GSU Health Promotion - Health Topics

Health Topics:
Smoking
Stop Smoking

Smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and smoking cigars can be DEADLY! Not only that - they can all have horrible effects on your physical appearance and health. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that can be extremely difficult to stop.

Quitting

Health Promotion has programs that can help you to deal with breaking the addiction to nicotine. Health Educator can help you to create a plan designed to assist you in quitting. Please contact 651-3122 to schedule an appointment. Be satisfied with your life – not just your cigarette!

Drugs and Alcohol

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is an all too common problem on college campuses today. Binge drinking is defined as drinking fiveor more drinks in one sitting. Many negative health complications are the result of binge drinking. Already this school year, students have died as a result of binge drinking. REMEMBER - you can know your limits and still enjoy the effects of alcohol responsibly.

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving kills thousands every year. These are all preventable and unnecessary deaths and accidents. When you drink and drive, you are risking other's health and safety.

Safer Sex

Safer Sex doesn't mean never having sex again. Nor does it have to be complicated. Safer sex is about sharing physical intimacy with your partner without sharing disease. Safer sex is about having respect for yourself and your partner. Above all, safer sex is about having fun while taking precautions in today's world.

Sexual Decisions

Are you ready for sex? When it comes to deciding if you are ready for sex, there are several important factors to consider. Becoming sexually active is an important event in anyone's life. Making that decision requires careful thought, planning, consideration of all the facts, and most importantly, doing what you feel is best for you! Not everyone chooses to become sexually active. Many people who have chosen to have sex in the past, choose later to refrain from sexual activity for many reasons. Choosing not to have sex or choosing to have sex is your choice. Make sure you make the right one!

Sexual Assault [information, hotlines, and resources] Information

IMMEDIATE STEPS IF YOU ARE RAPED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

1. Find a safe place. Call someone to help you.
2. Do not destroy evidence. Avoid taking a bath or shower, douching, or changing clothes until after you've been examined by a doctor. If oral contact occurred, avoid brushing your teeth, eating anything, drinking anything, or chewing gum. This preserves evidence in case you decide to prosecute. You will be able to shower after the examination.
3. Get immediate medical attention. Because Georgia State University Health Services cannot complete a rape kit (collection of evidence in case you want to prosecute), it is recommended you go to the nearest emergency room where a private examination can be conducted. A practitioner will examine for injuries, possible pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. If you give them permission, they also will collect evidence. Evidence is destroyed over time, so collection must be ASAP after the rape. Request a test within 72 hours if you have ingested a date-rape drug. You can experience severe negative health consequences days/weeks later.
4. Get support if you want it. Hospital personnel can call a rape crisis center volunteer if you choose. You also can call a friend or family member to be with you during the exam.
5. Ask for as much privacy as you need. You also have the right to choose total privacy in the emergency room treatment. This means that you can ask anyone other than the necessary hospital personnel to leave the room during the examination.
6. Talk with the police. The hospital also will call the police. The police simply want to get any information that they can about the case, as early as they can. They may want to ask you questions and take a report. If you give the police a report, you can still decide whether or not to press charges. Press charges only if you feel able. This is a choice only you can make. You may bring an attorney (if you know one) to any police interview. If the rape occurred on the Georgia State University campus, you can report the crime to the Georgia State University Police. If the rape occurred off-campus, you need to report the rape to police in the city or county where the rape occurred (e.g., Fulton County Police, Atlanta Police, Dekalb County Police).
7. Take care of yourself after the rape. After leaving the hospital and/or police department, find a comfortable and safe place to rest. If the rape occurred in your apartment, dorm room, or home, find another safe place to stay and ask someone to stay with you.
8. Don't blame yourself! You did not deserve to be raped. Rape is a crime of violence and power. Your physical space was violated by someone who refused to listen to you and did not care what you wanted.
9. Talk to someone you trust about how you feel. Counseling is available at Georgia State University Counseling Center. You can come in anytime during office hours from 8:30-5:15 M-F (and 8:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesdays during the semester). If you state it is an emergency or mark on a form you will complete that you were recently sexually assaulted, you will be seen right away. Services at the Counseling Center are free. Rape Crisis Centers also provide counseling either one on one or in a group with other survivors of sexual assault. Most counties in the area have a rape crisis center, and they are listed in the blue pages of the phone book. Healing from a sexual assault is possible. You are not alone.

Medical Treatment
The Examination:
A medical practitioner may take blood samples to determine if you are pregnant or have any sexually transmitted infections. It is important for you to know that these blood tests only reveal if you were pregnant or carrying infections from before the assault. Pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections as a result of the assault cannot be detected for a number of weeks. The results of your pregnancy test should be available before you leave the hospital. The results of your sexually transmitted infections tests, however, will be ready in three to four days. Check back with the Emergency Room for the test results. You should be offered options for the prevention of pregnancy, such as the "Morning After Pill." You should also be offered medication to prevent the onset of some sexually transmitted diseases. The medical practitioner will look for bruises, cuts, blood, etc., on your entire body. They will also perform a pelvic examination to check for vaginal trauma. This examination is much like one that your own gynecologist may perform during a routine check-up. The medical exam can be upsetting for a sexual assault survivor. It is alright to cry and let your feelings out. You may want to ask the medical practitioner to pause to let you take a short break from the exam. And, remember, you have a right to know about every step of every procedure. If you have any concerns or fears, talk to your victim advocate and/or medical practitioner. They can help to make you feel more comfortable and to answer any questions you may have.

Evidence Collection:
You will be provided with consent forms for taking medical evidence. Even if you do not want to report the assault to law enforcement at this time, it is a good idea to let the medical practitioner collect all possible evidence anyway. If you decide to report later, the collected evidence may be useful. You cannot later collect evidence to prosecute. All of the collected evidence goes into a "rape kit." This "kit" will include the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault (if you're still wearing them or you bring them with you), hair samples, and pictures and swabs taken during the pelvic exam.

Follow-up Treatment:
Your follow-up care is a vital part of your medical treatment. It is in your follow-up treatment that you will learn the results of various tests, and get help in dealing with those results. Your first follow-up appointment should be made approximately 6 weeks after your emergency room examination. During this visit, you will be re-tested for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Your second follow-up appointment should be made 6 months after your emergency room examination. Since some sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, take a while to show up in blood tests, this appointment is very important. A final follow-up appointment should be made 12 months after your original emergency room examination. This appointment should be made to test for HIV, which may not have shown up on previous tests. These follow-up appointments can be made with your personal doctor, a women's clinic, Georgia State University Health Services, a free clinic, or a hospital, but they must be made, to insure that you receive the appropriate medical treatment. If you have any questions about where to make a follow-up appointment, call your local rape crisis center for a referral.

Psychological Issues
Common symptoms:
1. Blaming yourself for the rape. Believing that something you said or did or who you are is the reason you were raped. Believing that you could have stopped it if only you had tried harder. Feeling like “damaged goods”. Feeling “stupid” or “bad” for not preventing it.
2. Feeling powerless. Feeling loss of control over your body, your feelings, and your life. Feeling unable to escape, avoid, or resist. Feeling overpowered. If this is your first time having intercourse, you may connect feelings around sexual intimacy with feelings of powerlessness, betrayal and shame.
3. Believing in rape myths (all false) in our society that blame the woman who is raped rather than the man who raped her.

STD's

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STDs are sexually transmitted diseases. They are serious and can have extremely negative health complications such as infertility and death. STDs are spread through close, sexual contact (oral, anal, and vaginal). STDs do not just appear on their own, nor do they disappear on their own. Please see a medical practitioner for treatment and more education.

Testing

You can be tested for STDs and receive confidential HIV testing at GSU Health Services Clinic. Please call 651-2229 for an appointment. Education is also available. Remember - unless you specifically request it, STD testing and HIV testing is typically not performed during a regular doctor visit.

Nutrition

Many University students skip meals or eat fast food. It is difficult when juggling school and other responsibilities, to find the time to prepare and eat nutritious foods. Students often don't have money to spare, either. Fast food and food from a vending machine may seem like convenient options. The reality is that many of these choices are expensive, unhealthy, and can be fattening. With some planning, however, you can make quick and easy meals, while saving money!

Breakfast Ideas

Low-fat or non-fat yogurt, fresh fruits, whole-grain muffins, or energy bars.

Lunch Ideas

Salad with low-fat dressing, make your own sandwiches, left-over veggie pizza

Tip: Prepare the night before. Invest in a vacuum bottle for hot food
- bring part of your meal with you.






Home Our Mission Pouncin' Around Health Topics Events & Programs Peer Health Educators FAQ Available Materials Contact Us		Health Topics: Smoking Stop Smoking Smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and smoking cigars can be DEADLY! Not only that - they can all have horrible effects on your physical appearance and health. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug that can be extremely difficult to stop. Quitting Health Promotion has programs that can help you to deal with breaking the addiction to nicotine. Health Educator can help you to create a plan designed to assist you in quitting. Please contact 651-3122 to schedule an appointment. Be satisfied with your life – not just your cigarette! Drugs and Alcohol Binge Drinking Binge drinking is an all too common problem on college campuses today. Binge drinking is defined as drinking fiveor more drinks in one sitting. Many negative health complications are the result of binge drinking. Already this school year, students have died as a result of binge drinking. REMEMBER - you can know your limits and still enjoy the effects of alcohol responsibly. Drunk Driving Drunk Driving kills thousands every year. These are all preventable and unnecessary deaths and accidents. When you drink and drive, you are risking other's health and safety. Safer Sex Safer Sex doesn't mean never having sex again. Nor does it have to be complicated. Safer sex is about sharing physical intimacy with your partner without sharing disease. Safer sex is about having respect for yourself and your partner. Above all, safer sex is about having fun while taking precautions in today's world. Sexual Decisions Are you ready for sex? When it comes to deciding if you are ready for sex, there are several important factors to consider. Becoming sexually active is an important event in anyone's life. Making that decision requires careful thought, planning, consideration of all the facts, and most importantly, doing what you feel is best for you! Not everyone chooses to become sexually active. Many people who have chosen to have sex in the past, choose later to refrain from sexual activity for many reasons. Choosing not to have sex or choosing to have sex is your choice. Make sure you make the right one! Sexual Assault [information, hotlines, and resources] Information IMMEDIATE STEPS IF YOU ARE RAPED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED 1. Find a safe place. Call someone to help you. 2. Do not destroy evidence. Avoid taking a bath or shower, douching, or changing clothes until after you've been examined by a doctor. If oral contact occurred, avoid brushing your teeth, eating anything, drinking anything, or chewing gum. This preserves evidence in case you decide to prosecute. You will be able to shower after the examination. 3. Get immediate medical attention. Because Georgia State University Health Services cannot complete a rape kit (collection of evidence in case you want to prosecute), it is recommended you go to the nearest emergency room where a private examination can be conducted. A practitioner will examine for injuries, possible pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. If you give them permission, they also will collect evidence. Evidence is destroyed over time, so collection must be ASAP after the rape. Request a test within 72 hours if you have ingested a date-rape drug. You can experience severe negative health consequences days/weeks later. 4. Get support if you want it. Hospital personnel can call a rape crisis center volunteer if you choose. You also can call a friend or family member to be with you during the exam. 5. Ask for as much privacy as you need. You also have the right to choose total privacy in the emergency room treatment. This means that you can ask anyone other than the necessary hospital personnel to leave the room during the examination. 6. Talk with the police. The hospital also will call the police. The police simply want to get any information that they can about the case, as early as they can. They may want to ask you questions and take a report. If you give the police a report, you can still decide whether or not to press charges. Press charges only if you feel able. This is a choice only you can make. You may bring an attorney (if you know one) to any police interview. If the rape occurred on the Georgia State University campus, you can report the crime to the Georgia State University Police. If the rape occurred off-campus, you need to report the rape to police in the city or county where the rape occurred (e.g., Fulton County Police, Atlanta Police, Dekalb County Police). 7. Take care of yourself after the rape. After leaving the hospital and/or police department, find a comfortable and safe place to rest. If the rape occurred in your apartment, dorm room, or home, find another safe place to stay and ask someone to stay with you. 8. Don't blame yourself! You did not deserve to be raped. Rape is a crime of violence and power. Your physical space was violated by someone who refused to listen to you and did not care what you wanted. 9. Talk to someone you trust about how you feel. Counseling is available at Georgia State University Counseling Center. You can come in anytime during office hours from 8:30-5:15 M-F (and 8:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesdays during the semester). If you state it is an emergency or mark on a form you will complete that you were recently sexually assaulted, you will be seen right away. Services at the Counseling Center are free. Rape Crisis Centers also provide counseling either one on one or in a group with other survivors of sexual assault. Most counties in the area have a rape crisis center, and they are listed in the blue pages of the phone book. Healing from a sexual assault is possible. You are not alone. Medical Treatment The Examination: A medical practitioner may take blood samples to determine if you are pregnant or have any sexually transmitted infections. It is important for you to know that these blood tests only reveal if you were pregnant or carrying infections from before the assault. Pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections as a result of the assault cannot be detected for a number of weeks. The results of your pregnancy test should be available before you leave the hospital. The results of your sexually transmitted infections tests, however, will be ready in three to four days. Check back with the Emergency Room for the test results. You should be offered options for the prevention of pregnancy, such as the "Morning After Pill." You should also be offered medication to prevent the onset of some sexually transmitted diseases. The medical practitioner will look for bruises, cuts, blood, etc., on your entire body. They will also perform a pelvic examination to check for vaginal trauma. This examination is much like one that your own gynecologist may perform during a routine check-up. The medical exam can be upsetting for a sexual assault survivor. It is alright to cry and let your feelings out. You may want to ask the medical practitioner to pause to let you take a short break from the exam. And, remember, you have a right to know about every step of every procedure. If you have any concerns or fears, talk to your victim advocate and/or medical practitioner. They can help to make you feel more comfortable and to answer any questions you may have. Evidence Collection: You will be provided with consent forms for taking medical evidence. Even if you do not want to report the assault to law enforcement at this time, it is a good idea to let the medical practitioner collect all possible evidence anyway. If you decide to report later, the collected evidence may be useful. You cannot later collect evidence to prosecute. All of the collected evidence goes into a "rape kit." This "kit" will include the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault (if you're still wearing them or you bring them with you), hair samples, and pictures and swabs taken during the pelvic exam. Follow-up Treatment: Your follow-up care is a vital part of your medical treatment. It is in your follow-up treatment that you will learn the results of various tests, and get help in dealing with those results. Your first follow-up appointment should be made approximately 6 weeks after your emergency room examination. During this visit, you will be re-tested for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Your second follow-up appointment should be made 6 months after your emergency room examination. Since some sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, take a while to show up in blood tests, this appointment is very important. A final follow-up appointment should be made 12 months after your original emergency room examination. This appointment should be made to test for HIV, which may not have shown up on previous tests. These follow-up appointments can be made with your personal doctor, a women's clinic, Georgia State University Health Services, a free clinic, or a hospital, but they must be made, to insure that you receive the appropriate medical treatment. If you have any questions about where to make a follow-up appointment, call your local rape crisis center for a referral. Psychological Issues Common symptoms: 1. Blaming yourself for the rape. Believing that something you said or did or who you are is the reason you were raped. Believing that you could have stopped it if only you had tried harder. Feeling like “damaged goods”. Feeling “stupid” or “bad” for not preventing it. 2. Feeling powerless. Feeling loss of control over your body, your feelings, and your life. Feeling unable to escape, avoid, or resist. Feeling overpowered. If this is your first time having intercourse, you may connect feelings around sexual intimacy with feelings of powerlessness, betrayal and shame. 3. Believing in rape myths (all false) in our society that blame the woman who is raped rather than the man who raped her. STD's Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs are sexually transmitted diseases. They are serious and can have extremely negative health complications such as infertility and death. STDs are spread through close, sexual contact (oral, anal, and vaginal). STDs do not just appear on their own, nor do they disappear on their own. Please see a medical practitioner for treatment and more education. Testing You can be tested for STDs and receive confidential HIV testing at GSU Health Services Clinic. Please call 651-2229 for an appointment. Education is also available. Remember - unless you specifically request it, STD testing and HIV testing is typically not performed during a regular doctor visit. Nutrition Many University students skip meals or eat fast food. It is difficult when juggling school and other responsibilities, to find the time to prepare and eat nutritious foods. Students often don't have money to spare, either. Fast food and food from a vending machine may seem like convenient options. The reality is that many of these choices are expensive, unhealthy, and can be fattening. With some planning, however, you can make quick and easy meals, while saving money! Breakfast Ideas Low-fat or non-fat yogurt, fresh fruits, whole-grain muffins, or energy bars. Lunch Ideas Salad with low-fat dressing, make your own sandwiches, left-over veggie pizza Tip: Prepare the night before. Invest in a vacuum bottle for hot food - bring part of your meal with you.


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