workshops
The following workshops are available,
free of charge, to currently enrolled U
of 0 students. Watch for ads in the
Oregon Daily Emerald for more info.
SMOKING CESSATION
Wednesdays, 4:300 - 5:30 p.m.
January 19 - February 16
Medical library, university Health Center
Quit smoking this term and celebrate life
as a non-smoker. This five week workshop
is open to those who want to quit and
those who have already quit and want
additional support, identify triggers to
smoke, leam to overcome urges, adopt
alternative behaviors, and address fears
about possible weight gain,
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Tuesdays, 3:30 • 4:30p.m.
February 8 - February 29
Medical Library, University Health Center
Tired of riding the dieting rollercoaster?
Then this is the workshop for you! This
five-week Interactive workshop will assist
participants in making lifelong behavior
changes. Food and nutrition, exercise, body
image, relapse prevention and iow-fat
cooking will be addressed.
RELAXATION
Thursdays, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
February 5 - February 24
Medical library, university Health Center
Develop personal relaxation techniques
that can he Integrated Into your hectic col
lege life. This workshop will explore and
demonstrate a variety of stress reduction
strategies.
VEGETARIAN COOKING
Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:50 p.m.
January 27 - February 17
Cafeteria, university Hearth Center
Expand the variety in your kitchen. Learn
how to integrate different grains, vegeta
bles & other ingredients Into your cooking
practice.
FUELING YOUR WORK
OUTS WITH FOOD
Thursdays, 5:00 - 4:00 p.m.
February 5 - February 24
Rec Center Conference Room
if you aren't getting what you think you
should from your workouts then maybe
you need to evaluate your eating habits.
This four-week series will cover current
nutrition recommendations and require
ments, supiement usage, and fluid replace
ment.
To register for or to learn more
about these workshops, check out
the University Health Center's NEW
Web site at healthed.uoregon.edu.
You can also call h4Md56 or
stop by the Peer Health Education
Office on the first floor of the
University Health Center.
Scents of Relaxation
Aromatherapy Treatment for
Common Problems
Stress (General)
Bergamot, geranium, jasmine,
lavender, lemon-grass, neroli and
orange
Body, neck, facial massage, adding
oil to bathwater
Depression
Clary sage, geranium, olavender,
melissa, orange
Body, foot massage, adding oil to
bathwater
Headaches
Chamomile, geranium, lavender,
marjoram, peppermint, rose, rose
mary
massage shoulders, neck, scalp
and face gently, cold compress
Insomnia
Lavender, marjoram, neroli
Gentle back massage adding oil to
bath water or on pillow.
by Kimberly J. Brown
Study, study, study, and if you get a chance every
once in awhile you can breathe and eat. That is how
most of our class schedule works, so it is no wonder
that we are so stressed out. Stress is normal and
some stress is healthy but how much is too much?
Maybe we should take a little bit more time to
breathe. And while we’re at it, why not breath in
certain scents that can trigger feelings that cause
relaxation.
There are many ways to cope with stress in our
everyday lives; one of which is aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy combines the science of chemistry,
botany and physiology with the essential oils, to
achieve emotional, mental and physical balance.
Scents can be used to trigger familiar, comforting
memories and other emotions to stimulate a relax
ation response. Certain scents can even stimulate a
physical response such as a muscle relaxation or
reducing appetite.
The key to unleashing these feelings lies within
essential oils. Essential Oils are unadelterated
extracts from plants that may be used in aromather
apy. These oils may be found in common everyday
I
materials such as:
• Body Lotion or Oils
• Candles
• Food
• Perfumary
• Scented Papers
Aromatherapy is only one way to teach your
body to relax. Other relaxation options are offered
through the University Health Center
information.
For more
information con
tact the Health
Education Program
at the Health Center
at 346-4456.
How Sex Can Be Infectious
by Amy Stanton
Sexually Transmitted Infections continue
to be among the most important public health
problems in the United States. According to
the Center’s for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta, Georgia, an estimated 12 million per
sons acquire a sexually transmitted infection
(STI) each year in the United States. Two
thirds of STI cases occur in person less than
25 years of age. Despite the prevalence of
STI’s, most students do not think they will
ever have to be faced with one. Furthermore,
many of these infections do not show signs or
symptoms, so even if you are infected or have
been for a long time, you may not know it. In
1997, a survey done by the UO Health Center
revealed that 12.4% of the UO student popu
lation self reported as having an STI. Keep in
mind, those are students who were aware of
the infection.
Chlamydia
One of the most frequently seen STI on
college campuses is Chlamydia, which accord
ing to the CDC infects approximately four mil
lion people annually. One reason for its high
prevalence is that most people do not experi
ence any symptoms so they do not know they
are infected. In fact, 90 % of the cases for
women and 60 % for men reported having not
experienced any symptoms of Chlamydia. The.
good thing is that Chlamydia is treatable and
can be easily tested for. While Chlamydia is
treatable, it poses a significant risk if left
untreated in your body, and could lead to fur
ther complications such as PID (pelvic inflam
matory disease) in women as well as infertility
for both sexes.
Herpes
Another widely spread STI in the U.S. is
herpes, which, according to the CDC, infects
one million people each year. Roughly, 25% of
our population have herpes and, again, many
do not know it. Herpes has two types: oral and
genital. It is important to note that either form
can be transmitted to either area of the body.
Most people think herpes is visible, however
60 % of reported cases show no known symp
toms. Another common misconception is that
transmission cannot occur unless sores are
present on the body. In a recent study at the
University of Washington, women infected
with the herpes virus were tested every day
for one month to see if the herpes virus would
show up positive (meaning she was at risk for
transmission to another person). Although the
test showed up positive when they experi
enced symptoms, herpes also showed up posi
tive during other periods of the month when
no symptoms were experienced.
Diagnosing herpes: If symptoms (such as
sores) are noticed, a culture of the sore can be
taken. It is important here to check the sore
out as soon as possible rather than waiting a
week or more.
A blood test-is also available; however, it
does not show where the virus is located on
the body or which type it is (type 1-oral, type
2-genital).
Herpes is a virus so it is not curable. How
ever, medication which can reduce the discom
fort of the infection is available.
Genital Warts
(HPV), human papyloma virus, also
known as genital warts, is another STI that
cannot be cured. There are around seventy to
eighty different types of HPV and some of the
high-risk forms have been known to cause
cancer. HPV has a long incubation period (the
time it takes to develop within the body when
it cannot be detected even if tested) of four
weeks to a year. Not all forms of HPV are vis
ibly seen as warts on the body/genitals. In
fact, it is the higher risk forms of HPV with
the potential to cause cancer that are the
types that are not visibly seen. Types that you
can see as warts on the body are relatively
low risk.
Hepatitis B, Gonorrhea, Syphilis
Other STI’s such as hepatitis B, gonorrhea,
syphilis, and HIV are also present on the UO
campus. Of the population infected with
STI’s, 66 % are infected by the age of 25, so it
is important to note here that College students
are at the greatest risk of contracting an STI.
Your best defense is to know your body, know
your partner, and always protect yourself.
And keep in mind that each STI requires a
separate test, so even if you or your partner
tested negative to one infection, either of you
may still be infected with another. If you want
more information on any of the STI’s, the UO
Health Center is a great resource for informa
tion and STI screening. The UO Health Cen
ter Telephone number is 346-4441.
Winter 2000 Peer Health Educators
Kimberly Brown, Elizabeth Clifton, Apryl Haro, Tove Holmes, Carrie Lacey-Krietz, Tara Payne, Wendy Skendzel, Amy Stanton, Annie Weinsoft.
Photos: Annie Dochnahl Adviser: Stacey Howe
WellNow is published each term, except summer, for UO students by the Health Education Department of the Health Center, 13th and Agate Streets, University of Oregon. http://healthcenter.Horegon.edu
i the new student
RecnBtionaHBclll|g ev#f Wednesday afternoon
from 5-5:00 p.m. f§ will feature Information on
hot health topics ich week, like relaxation, compul
sive exercise, steroid use, female athlete triad syn
drome and more, call 3464456 for more Informa
tion.
FEBRUARY 14-18
Eating Disorders Awareness prevention Week
Old you know that 5-10 million women and 1
million men struggle with eating disorders? Join us
to discuss Issues relating to body dissatisfaction,
dieting, and the devestating effects of eating disor
ders during Eating Disorders Awareness and
Prevention week, February 14-18. Call the University
Health Center at 346-2728 for more Information.