If classes, jobs, and social events aren’t hard enough for college students to handle, throw a common winter sickness in the mix and see what happens. That’s right, it’s that time of year and people are getting sick! With increasingly high scholastic and social demands, it is often hard for students to keep up even after one bout with illness.

Luckily there is something students can do to stay healthy this winter season. Laura Morris, a senior in Auburn’s School of Nursing and advises fellow students to take proactive measures to keep their health in tact. “It is really important to educate yourself on different illness and know the best ways to prevent them and avoid the situation altogether,” says Morris.

With 2008 being the worst flu season in four years, it is important that college students know their facts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the influenza virus infects the respiratory tract and can have serious, life threatening complications. On average, 36,000 people die and 200,000 are hospitalized each year in the United States due to the influenza virus.

The flu is passed from person to person through respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. It is highly contagious but can be prevented. The CDC maps out a few steps to fight the flu. First, get the yearly flu vaccine. Auburn students can get their annual vaccine on campus at the AU Medical Clinic. Second, wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when you cough, and avoid close contact with sick people. If you think you have the flu, go to your doctor immediately and take the prescribed antiviral drugs.

With more people staying inside because of cold weather, it is easier for germs to be passed and sicknesses spread. Along with the flu, another highly contagious illness is the common cold. It too is spread from person to person and its peak outbreak time is in the winter.

Although not as serious as the flu, the common cold can be quite the nuisance. Its symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and a sore throat and it often causes fatigue. Like the flu, one of the most important preventive measures for the common cold is washing your hands frequently.

Another, less talked about illness is winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to a study at Cornell University, nearly 25% of college students suffer from SAD and that percentage is rising. SAD is caused by a lack of sufficient sunlight and shorter days in the fall and winter seasons. A lack of sunlight creates unstable melatonin levels in the body causing a change in mood, energy level, and in some cases, and inability to concentrate. Students are encouraged to contact the Student Counseling Services in the AU Medical Clinic if SAD treatment is needed.

People with SAD should also focus on getting adequate sleep each night, along with eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. These tips can decrease the symptoms of SAD as well as help build the immune system, which helps the body defend itself from the flu and the common cold.
So, this winter, college students can stay healthy by staying educated and taking simple steps that will keep them feeling good all winter long.


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