It's Time for Winter Illnesses

by Skye Pinney

It’s getting to be that time of year again, and you have probably already heard people in your classes coughing and sniffling. Hopefully you have reserved some of your absences for sick days! Regardless, the best option would be to avoid sickness altogether, and there are several ways of doing this:

• Cover your face with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into the bend of your arm.

• Keep surfaces clean to minimize the spreading of germs.

• Keep a humidifier in your room if your throat gets dried out. “Because cold air holds little moisture, our noses and throats become dry and irritated, which increases our vulnerability to infection.” Linda B. White, “Natural Remedies for Winter Illnesses”

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Get a flu shot. This can be done at Brady Health for $20. The CDC's website has a ton of information about flu vaccinations. 

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamins help your body fight off infections and bacteria, so get plenty of them from fruits and vegetables.

• Last but not least: wash your hands frequently!

What if you are already sick? If you only have a cold, director of Health Services Mary Tola suggests taking an over-the-counter cold medicine and waiting a few days before going to the health center. There are also a few at-home remedies you can try:

• For congestion, you can try doing a nasal flush using a neti pot. Here is a video on how to do that.

• For a cough or sore throat, swallow a couple teaspoons of honey. According to an article in The New York Times, honey has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and a double-blind study done by pediatricians at Penn State’s medical school showed that children and teenagers given one or two teaspoons of buckwheat honey improved better than those given honey-flavored dextromethorphan (a drug in many cough medicines).

• Eat chicken soup. Although it doesn’t prevent or shorten the cold, “inhaling the warm steam of the soup loosens nasal secretions, which helps drain sinuses. The soup's heat may also ease throat soreness, and the broth helps prevent dehydration.” Consumer Reports, “Home remedies that work”

If you feel that you have an illness you can’t kick, or if you have serious symptoms such as persistent fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent vomiting with an inability to keep fluids down, or worsening abdominal pain, then do not hesitate to go to Brady Health. There are always same-day appointments available if you call in the morning, but some days they fill up by 9 or 10 am, so schedule one ahead of time if possible!