Female Student

There is no question that when it comes to health, women's needs are different than men's. Furthermore, the diverse variety of needs related to nutrition, reproductive health, sexual health, sexuality, mental health and chronic illness are affected by who we are, what our family background is and the risk factors particular to our lifestyle and circumstances. Check out our Top 10 College Health Topics for relevant women's health information.

"Health is more than the absence of disease"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some tips for a healthy life for women. They are adapted here to provide a framework for you to examine your personal health needs and consider how Gannett can help you promote and maintain your health during your years at Cornell and in the future.

Tips for healthy living for women

• Eat healthy: What you eat and drink and what you don't eat and drink will affect your heatlh. A balanced diet can improve your well being, not to mention your ability to concentrate and therefore your academic performance. And while you're at it, maintain a healthy weight. There has been a great deal of attention to obesity as a problem in the U.S., but on college campuses we also face a problem of women's restricted eating and compulsive over exercising. Maintain a healthy weight, particulary if you are at risk for chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Our nutrition information may help get you started.
• Get moving: You are already getting a healthy dose of exercise by walking to and from classes, meetings, labs and work. This kind of regular movement will help with stress and your ability to concentrate. Or, if your studying has kept you sedentary and in front of a computer for hours, consider kicking it up a notch and adding more aerobic exercise to your routine. It will clear your head for the tasks ahead.
• Get regular exams and screenings: Routine exams help maintain your health. Gannett recommends a regular gynecological exam for all women over age 18. A regular health check up is important too, especially if you have any chronic conditions.
• Be smoke free: You've probably been hearing this since you were little. Tobacco isn't good for you. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, consider taking advantage of Gannett's tobacco cessation program.
• Manage your stress: Stress has physical and mental health implications. We know Cornell can be a stressful place, but many women manage to find ways to cope with all they have do. Recent research reports that even just a good long conversation with a good friend can reduce women's stress levels (laughter helps too!).
• Know yourself and your risks: This means that your parents and your ancestors help determine who you are and aspects of your health. You may be at increased risk for certain diseases or conditions because of who you are and what you do. So do some homework related to knowing your family history and how to best take care of yourself.
• Be safe: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), safety and protecting yourself is everythig from frequently washing your hands to watching your relationships. Take steps to protect yourself and your friends by paying attention to health messages, asking about safety on campus, and thinking about healthy relationships.
• Be good to yourself: Health is more than the absence of disease. It is a quality of life issue. Although your years at Cornell will be busy, take time to balance your work and study goals by relaxing, spending time with friends and doing the things you enjoyed before you came to campus. You needn't give up those moments of enjoyment just because your academic load is heavy. Make time each day (ok, well, when you can) to make healthy living a part of your life.

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A special word to women about alcohol

For some women, college is a time of experimentation. And for those hoping to reduce stress or ease their way through new or awkward social situations, the experimentation often includes alcohol. Unfortunately, men and women are different when it comes to drinking alcohol and, for a number of reasons, women get drunk faster and may experience different consequences than their male counterparts. Learn more about alcohol and other drugs and why gender matters in determining the relative risks women face when drinking alcohol.