EIU Pharmacy

By: Shelby Sandefer | Health Communication & Marketing Coordinator

Here at EIU Pharmacy we provide students with medications prescribed by Health Service providers, private physicians, and dentists. Conveniently located in the South Quad of campus, we also carry a variety of over-the-counter medications, so students don’t have to leave campus! We want to ensure that all Panthers are healthy Panthers!

Prescriptions & Refills
We accept prescriptions from any licensed provider or dentist if the medication is on the Health Service formulary. Typically, we stock medications, including oral contraceptives, used most frequently by our student population. Upon request, our staff will gladly quote prescription prices and availability.

Refills may be ordered by phone if the original prescription was submitted to the Pharmacy and there are valid refills remaining.

Over-the-Counter Medications
We also stock and sell a selection of over-the-counter medications so students don’t have to leave campus! There are remedies available for a wide variety of symptoms including, but not limited to:

• Pain and fever
• Cough
• Cold and allergies
• Heartburn
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Feminine yeast products!

Please visit http://www.eiu.edu/health/pharmpricing.php for a complete list of over-the-counter medications, including prices!

Other Products
Aside from prescribed and over-the-counter medications, we also offer other personal care items. Some of those items include:

• Emergency contraceptives
• Lip balm
• Safer sex products
• First aid supplies
• And more!

Payment

Students may pay via cash or choose to charge their orders to their university accounts.

Contact

Do you have questions or want additional information? Please call us at (217) 581-7779, visit www.eiu.edu/health, or stop by the Human Services building located in the South Quad. Our hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Rubber Lovers

By: Alex Salem | Intern

You see the Rubber Lovers signs all over campus but are not sure what the presentation really is. This blog gives vital information on the Rubber Lovers program along with how to use male and female condoms correctly and consistently.

What is Rubber Lovers?

Rubber Lovers is an interactive presentation that covers various sexual health topics and is available to all students at EIU. There are multiple open sessions for you to attend or the HERC can come to you! Throughout the presentation, students learn vital information regarding the 18 steps for female condom use, male condom use, sexually transmitted infections, and what steps to take to get tested on campus and much more. Read below to learn more!

Top 5 Reasons to Attend a Rubber Lovers Session:

1. You will learn how to have safer sex.
2. You will learn how to properly put on a male and female condom during the presentation.
3. Through interactive games, students learn valuable information about safer sex.
4. By going to Rubber Lovers, you become a certified member and receive a reduced rate on safer sex items at the EIU Pharmacy located right here on campus.
5. You will learn about the importance of consent.

Vital Information about Male and Female Condoms

Male and female condoms are used as barrier methods of contraception to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. The female condom is used for vaginal or anal sex. However, the male condom can also be used for oral sex where the female condom cannot. There are no serious side effects from using male or female condoms if used safely. When using condoms, it is important to utilize either a male condom or a female condom only. Using both types at the same time creates friction causing the condoms to break and making them less effective. Make sure condoms are stored in a cool, dry place so heat will not damage the latex. Both female and male condoms are readily accessible through the EIU Pharmacy, located on campus in the Human Services Building.

Now that you have been introduced to two different types of condoms, it is important to realize there is a proper way of using them.

15 Steps of Proper Female Condom Use:

1. Gain consent from your partner.
2. Sexual arousal.
3. Check expiration date.
4. Make sure condom is airtight.
5. Open the package.
6. Check for rips or tears in the condom.
7. Place more lubrication on the end of the condom.
8. You may now insert the condom.
9. Push condom inside the vagina or anus to start the process.
10. Push the inner ring back with your index finger until you cannot go any further.
11. Guide the penis inside the vagina or anus while holding the outer ring.
12. Once intercourse is over, remove the condom by gently twisting and pulling the condom out.
13. Make sure condom is not damaged by checking for rips or tears.
14. Condom should be wrapped in a tissue.
15. Put condom in the trash and not the toilet.

Facts and Tips about the Female Condom:

1. The female condom can protect against sexually transmitted infections more than a male condom because it covers more surface area on the outside of the genitals.
2. A female condom is made of nitrile, which is not latex. If you are allergic to latex, a female condom is a safe option for you to use.
3. You can insert a female condom up to 8 hours before use.
4. A female condom is not dependent on an erection unlike the male condom.
5. Educating you and your partner on this type of condom increases sexual health awareness and gives you another type of barrier to use.

To view the female condom training video please visit: http://www.eiu.edu/herc/sexualhealth.php

Now that you know more about the steps to female condom use, let’s focus on the 18 steps to using a male condom. When used consistently and correctly, your chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection and becoming pregnant are much lower than when not using a condom at all.

18 Steps of Proper Male Condom Use:

1. Get consent from partner.
2. Sexual arousal.
3. Check expiration date.
4. Make sure condom is airtight.
5. Open package.
6. Make sure condom is right side out.
7. Check tip of condom for rips or tears.
8. Pinch a half inch tip to create space for ejaculation
9. Roll the condom down the erect penis.
10. Squeeze air from the condom.
11. Insert into the orifice.
12. Ejaculate.
13. Hold onto rim at the base of the condom.
14. Withdrawal slowly.  
15. Remove the condom.
16. Check for rips or tears once again.
17. Wrap condom in tissue.
18. Dispose condom in trash and not the toilet.

Facts and Tips about the Male Condoms:

1. Some novelty male condoms are designed only for fun and not intended to be used for sexual activity.
2. Flavored condoms are used for oral sex only. The flavoring agent can cause irritation if used for vaginal or anal sex.
3. Make sure condoms are stored in a cool, dry place so heat will not damage the latex.
4. A male condom is the same length as a female condom
5. Male condoms are different than a female condoms

Request a Presentation:

We can bring Rubber Lovers to you! Our staff presents to RSO's, individual class, sororities and fraternities, and more! This program has vital information for proper use of male and female condoms. Rubber Lovers sessions have a unique way of delivering information about of proper condom use and being safe with your partner. This presentation makes learning how to use these skills easier. Click here to request a presentation today!

For more information please contact the Sexual Health Promotion Coordinator at (217) 581-7786, e-mail herc-sexed@eiu.edu, or visit www.eiu.edu.

Step it up, EIU!

By: Alyssa Carlson | Intern


EIU has taken a huge step in educating their students on bystander intervention. “Bystander Intervention is a philosophy and strategy used for prevention of various types of violence. Types of violence include: bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.” Knowing the steps to bystander intervention is key when helping someone in any circumstance. Eastern’s StepUp! Program allows students to take part in an interactive session to understand the importance of raising awareness to others. The safety of Eastern’s students is top priority and being a part of this program is a step in the right direction!

The goals for the training are as follows:

• Raise awareness of helping behaviors
• Increase motivation to help
• Develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns
• Ensure overall safety and well-being of self and others

In relation to EIU StepsUP! is the IT'S ON US campaign. This is a national campaign focused on educating and preventing sexual violence on college campuses. Click here to learn more or to take the pledge!


On Campus Resources:
Counseling Center
217-581-3413


Health Service
217-581-3013


Health Education Resource Center
217-581-7786


Office of Student Standards
217-581-3827


Office of Civil Rights
217-581-5020


Community Resources:
SACIS
217-348-5033
Toll-free at 1-888-345-2846


HOPE of East Central Illinois
217-348-5931
Toll-free at 1-888-345-3990

Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital
(217) 238-4950


Please note: If you are having a medical emergency and/or are in danger, call 911 immediately!


The HERC staff can come to you! We give presentations for residence halls, RSOs, classrooms, etc. on a variety of topics including: bystander intervention, consent, alcohol and substance use, nutrition and more! Visit http://www.eiu.edu/herc/program_request.php for more information or to request a program.

Health Service: Exceptional Care Conveniently Located on Campus!

By: Shelby Sandefer | Health Communication & Marketing Coordinator

EIU Health Service offers convenient care right here on campus! The Clinic is dedicated to providing student-oriented primary care and health education through medical services and a variety of programs. With 22 full-time professional staff, Health Service offers a wide variety of services including: acute and chronic care, women’s and men’s general and sexual health, prevention, free flu shots, sports medicine, travel consultations, mental health services, nutritional counseling, TB screenings and testing, educational programs, as well as public health interventions. Together, the Health Service strives to meet all of students’ medical needs on campus in a conveniently located, top notch facility!

Services:

Primary Care

EIU students are able to visit the Health Service for all of their primary care needs. Whether a sore throat, cough, cold, or many other illnesses, the student may see a provider free of charge! Health Service providers are dedicated to ensuring that all students are Healthy Panthers!

Women’s Health

The Health Service makes women’s health appointments easy and convenient. Licensed providers offer a wide range of services including, but not limited to: pap exams, breast exams, contraception consults, common vaginal infection testing, medication refills for established patients, as well as sexually transmitted infection testing, counseling, and treatment.

EIU Pharmacy

EIU Pharmacy provides students with medications prescribed by Health Service providers, private physicians, and dentists. The pharmacy also carries a variety of over-the-counter medications so students don’t have to leave campus! Aside from prescribed and over-the-counter medications, the pharmacy also offers other personal items. Some of those items include: emergency contraceptives, lip balm, condoms, first aid supplies and more! Students may pay via cash or bill the charges to their student account.

X-Ray

The Health Service also has a Radiology Department. This department offers digital x-rays with a radiologist’s interpretation, electrocardiograms and rhythm strips with a cardiologist’s interpretation, and digital x-ray images on CD.

Lab

There is a state certified lab located on campus, within the Health Service! All orders for lab tests must be written on a prescription pad printed with the physician’s name, address, phone number, as well as fax number. All orders must be signed by the ordering physician.

Health Education Resource Center:

The Health Education Resource Center serves as a resource for students, faculty, and staff by providing programs, campaigns, interventions, and one-on-one consultations regarding health related topics. The HERC offers health programming in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and education, flu and cold prevention and education, nutritional analysis and education, and sexual health education, in addition to many other health related topics.

Additional Information:

Cost of Services:

General medical visits, health assessments, special programs and educational resources are provided to students at no cost! The Health Service is funded through the student’s tuition/fees, which supplements funding for primary care visits to the Health Service and Health Education programs. This funding also helps keep additional service fees low!

Additional Service Fees:

Charges apply to all specialty visits including: women’s and men’s health, nutritional/dietary, psychiatric, travel consults, and employment physicals. Charges and low service fees for lab, x-ray, immunizations, etc, including charges for pharmacy medications, may be billed to the student’s university account or paid by cash. A list of additional charges is available at the Health Service or online at www.eiu.edu/health.

Student Insurance Coverage at Health Service:

Students who are covered by the Student Insurance Plan have coverage for most service charges at the Health Service. Students also benefit from reduced charges, without a deductible. The Student Insurance Plan also provides coverage for medical services off campus.

Make an Appointment Today!

Physicians and other medical professionals at the Health Service are seen through appointment only. Students may visit www.eiu.edu/health and make an appointment using the MyHealth Portal. Students may also call 217-581-3013 to make an appointment or go to the Health Service and speak with an Appointment Clerk.


"98% of students say they had convenient appointments and of those, 90% say they waited less than 10 minutes."

The Benefits of Eating Fruits & Vegetables

The Benefits of Eating Fruits & Vegetables

By: Heather Hallberg | Intern

 

There are many benefits to eating fruits and vegetables. In this blog you will see the benefits of eating by color, what nutrients each fruit and vegetable contain, in season fruits and vegetables for winter, and how to pick out the freshest fruits and vegetables available.  MyPlate is available to help recognize the five different food groups and how much of each food group an individual should eat. My plate recommends filling half or more of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables, whether cooked, fresh, frozen, canned, or as 100% fruit or vegetable juices all count as a serving. Females ages 19-30 should consume approximately 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables a day. Males between the ages of 19-30 should consume approximately 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables each day. The daily amounts will differ depending on your calorie needs. Consider eating a variety of colors. Listed below are examples and benefits of each color. MyPlate recommends women ages 19-30 consume 1 ½ cups of dark green, 5 ½ cups red and orange, 1 ½ beans and peas, 5 cups starchy, and 4 cups of other vegetables per week. For men ages 19-30, MyPlate recommends 2 cups dark green, 6 cups red and orange, 2 cups beans and peas, 6 cups starchy vegetables, and 5 cups of other vegetables per week. Visit choosemyplate.gov for more healthy eating tips.

Benefits of Eating by Color

Color	Foods	Benefits
Red	Tomatoes, watermelon, guava	Lycopene: antioxidants that remove potentially damaging cells from the body
Orange	Carrots, yams, mangos, pumpkins	Beta-carotene: builds/enhances immune system
Yellow-orange	Oranges, lemons, papayas, peaches	Vitamin C: detoxes harmful substances
Green	Spinach, kale, collards	Folate: builds healthy cells
Green-white	Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage	Indoles, lutein: eliminate carcinogens
White-green	Garlic, onions, chives, asparagus	Allyl sulfides: destroy cancer cells
Blue	Blueberries, plums	Anthocyanins: destroy free radicals
Red-purple	Grapes, berries	Resveratrol: decrease estrogen
Brown	Whole Grains, legumes	Fiber: makes consistent with other cells

 

 

What’s in a Fruit and Vegetable

There are many nutrients available in fruits and vegetables. The chart below lists some fruits and vegetables, the unique nutrients in them, and the function of these nutrients.  

 

Fruit/Vegetable	What it contains	How it helps the body
Apple	Vitamin C, E, A, B1, B2, pectin, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, flavonoids, & boron	Increase bone density Increase mental alertness Lowers cholesterol Aids in diabetes management Increase teeth & gum health Aids in digestion
Orange	Vitamin C, A, B-complex Good source of beta carotene, calcium, folate, potassium, magnesium, amino acids & pectin	Immune booster Maintains skin health and is essential for vision Helps control heart rate and blood pressure
Pineapple	Vitamin A, C , B6	Aids digestion Good for joints & muscles Improves circulation Good for memory and mood
Cranberries	Vitamins C, A, calcium, iron, folate, magnesium & manganese	Has diuretic and antiseptic properties Aids digestion & removes fat from lymphatic system Promotes cardiovascular health
Peach	Vitamins A, B’s, C, niacin, riboflavin, iron, carotenes, lutein, flavonoids, lycopene & boron	Prevents against heart disease Promotes circulation Regulates digestion and bowel movements
Cherries	Vitamins C, A, B; has double the iron, calcium, magnesium, & potassium than an orange	Good for vision & immune system growth Enhances memory function Lowers risk of heart disease Anti-fungal properties
Papaya	Vitamins A, E, C, B-complex, carotenes, flavonoids, folate, potassium, magnesium & pantothenic acid	Protects DNA from free-radicals Stimulates tissue recovery Healthful for colon health Anti-inflammatory Boosts immune system Good for lungs & regulates blood sugar
Spinach	More calcium than milk, vitamin K, E, A, C, iron, folate, lutein, potassium	Good for the heart & liver Protects against cancer, age-related macular degeneration Builds bone density
Carrots	Best beta carotene source, vitamins A, E, niacin, B12, potassium	Lowers cholesterol Cleanses blood cell walls Fights infection, cancer, and aging diseases: stroke & hearts attacks Promotes eye-health
Cabbage	High levels of calcium, iron, iodine, potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, vitamin A, B’s, C, E, K, & folic acid	Detoxifies the body Relieves constipation Good for stomach & digestive tract Boosts immune system
Broccoli	High in calcium and vitamins C which aids in iron absorption, essential folic acid, potassium, & beta carotene	Anti-inflammatory properties Good for nervous system repair and function Balances blood sugar levels and pH levels Prevents cataract development Combats osteoporosis Reduces cholesterol
Tomatoes	Contains lycopene, vitamin A, thiamine, C, E, K, calcium, iron, phosphorus & potassium	Protects against prostate cancer Prevents blood clots Regulates blood sugars
Parsley	Contains calcium, vitamins K, A, C, iron, folate, & beta-carotene	Anti-inflammatory properties Boosts immune system Lowers blood pressure
Kale	Contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese & phosphorus, vitamins B’s, A, K, E, beta-carotene, lutein, &  iron	Removes toxins, crucial for cell replication Has anti-inflammatory agents

 

 

 

In-season Fruits and Vegetables for Winter

It’s important to know which fruits and vegetables are in-season to get the freshest, most nutrient dense foods you can find.  In-season produce will also be cheaper, so eat up! However, there are a lot of fruits and vegetables that are available all year long! To get more information about what is currently in-season, visit fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org The following are some of the produce in season for winter: Brussels sprouts, Buttercup squash, Chestnuts, Clementine, Collard Greens, Dates, Grapefruit Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Mandarin Oranges, Passion Fruit, Pear, Pomegranate, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, and Turnips.

 

How to Pick Popular Produce for Maximum Nutrients

 

When visiting the grocery store, it is important to keep in mind that picking out the freshest produce will maximize health benefits by providing the most vitamins and minerals. However, some nutrients are lost during the long road from the farm to your plate. Trust your senses, smell and touch, when you are choosing fruits and vegetables and you will enjoy all the delicious health benefits fresh produce has to offer. Below are some helpful tips on how to pick out some of the most popular fruits and vegetables. Try a local farmer’s market during the summer and early fall months for “right off the vine” freshness. Also, look for locally grown produce in your grocery store as well.

 

Fruit	Signs they are fresh
Cantaloupe	Delicate Aroma; yellow-tinged skin; thick texture on the rind; no stem
Cherries	Average to large size; smooth, shiny surface; new looking stems
Grapes	Tender and plump; firmly attached to the stem; green grapes may have a slight amber blush
Peaches	Plump; firm, with a slight cushion; white or yellow color with a red blush
Oranges	Heavy; firm, smooth texture
Watermelon	Cream-colored underside; symmetrical shape
Asparagus	Straight, green stalks; closed tips
Bell Peppers	Thick; bright; glossy skin; firm
Broccoli	Firm; deep green color; closed florets
Carrots	Bright orange; smooth; firm
Green beans	Long pods; straight; firm; crisp
Onions	Dry; papery; smooth skim; small necks
Potatoes (white)	Firm; oval shape; smooth
Tomatoes	Plump; rich overall red color; slight cushion; smooth