Autumn is officially here. Not only does the season bring cooler temperatures, colored leaves and Halloween, it also brings an increase of colds and flu on campus.
Although I love the coolers months, I absolutely hate the diseases that “go around” during this time.
The CEOs of Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Lysol, must enjoy the money I give them. I often spray Lysol on everything and anything in my room that I perceive to inhabit germs that could cause sickness.
I also wash my hands regularly with antibacterial soap and carry waterless hand sanitizer with me where ever I go.
In addition to going overboard on the disinfectant, I also stay up-to-date on all my vaccinations and get a flu shot every year. Although I hate needles, I am happy to get stuck. Many medical professionals say a vaccination is one of the best ways to become immune to a strain of viruses.
Even though it is a hard feat to accomplish, I also try to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. These foods possess nutrients and antioxidants, which boost the immune system.
The white blood cells found in the immune system are better equipped to the fight illness-causing antibodies with proper eating habits.
Many medical professionals also emphasize that a person who wants to stay healthy during the sick months needs to exercise regularly, get an adequate amount of sleep and keep stress at bay.
But in a college setting, many of us constantly stress about upcoming exams, which causes a deficit of sleep, which causes many to not care about what we eat. Doing everything to stay healthy is nearly impossible.
Or is it?
Instead of studying all test material the night before, allot smaller time frames to study a few days before the test. For some, cramming for exams also leads to an increased amount of stress.
Starting homework at 2 a.m. because you were watching reruns of “Roseanne” on “Nick at Nite” for three hours before is also a bad idea. Start working as early as possible so you can fit in at least seven hours of sleep every night.
No matter how many lifestyle changes are made, people still get sick.
To prevent the spread of illness, sick people should avoid going to class if they can.
Many illnesses are airborne, and germs can be “caught” in various mucus membranes, such as the nose and mouth.
Germs lurk in every cough and sneeze. When sick people do not cover their mouth and nose, it is not only disgusting, it also propels germs into the air.
Nasty, disease-causing germs stay around long after the illness carrier leaves the classroom. Germs lounge around on desks, doorknobs, walls and every other surface imaginable, just waiting for a new host.
If a test is given out on a sick day, sick people probably should not skip.
But for those who can afford a sick day, get plenty of rest and see the school nurse if needed. Even simple actions, like washing your hands, will curb the spread of disease.
These measures often lead to less sick time. Less sick time equates to less opportunities to spread sickness to others.