Flu Season Is Coming!

A couple of things to be aware of, even though we do not have residential halls, are the risk of contracting bacterial and viral illnesses in the classroom or other places where many people meet.   I am thinking classrooms, lunch tables and study areas.

 

There are two main things you can do to reduce the probability of getting sick this Fall Season:  Wash your hands frequently avoiding your face or touching your nose or mouth and being vaccinated against the flu virus.  It’s definitely not the only virus out there, but it is a serious one that will knock you out of commission for a week-wouldn’t that be fun for finals?!

Health and Wellness Services will begin to offer the inactivated (killed) vaccine - you can’t get sick from this folks!! - later on in the semester.   For the first 400 students who get vaccinated at any of our three campus clinics (Redwood, South and Jordan) the vaccine is free!  Thereafter it is $15.00 for students.

The CDC especially recommends vaccination against influenza for those individuals who have a weakened immune system or who live with people whose immune system would place them at an increased risk of death should they become ill with the flu.  Examples include pregnant women, people with diabetes or adults with young children.


[Photo: forward.com]

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome to the Fall Semester at Salt Lake Community College!

Whether this is your very first semester at Salt Lake Community College or your last, I welcome you on campus and invite you to use our services here in the Health and Wellness Services department. We exist almost entirely on the contribution of your student fees, so our department is here to serve you, the student.

Medical Clinic

Here at Health and Wellness Services, we offer a full medical clinic that can meet almost all of your medical needs. (we do almost everything shy of surgery). Our Family Nurse Practitioners and Medical Assistants are professionally trained and here for you.

Counseling Services

We have a full counseling center with a Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) as well as a Certified Social Worker (CSW). Our counseling team is here to meet all of your mental health needs. There is nothing too big or too small to talk about. We are also pleased to house a Psychologist from the Veterans Affairs office as part of a VITAL Grant in collaboration with the Veterans Center that will specifically work with student veterans and their mental health needs.

Massage Therapy

Our massage unit tends to be one of our favorite units within our department. All students are eligible for one free 60 minute massage per semester, from Licensed Massage Therapists. Spots are limited, so sign up quickly for the Fall Semester.

Health Promotion

We also house our Health Education and Promotion department. We offer healthy lifestyle workshops, smoking cessation assistance, safe sex education, our Condom Co-Op, alcohol education and a SHAC club. (Student Health Advisory Club). If you are interested in being a part of this club, please contact our office for more details.

We have 3 different locations to serve your needs. We are located on the Taylorsville/Redwood campus, the Jordan campus and the South City campus. Please check our website for exact hours of operation for this Fall Semester.

We have purchased a new software system and will implement it this Fall Semester. We are very excited to offer online scheduling of appointments and an electronic medical record system for our clients and patients. This system will streamline our operations and allow us to provide additional services to you, the student.

If you ever have a question about our services, or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing you on campus this semester.

I wish you a successful semester!

Lorri Castro-Zenoni, Director of Health and Wellness Services

Scrap the diet, create a lifestyle!

When it comes to weight loss, there's no lack of fad diets promising fast results. But such diets limit your nutritional intake, can be unhealthy, and tend to fail in the long run.

The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about short-term dietary changes. It's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses.

Staying in control of your weight contributes to good health now and as you age. If you've been thinking about your current weight, it may be because you've noticed a change in how your clothes fit. Or maybe you've been told by a health care professional that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and that excessive weight could be a contributing factor. The first step is to assess whether or not your current weight is healthy.

One way to begin to determine whether your weight is a healthy one is to calculate your "body mass index" (BMI). For most people, BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness. It is calculated based on your height and weight.

Today, we added a BMI calculator to our blog! Look for it on the right-hand side of the page, just underneath the download links.

- If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the "underweight" range.
- If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the "normal" or Healthy Weight range.
- If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, it falls within the "overweight" range.
- If your BMI is 30 or higher, it falls within the "obese" range.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to come into our office for a free consultation on healthy living, nutrition, and exercise.

(Content of this blog post, as well as the BMI calculator were obtained from CDC.gov)

Shedding Light On Sunscreen

If you think you understand sunscreen, you may want to think again. An American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey found that many people are confused about SPF numbers and how to use sunscreen correctly.

- Only 18% of respondents knew a sunscreen with SPF 30 does not provide twice the protection of an SPF 15. The difference of protection between SPF 15 and SPF 30 is 5%
- Only 28% of respondents who said they sometimes or always use sunscreen reapplied sunscreen every two hours.

Research also indicates that most people only apply 25% to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen (one ounce for the entire body, or enough to fill a shot glass).

Before you lather up, learn what you need to use so you don't get burned. According to the AAD, use only those sunscreen products that offer:
- Broad-spectrum coverage (label may read "broad spectrum," "protects against UVA/UVB," or "UVA/UVB protection")
- SPF of 30 or higher
- Water resistance

The AAD also recommends:
- Reapplying sunscreen every two hours when outdoors
- Finding shade whenever your shadow appears to be shorter than you are
- Wearing protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses



Sources: www.healthfinder.gov; American Academy of Dermatology

(This article was pulled from the May 2013 edition of the Hope Health Letter. To learn more, visit HopeHealth.com)

Spring Finals Gift Basket Giveaway!

Many ways to enter - Only one winner!

Must be an SLCC student to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been an amazing semester. Can you believe that the last day of classes is THIS WEEK?! Time flies when you’re having fun, right? We can imagine that the pressure is building as you finish up any extra credit, huge term papers, and, of course, final exams!

Fear not! We have some tips on how you can prevent that stress from becoming overwhelming. Check it out:

- Prioritize. Write down everything you need to do and their deadlines. This will help you see what needs to happen first. Of course, when you finish, you can check one thing after another off the list. There aren’t many things more satisfying than checking things off your To-Do list!

- Don’t Multitask. If you’re trying to research for two papers at the same time, you’re not only going to get overwhelmed, but you’re not going to be as efficient in time management. Focus on one thing at a time to get them knocked out faster (and with more quality).

- Don’t Study At Home. Home is where the heart is… and the kitchen… and the TV… and the bed. You get the idea, right? When overwhelmed, it’s easy to “accidentally” distract yourself with “a much needed nap” or some junk food. Get to the library, turn off your phone, and see how much you can get done when those distractions have disappeared!

- Take A Break. Ten minutes is plenty of time to get the blood flowing again, get a drink, and get a quick mental and physical recharge. Don’t let your breaks go too long or it will be harder to get back into your work.

And there you have it! Four tips to help you stay energized, focused, and stress-free (or at least help reduce the stress!) during this intense week. Now go and finish off this semester strong! And have an amazing summer!

Until next time,

The Health & Wellness Team

De-Stress Fest!

According to the National College Health Association, stress is one of the main reasons college students drop out. Students have too much on their plate, but they try to convince themselves that they can handle it before it's too late.

Not only does stress impact the way students think, but if stress becomes too overwhelming, it can cause physical related problems. Some common problems are ulcers, nervous breakdowns, trouble focusing, and a weakened immune system.

A great opportunity to relieve stress from your life is Student Health Advisory Club's (SHAC) De-Stress Fest on Thursday, April 18th at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

SHAC will be providing five minute massages by Licensed Massage Therapists, stress balls made out of balloons and flour, smoothies, and a variety of activities to help relieve stress in your life. ALL FREE!

If you attend, there will be an obstacle course that provides a fun and healthy way to de-stress. There will be puzzles and coloring books to bring out your inner child and a game of "water" pong for a fun alternative to drinking alcohol.

SHAC will also have guest speakers around 12:15 p.m. to talk about the mind and body and how it all works with stress. This is a great opportunity to educate yourself and get the help you need to detox the stress in your life. De-Stress Fest will be held in the Student Event Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. There is no reason to stress out when you know how to effectively take care of your mind and body!