Premedical students, medical students, residents, physicians… None are immune to medical disease. We are actually at an increased risk for some of these diseases yet they are not talked about nearly enough. In fact, sometimes medical conditions are hidden or ignored in order to avoid the stigma they may hold. In the end, we are all human beings and we also suffer from the same diseases the general population suffers from. As leaders and future leaders in the medical field, we ought to set good examples and practice what we preach when it comes to those conditions we can prevent and manage.

For most premeds, college is the first time they have lived away from their parents for a prolonged period of time. This results in liberation and new responsibilities. College is well known for parties and peer pressure is very prevalent. If one is not careful, very bad habits may form that will only get worse in the future. These certainly include alcohol, drug and tobacco abuse. According to one national survey involving college students age 18-22, 60% of those asked had drank alcohol in the past month and almost 2 out of 3 engaged in binge drinking during this time^­1. This is especially important since physicians suffer from substance abuse disorder at a slightly higher rate than the rest of the U.S. population. Between 10-15% of physicians suffer from one of these disorders². Maybe House M.D. isn’t so far-fetched after all. The best thing to do is to avoid habits such as binge drinking, smoking and use of illicit agents. Friends that are heavily involved in these are leading you down a dangerous path.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are most commonly diagnosed in young adults. According to the CDC, half of the 20 million new STD cases are diagnosed in people aged 15-24 and 26% of all new HIV infections are seen in a similar age cohort. In 2015, the CDC found that the cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis in the US had reached an all-time high. Given the close living quarters and classroom exposures, many students are at risk for other infectious diseases. It is important to stay up to date with vaccinations including the meningococcal conjugated vaccine, Tdap, HPV, and influenza.

A number of chronic conditions may arise in the premedical student. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid diseases, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease tend to affect the young. Asthma, seizure disorders, sickle cell, and other disabling conditions affect many students. Some of these may be exacerbated by the stress of school and illnesses making it difficult to study and focus as a student at times. These are very serious conditions that often times motivate the premed student to pursue medicine but must be managed well in order not to greatly affect their chances of matriculating. It is important that students with chronic medical conditions not place their studies or anything else over their health. Find time to see a physician at least annually even if you feel you are perfectly healthy. Furthermore, mental health is a topic that is being more and more discussed. It is true that premedical students, medical students and physicians all have a higher rate of depression than their counterparts³. The rigorous training environment faced during training can negatively impact depression and other mental disorders. Developing healthy habits now will prepare you for the potential challenges ahead. These habits include partaking in extracurricular activities that allow you to interact with other students, getting enough sleep, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and learning to reach out for help when needed.

The obesity epidemic often takes a backseat to other high risk behaviors on campus but it is a very serious and growing concern. There is a great neglect for addressing obesity on many campuses but some are catching on.  With growing use of social media, high stress environments, and the eat-on-the-go diet (vending machines and fast foods) premeds can easily fall into an unhealthy cycle and begin putting on weight. Eating disorders are often seen in this age group and can be very difficult to address without counseling. It is important that students begin developing healthy habits of eating a well-balanced meal and get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to physical aerobic exercise. It would be best to establish this now because during medical school these things will likely become even tougher to accomplish. One study, actually showed patients had a negative bias towards providers they perceived as being overweight or obese⁴. Patients were less likely to follow provider’s instructions and tended to change providers more when they felt they were overweight or obese.

As future leaders in the health field it is important that you set good examples for others. It is also important that you take care of yourself and seek help if needed. You only have one body, so you are the only one responsible for making it last.

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