Communicable Disease Prevention at Penn State

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Communicable diseases - Just the name is enough to send shiver your spine and conjure up solemn images of polio-stricken children in wheelchairs. The reality is however, that communicable diseases encompass a wide and diverse range of ailments. The common cold for example, as well as the flu and most other "winter bugs," are all examples of fairly benign communicable diseases. But then again, AIDS, hepatitis, and meningitis are also communicable. So just what is a communicable disease, and why should you be concerned? A communicable disease (CD) is any illness that one person can directly transmit to another. A different way of thinking about this is to identify disorders that are NOT communicable. Cystic fibrosis, Down's syndrome, and asthma are all examples of diseases that cannot be spread from one person to another by being in their presence. With such a variety of CDs, you might be wondering if there can by anything common among them. The fact is that while the diseases themselves do differ greatly, the tips for preventing many of them are all the same.

Tips to Stay Healthy The most important tips are listed below: 1) Wash your hands! Hand washing is your best defense against virtually all CDs, particularly those that are widespread and easily transmitted. Wash hands after using the bathroom, before touching food, after using a tissue, or after touching any surface likely to be a breeding ground for germs (computer keyboards, door knobs, etc.). The real key to hand washing is to wash thoroughly and wash often! 2) Get enough rest! College is a busy time for everyone. However the better rested your body is, the better it will be able to fight of infections. Remember, it's better to spend a little extra time keeping yourself well each day than to get really sick and fall behind. 3) Eat well! Your body needs a wide variety of nutrients to keep it running strong. Aim to eat a wide variety of foods, avoid excess in any one area, and try to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables as possible. It will help keep you healthy and help keep those communicable diseases at bay! 4) Avoid risky behaviors! This advice is especially good for some of those less common, but nevertheless dangerous, communicable diseases. Remember that STDs like AIDS and gonorrhea are easily spread through unprotected contact...even if it happens only once. Be smart, and be sure to take the proper precautions! Want more info?? Look to the right! Info from the Experts Online Help Curious about information on a specific communicable disease? Feeling lousy, but aren't sure what to do? Just looking for health in general? Here are some great sites to check out on the web: WebMd.com - Information on everything from keeping well to an understandable explanation of fibromyalgia. DrKoop.com - Get answers to your questions from the retired surgeon general himself! For you Penn Staters out there (or even those of you from elsewhere), University Health Services has several great sites to help you out. Patient Education Library - The patient education library is a great place to start, especially for diseases that frequently affect the college-age population. Men's Health - Did it ever seem to you that there's a lot of health information out there for women? What about men? This site will tells you all about UHS' programs for the male student population.