Every year, the flu and other viral infections plague colleges across campus. SMU is no exception. You probably have a friend or at least know someone who’s sick right now. NPR estimates that 1 out of every 4 college students in America will get the flu each year.
Being sick on campus can hurt in more ways than one. Not only is the flu an extremely unpleasant experience, but students lose valuable time, fall behind on classes and miss out on important events.
Having the flu on a crucial test day or, even worse, near finals week can ruin a whole semester of work. So, in order to avoid getting sick at the worst times, here are some helpful tips to help both avoid catching the flu and spreading it.
Flu shots are one of the most underestimated ways to avoid the flu. A study at the University of Buffalo estimates that only 10 percent of their students will actually get the flu shot every year. Reasons for the low rate of compliance are due to uninformed college students about the flu and how flu shots work. However, it is by far the most effective and sure way to avoid the flu.
Flu shot effectiveness was “associated with a 71 percent reduction in flu-related hospitalizations among adults of all ages,” a study from the Center for Disease Control states. SMU is currently offering the 2014 seasonal flu shot for free for all SMU students. By filling out a short form and bringing your ID card, you receive a free flu shot from the SMU Health Center during their normal working hours. In addition, SMU has a whole page dedicated to flu preparedness and the free flu shot.
Other than the flu shot, avoiding viruses on campus is as easy as practicing a healthy lifestyle and good hygiene. Sleeping right is crucial for maintaining a strong immune system. Lack of sleep affects the immune system by compromising its ability to fight off infections.
Poor sleep not only decreases your body’s immune system capabilities but also decreases the effectiveness of the flu shot. The flu shot works by creating a response in your body to the flu virus. The response triggers the immune system to create antibodies that recognize this virus. Next time the virus appears, your body is already ready to fight it with the pre-existing antibodies.
However, sleep deprivation leads to a decrease response time in your body. While your body is producing antibodies from the vaccine, a lack of sleep can delay or deter production of the antibodies exposing the body to a higher risk of getting sick.
In addition to getting the yearly flu shot, washing your hands is yet another easy way to avoid getting sick. Washing your hands is the first line of defense against infectious diseases. The Mayo Clinic of Medicine has a list of guidelines of not only how but also when to wash your hands. Their list includes washing your hands before eating, removing contacts and after touching anything that may have been touched by many other people, such as doors or handrails. They recommend washing your hands vigorously for at least twenty seconds under running water. An easy alternative to running to the bathroom every hour is carrying around hand sanitizer and using it instead.
Try avoiding contact with others who are sick as well. Don’t handle a sick person’s personal items or their belongings. On the other hand, if you are sick, stay at home and try not to infect other people on campus. On a college campus like SMU, disease spreads incredibly fast.
Although not going to class may seem like not an option, going to class sick may hurt you more in the long run. An unproductive day in class sick may prevent you from getting the rest you need to recover.
There are also many over the counter medicines that can help treat flu symptoms. For example, Tylenol can help lower discomfort levels and ibuprofen can treat headaches and fevers. Cough drops can soothe a sore throat and so can homemade salt-water remedies. In addition to medicine, rest and plenty of clear fluids can help the body recover naturally.
Doing any of these things can help lower your chance of contracting the flu or any number of diseases. However, only the cooperative effort of everyone at SMU can prevent the flu from spreading. At SMU, a healthy semester is crucial for a successful one.
