College students face more than just classes and long hours of studying. They also face the dangers of contagious illnesses. To cope with their health issues, Sacramento State students are encouraged to take advantage of the Student Health Center, which offers medical attention, testing, vaccinations, a pharmacy and other services. It also offers sexual health education classes, HIV counseling and other programs that Lorraine Martinez, a health educator at the center, says have been tailored “specifically for the college population.”

Chlamydia is currently the most contracted sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States, especially among young adults. The bacterial infection is spread through sex and most men and women who contract it do not have any symptoms.Testing for chlamydia can be relatively easy and involves collecting a urine sample or taking a swab of the genital area. Treating chlamydia can be as easy as taking medication. Letting chlamydia go without treatment can lead to negative health issues in men and women, including the possibility of permanent sterility. The Health Center offers chlamydia testing for $9.70.

HIV is a terminal disease that still has no known cure. The disease weakens the immune system over time until it is impossible for the body to fight off certain infections. HIV can be contracted through blood transfusions and the use of old needles but spreads primarily trough sexual contact. In Dec. 2001, California had 123,819 reported cases of HIV, making it the second most HIV infected state or territory in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Health Center offers drop-in HIV testing Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with results becoming available two weeks after testing.

The Health Center offers group and private sessions with health educators to discuss birth control methods available. Once a woman goes through a session and has a gynecological appointment at the center, she is eligible for a contraceptive prescription.

The center also offers free pregnancy testing daily. Interested women should check-in at the Health Center?s front reception area. To get results the same day, a patient?s specimen must be received by 10 a.m.

Another health issue students may be concerned about is meningitis. College students, especially freshmen who live in dorms, should take precautions against this potentially deadly infection.

Meningitis is spread through the air by coughing. Kissing and sharing personal items such as lipstick, drinks and cigarettes can also spread it. Symptoms can be mistaken for the flu and may include severe headache, stiff neck, fever and extreme fatigue. The disease is treated with antibiotics.

There is a vaccine for meningitis though it does not protect against all strains of the infection. The Health Center offers the Meningitis vaccine for $65.05. With the cold and flu season now upon us students should take extra care of themselves to ensure they have a healthy semester and don?t miss classes. Martinez says the typical student may increase their chances of catching a cold or flu if they don?t work on controlling stress or suffer from lack of sleep, bad eating habits and no physical activity.

The flu vaccination is the best preventative measure to take against the flu. The flu vaccination is especially important if you are over 50 or are pregnant, have chronic health problems or an immune system deficiency. The Health Center offers flu vaccinations for $7 but are free if you have their augmented health plan.

You may not realize it, but you pay for your right to use the Health Center when you pay your tuition. Although not everything is free, many services are offered at decent prices. For an extra $20 per semester, students can get an augmented plan which allows for free flu vaccinations, physicals, Chlamydia testing, optometry exams, three 15 minute massages and more. The Health Center is extending the deadline for students to acquire the augmented plan until Oct. 31.

The Health Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. The building is located in parking lot one behind Yosemite Hall. Services are also available at the Student Health Connection located on the first floor of the University Union.