Winter is upon us—and so is the chance of getting sick. With winter comes colds, sinus infections and, you guessed it, the flu.
The Flu, also known as influenza, is said to have as many as 3 million cases each year in the U.S. If you’ve ever had the flu, you know it is not an enjoyable experience (actually, it kind of sucks).
The flu travels through the air in tiny droplets, which makes it easy to spread from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks you have the potential to simply breathe in those tiny droplets of the virus. You can also pick up the virus by touching objects such as a telephone or a computer and then transferring them into your body when you touch your eyes, mouth and nose.
The flu is also constantly changing because it seems as though there’s always a new strain appearing. This can make it difficult for your body’s immune system to fight back. If you have had the flu before, your body has built up anti-bodies to fight that specific strain of the flu virus. Unfortunately, those antibodies won’t help if you come in contact with a new flu strain sub-type.
When it comes to the flu, lots of bed rest and fluids are recommended. However, in some cases, your health care provider might prescribe you an antiviral medication. It is recommended that you drink plenty of water, juice and warm soups to help keep you hydrated. It is equally important to get plenty of rest to help your immune system fight the virus. You should also consider pain killers such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.
Even though it seems as if getting the flu is unavoidable as a college student (we’re constantly surrounded by other people, especially in the dorms), there are precautions you can take to stay healthy this winter. Some preventative methods include washing your hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces before use (e.g. the doorknob in and outside your dorm room) and avoiding touching your face.
Stay healthy, collegiettes!