By Sarah Natchipolsky
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a college student like the sound of a roommate or classmate coughing and sneezing. And this flu season, college students in particular need to be proactive in their disease prevention efforts.
“Being in crowded places such as dining halls, restaurants, classrooms, gyms and parties increases anyone’s risk of contracting seasonal illnesses such as the flu,” Julia Matute, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness Services at the University of Maryland’s Health Center, said over email. “This would include college students.”
Flu season can reach its peak at any time in the fall and winter months, Matute said. Typically, cases begin to emerge in October and November with most of them occurring between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Freshman journalism student Jessica Umbro has tried to avoid getting sick by drinking tea, using hand sanitizer and spending less time in shared spaces such as the lounge in her dorm. However, she’s still concerned that her efforts will not be enough to ward off illness.
“My whole floor is just getting sick one by one,” Umbro said. “We’re all using the lounge, and we’re all using the same facilities. And it’s just a lot easier to get sick because you’re constantly around other people.”
The Health Center recommends that people wash their hands frequently, avoid sharing food and drinks, disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched and maintain a well-balanced diet to avoid catching any illnesses.
Liana Suttin, a freshman letters and sciences student, visited the health center Sept. 13 with a sore throat. While her malady turned out to be a common cold, she still found herself feeling run-down for part of the week.
“On one of the days I was feeling at my worst I definitely had less energy in my classes, and I didn’t have that much motivation to participate in class,” she said.
To get back on her feet, Suttin took over-the-counter medicine, drank lots of fluids and got extra sleep.
Young adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, according to The National Sleep Foundation. Getting less than the recommended hours of sleep can compromise the immune system, making sleep-deprived students more susceptible to illnesses.
Students still have time to prepare for the upcoming flu season and protect themselves.
“We monitor influenza-like illness activity weekly throughout the year and have not seen an uptick this semester thus far,” Matute said.
Both the Health Center and nearby pharmacies have flu shots available for this season. The CDC recommends that patients get flu shots by the end of October.
If you happen to be the roommate or classmate whose coughing is causing other students to fear, do them a favor and cough into your sleeve or a tissue instead of your hand to avoid spreading whatever ailment has got you feeling down.