With the cold and flu season closing in on us – and for a few of us, already here – it might be time for a reminder about those key health tips we learned in grade school. Much like basic algebra and English skills, we forget simple things like singing our ABCs when washing our hands or how to have a solid sleeping pattern.
Lori Kilian, a registered nurse working at the Snow Health Center here on campus, provided some basic information on how to stay healthy.
• Wash your hands. Yes, you need to do more than just put them under some lukewarm water. Hand washing is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent a cold or flu. When you don’t feel like washing your hands, just remember you are carrying the germs on your hands, and when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you could be infected. Common rule of thumb is to sing your alphabet when washing. Any chance you can wash your hands, do so.
• Sleep is very important. Lack of sleep slows reaction time, which could be awful if you are taking an exam. Sleep deprivation also increases your appetite, and you will eat as much as 1,000 extra calories. If you are anything like the average student, you will reach for something sugary, maybe an energy drink, which weakens your immune system. So if you don’t want to gain that freshman 15, find a regular sleeping pattern or a number of hours of sleep that works for you. Most people need an average of eight hours.
• Coughing onto your elbow and shoulder might seem like something that falls into the “no duh” category, yet this is truly something that cannot be stressed enough. Unless you are the Incredible Hulk and have hands the size of pizzas, it is most likely that you are not catching all the germs when you cough, thus spraying it everywhere. Plus, it’s never a good idea to cough or sneeze into what you pick up your food with.
• Have a balanced diet. “Eat all the colors of the rainbow, though that does not include Skittles,” Kilian said. Fruits and vegetables are full of minerals, fiber and complex sugars that provide generous amounts of vitamin C, which help during those tough study times. Also, a balanced diet will prevent fatigue and illness. When it comes to meat, lean is the way to go. Today, most grocery stores carry meat with labels showing the fat content.
• Kilian urges that all students get up to date on their immunizations. Let’s face it, we are not living on an island. We still can catch all the viruses we encounter in the community. The Snow Health Center has immunizations that students need, ranging in cost from $30 to $65 without insurance. Some will cost more depending on your needs.
For more information on vaccines, or any other health related question, simply call Snow and they will put you through to a nurse. There is no excuse for not getting the help you need and for not making mindful decisions. Are these tips foolproof? Absolutely not. However, they will certainly cut down your chances of getting sick this season, which is always a good thing.
