Health and Wellness
Everybody has a body; take care of yours.
Student Health Services
San Diego Miramar College
10440 Black Mountain Rd.,
San Diego, CA 92126
Building K2-102
619-388-7881
Living Healthy No Matter Your Identity
Healthy Eating
Your body is a machine, and like any machine it needs fuel. Fill yourself up with healthy proteins, grains, fruits, and lots of veggies.
Check out nutrition.gov for credible information for healthy eating.
*Members of the LGBTQ community are often at a higher risk for food insecurity or live in food deserts. For help with getting the nutrients your body needs check out these resources:
Miramar College Jet Fuel Pantry, contact Joseph Hankinson for details at jhankins@sdccd.edu
San Diego Food Bank or by phone at 1-866-350-3663.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), check your eligibility here.
Fitness
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle means maintaining an active lifestyle. No matter how you move, exercising decreases your chances for disease and injury.
At least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking, jogging, hiking, or swimming.
At least 2 days a week of activities that strengthen muscles, like weightlifting, bodyweight resistance training, and yoga.
Emotional Wellness
The strength of your mental and emotional muscles are just as important as the ones in your arms and legs. College is stressful, being a young adult is stressful, handling and maintaining relationships is stressful, and being LGBTQ+ can be stressful too! Taking time to assess your mental state is vital.
Mental health needs don't always manifest as depression, feelings of being overwhelmed, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others, but if it does find resources here, or call 9-1-1!
Sometimes, we just need a little self care. Try these to help keep a calm mind and happy head: meditation, yoga, mindful contemplation, or breathing exercises.
Immunizations: It's Worth a Shot
Vaccines have been an important tool for maintaining a healthy population for hundreds of years and became commonplace and widely used in the first half of the last century. The best way for us all to return to pre-pandemic activities in a safe manner is to vaccinate as much of the population as possible.
Flu Vaccine
Sign up for a FREE FLU SHOT at Miramar College!Drive-up Reservation Form or call 619-388-7881.Don't forget to print, fill out, and bring with you your Vaccine Paperwork.
HPV Vaccine
Almost every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some time in their life. About 14 million Americans, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. While most HPV infections will go away on their own, infections that don’t go away can cause certain types of cancer.
HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women; penis in men; and/or anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in all persons.
The CDC recommends that children 11–12 be vaccinated, still those up to age 26 are advised to get the vaccine. Talk to your health care provider or call 619-388-7881 for more information.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccine
It is recommended by the CDC that all persons be vaccinated against Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). There are several different vaccines; those recommended for children ages 7+ and adults are:
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines*
Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines*
COVID-19 Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccination effort is currently underway. The vaccine has been evaluated by scientists and has been proven safe and effective. Do your part to end the pandemic; get vaccinated.
Questions about the vaccine? Click here!
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
As of June 9th, 2021, San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) will require all new and returning students to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination if attending any in-person activity (including in-person exams) or class for the Fall 2021 semester. Looking ahead, we know that widespread vaccination will facilitate a return to in-person instruction and activities.
Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Help is Here
Many college-aged adults experiment with alcohol and drugs. Individuals who identify as LGBT misuse drugs and alcohol at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts. If you are struggling with dependency and/or abuse, do not feel ashamed! There are many like you and many resources to help you live a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Statistics show LGBTQIA persons have better results when they seek specialized rehab treatments. [1] Find treatment here.
Health Risks
Alcohol and drugs are toxic to the human body. Substance abuse may result in a wide array of serious health and behavioral problems and has both long and short-term effects on the body and the mind. In addition to the problem of toxicity, contaminant poisonings often occur with illegal drug use. HIV infection with intravenous drug use is a prevalent hazard.
[2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual (LGB) Adults (Annual Report). samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2018-nsduh-lesbian-gay-bisexual-lgb-adults. Published January 14, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2020.
Tobacco Use: No Butts; It's Time to Quit
LGBTQ community members smoke at higher rates—up to 2.5 times higher—than the general public. Smoking and vaping is harmful to your health, the health of those around you, and increases your risk for contracting COVID-19.
You have overcome so much; overcome this addiction today!
Set a quit date and create your personalized quit plan.
Talk to a doctor about medications and other ways to help you quit.
Call a quitline. Try 1-800-QUIT-NOW(1-800-784-8669) or 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).
Find an LGBT–friendly healthcare provider through the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
Safer Sex Practices
No matter who you do it with—or if you do it with anyone at all—always remember to engage in sex and sex-adjacent activities safely. Get consent, talk about what you and your partner are willing and wanting to do as well as what you both are not willing to do, use protection, have fun, and follow up!
LGBTQ+ individuals are at a higher risk for many sex-related concerns.
Lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to get preventive services for cancer, specifically those that affect designated female-at-birth specific organs.
Gay and bisexual men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color.
Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide and are less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGB individuals.
Assigned Female-at-Birth Individuals
While all women have specific health risks, lesbian and bisexual women are at a higher risk for certain diseases than other women.
Women who have sex with women are at significantly higher risk for developing breast cancer than heterosexual women. Risk factors for breast cancer among lesbians include fewer full-term pregnancies, fewer mammograms and/or clinical breast exams, and being overweight.
Traditionally, lesbians and bisexual women have been less likely to bear children and, as a result, may not fully benefit from hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding. These hormones are believed to protect women against different types of cancers. Lesbians have also been less likely to visit a doctor or nurse for routine screenings than heterosexual women. Routine screenings, such as Pap tests and mammograms, are critical to the prevention or early detection of breast, cervical, and other cancers among all women.
Assigned Male-at-Birth Individuals
Just like all other men, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men need to know how to protect their health throughout their life. For all men, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death. However, compared to other men, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are additionally affected by:
Higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs);
Tobacco and drug use;
Depression.
Transgender Individuals
Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity or expression (masculine, feminine, other) is different from their sex (male, female) at birth. Gender identity refers to one’s internal understanding of one’s own gender, or the gender with which a person identifies. Gender expression is a term used to describe people’s outward presentation of their gender.
Gender identity and sexual orientation are different facets of identity. Everyone has a gender identity and a sexual orientation, but a person’s gender does not determine a person’s sexual orientation. Transgender people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or none of the above.