While some college students take their health for granted, those living with chronic illnesses must be far more vigilant than many of their classmates. The presence of illnesses in everyday life can affect more than just one's health, as those dealing with their conditions must learn to balance their academic lives with the maintenance of their well being. Students with diabetes, for example, need to monitor their blood−sugar levels several times a day.
Sophomore Jordana Woodley, a diabetic, said she is careful about her diet, which allows her to focus on things other than her illness.
"Monitoring blood sugar isn't that hard, Woodley said. "You can do it anywhere, such as discreetly in class … The hardest thing is when your blood sugar is high or low and you're feeling the physical effects in class or in an exam."
Diabetes is becoming a pandemic across the United States. In 2007, there were over 23 million people in the country that had been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The disease is caused by a flaw in glucose metabolism. When an individual eats, nearly all of the carbohydrates in his or her food are broken down into glucose molecules. After digestion, these small glucose molecules enter the blood stream. In most individuals, the body is able to recognize the blood's increased sugar concentration and release insulin, which allows the body to store the surplus sugar in the liver and muscles. In a diabetic individual, the body is unable to manage the blood's sugar levels.
There are two main varieties of diabetes. Type−1 diabetes, often called juvenile diabetes, is the less common form and often appears during middle to late childhood. In individuals with type−1 diabetes, the body cannot produce sufficient amounts of insulin. An insulin deficiency results in dangerously high levels of glucose in the blood, which greatly affects mood and can result in insatiable thirst.
Type−2 diabetes is far more prevalent. In affected individuals, the body is able to produce insulin, but their cells are unresponsive to insulin. Common symptoms of type−2 diabetes include tiredness, agitation, tingling and persistent thirst and need to urinate.
Blood sugar concentrations of individuals with either type of diabetes need to be carefully monitored. This is usually done using a portable indicator that samples a small amount of blood from one the individual's fingers. If the concentration of glucose in the blood is too high, diabetics can use an injection of insulin to regulate the glucose. If sugar levels are too low, the individual should consume something with a modest amount of carbohydrates, such as a small piece of bread or low−sugar candy.
"I have type−1, and if you manage blood sugar when eating, it's not that big of a problem," Woodley said. "If you're careful about managing your eating or drinking you'll be fine."
Students with diabetes need to carefully watch their diet. "A lot of doctors recommend carb counting and we recommend that people who need that type of nutritional information consult with a nutritionist at dining services," Medical Director of Tufts Health Service Margaret Higham said.
Asthma is another chronic illness that many college students live with. The condition arises from trachea inflammation, which results in difficulty breathing. More than 22 million individuals in the United States suffered from asthma in 2006, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Inflammation occurs spontaneously, which could be a major problem if it occurs after physical activity when respiration is most important.
However, walking up and down Tufts' hills should not necessarily worsen asthma. "There are quite a number of Olympic athletes that have asthma and are able to achieve peak athletic performance, Higham said. "Being on a hill isn't really an issue."
Although there currently is not a treatment that eliminates asthma completely, inhalers provide quick relief while oral medication can aid in long−term management of the illness.
Sophomore Sara Matasci has been living with asthma for long enough to get used to doing so. "It's really something I've learned to live with," Matasci said. "I take my medication every day and do what I've got to do. I've had it since birth so I'm used to it."
While diabetes and asthma are fairly easy to diagnose, some students suffer from a variety of mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety disorders, which have more covert symptoms. Between five and eight percent of people in the United States will suffer from a serious mental illness during a given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Major depression is particularly common on college campuses. More than just the everyday blues, depression is a linked to low levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain and may require medical intervention.
However, many students do not seek professional help. "Some people are unaware they have depression," Higham said. "Other times they might think they might, but [view depression] as a personal failure."
Higham stressed that, whatever the illness is, students should make sure to seek the treatment they need.
"Chronic conditions are so different," Higham said. "The unifying theme is that getting care and being consistent with whatever your treatment would be and reaching out for help will help people deal with medical conditions," Higham said.
