Health fair features free yoga and massages

This past Friday, the Public Health Student Forum (PHSF) teamed up with a number of health-related clubs on campus to host a Personal Health Fair in Charles Commons Salon C. Groups represented at the fair included Stressbusters, the Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW), Preventative Education and Empowerment for Peers (PEEPs) and the Student Health and Wellness Center, also known as HelWell.

The event was free to students and featured massages from the members of Stressbusters, free food items such as chocolate mousse made from tofu, yoga classes from the Fitness Director of the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center and booths relaying information from PEEPs and HelWell.

“This is part of Public Health Awareness Month, which is the biggest event the PHSF puts on in the fall of every year, and each week has a different focus — this week being personal health. So we wanted to put this event together to bring together multiple aspects of personal health into one free event for students,” Claire Rosen, president of PHSF, said.

Since Public Health Studies is one of the most popular majors on campus, PHSF plays an important role among student groups.

“The PHSF club’s goal is to promote public health awareness month on campus, but also to create a sense of community among the public health majors,” Rosen said.

Stressbusters are trained volunteers who give five-minute backrubs and health information to students and staff. Anyone can request their services for an event and they give massages on Q-level of Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE) on Mondays from 8-10 p.m.

“I think the name really says it all. We really help people with their stress. People come to the library because they start freaking out and we calm them down a little bit,” freshman Elliot Frumkin said. “I chose to become a Stressbuster because the second week I was already stressed and I came here and it was amazing, so I decided to help out.”

Also in attendance was Dr. Alain Joffe, the director of HelWell. Joffe sat at a table with the electronic database of student medical records, which he could pull up upon students’ inquiry. According to him, most students stop regularly going to their physicians around the age of 15.

“We set up this booth, since the [event’s] focus is on public health, to give students the opportunity to see if they’re up-to-date with all their recommended immunizations,” Joffe said.

Among these recommended immunizations, Joffe highlighted the importance of the flu shot. According to its website, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) strongly suggests that people receive a flu shot once per year. While there are several different flu vaccines, the CDC does not recommend one over another.

“We encourage students, yet again, to get a flu shot,” Joffe said.

Furthermore, Joffe referred to a 2008 study from the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf College that was published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). The study, titled “Influenza Vaccination Among College and University Students,” examined the effect of the flu vaccine on days of class missed.

30.2% of study participants were vaccinated and 24.1% of students experienced at least one influenza-like illness.

“Vaccination was also associated with significant reductions in ILI [influenza-like illness], associated provider visits, antibiotic use, impaired school performance, and numbers of days of missed class, missed work, and illness during the influenza seasons,” the abstract from the study noted.

According to Kavita Bhatnagar, events chair for PHSF, Hopkins students often overlook healthy living.

“In terms of student health I guess there are a lot of simple and fun ways to stay healthy and it’s something that people forget amidst all the work and stuff with college,” Bhatnagar said.

The health fair, however, provided an opportunity for attendees to learn easy ways to stay healthy.

“It was very fun and educational and I got a free pen,” freshman Kristen Lineback said. “The yoga was awesome too.”

Next week is international health week and PHSF is having an international potluck on Tuesday. A few of the cultural dance groups have been invited to lead workshops.

PHSF also hosts the Undergraduate Public Health Conference during the spring, which is their biggest event of the year and features oral presentations about student’s research or experiences related to public health.