takes. It is okay to have confidence, as a matter of fact, you should!  Once you begin noticing all the reasons that make you great and unique, you will understand your worth...

Midterm season is upon us and tensions are high. With coffee in one hand and an overfilled planner in the other, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the endless list of tasks that must be completed. This high-stress storm is the perfect environment to soften students to the seductive idea of using study drugs. A study conducted by the Center on Young Adult Health and Development indicated that nearly a third of college-aged students admitted to having used study drugs without a prescription, the presence of their use on college campuses is apparent. Despite the numbers, however, studies have surfaced that raise questions about whether or not these drugs are actually helpful. For individuals diagnosed with an attention disorder, prescription stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall increase the ability of users to concentrate. These substances work by increasing the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Research has indicated that individuals with attention disorder...

We’ve all heard of the notorious freshman 15 prior to college. Whether we’ve heard it through jokes with our peers or through movies and other media, it is a phenomenon that has been undeniably acknowledged by our culture. So the question arises; is the freshman 15 a true experience or is it simply a fictitious claim? One wide-scale study conducted at Ohio State University made an attempt to put this question to the test. Researchers monitored 7,417 young people as they transitioned to their first year at the university. After the data were collected and analyzed, it was clear that although a solid trend in weight gain was observed, the 15 pound aspect was a gross over exaggeration. In fact, the actual figure was closer to three pounds 1 . Although it would be fair to consider the “freshman 15” to be a myth based on this study, it is important to note that a three pound weight gain over the course of a year is still 6x higher than that of the general population. The very existence of ...

Sex and a person’s overall health are interconnected. Attraction and sexual attraction, to be specific, is a natural desire. Being sexually aware, safe, and healthy can improve an individual's sex life. So, what does it mean to be sexually healthy? Here are five ways to improve your sexual health! 1. STI Awareness Communication is Key Be Comfortable with Self (Body Image) Become More Informed About Sex Live a Healthy Lifestyle By Devante Lindsey Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can be damaging to one’s health if left untreated or not prevented. Most STIs are easily transmitted. Talking to your partner about STI testing and how they care for themselves sexually helps you get to know your partner. If you choose to have sex with someone there are different ways to protect yourself, such as the external (male) and internal (female) condoms. They are easy to use and easily accessible. Never use both at same time though! Directions for External Condoms: 1. Chec...