2008 Woodie Awards
Cold season hits hard, flu season to follow
Kristen Alldredge
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Health
- Page 1 of 1
It's that time of the year again, when everyone seems to be sick. Your roommate, the kid
coughing behind you in class; and if prevention fails, it could be you.
Although everyone on campus seems to be carrying tissues and stocking up on vitamin C, it is likely the coughing will only last a few days: Health Services said it has not yet made any diagnoses of strep throat.
Jane O'Brien, director of Health Services, stated that students have been coming in with "simple upper respiratory infections, but all strep throat tests have come back negative." She said there has been a steady flow of ill students since the start of the semester, mostly freshmen who live in close quarters.
Most cold-causing factors are difficult to overcome, like sitting in classrooms together, sharing bathrooms and computers, and lack of sleep, which promote the spread of colds around campus.
To help your immune system, O'Brien advises making healthy food choices, managing your time well, getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night, utilizing the fitness facilities, getting fresh air, and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, especially water, which helps transport nutrients.
Since antibiotics do not work against cold and flu germs, use the enclosed chart for recommended medication to fight your symptoms. For students who have head congestion and scratchy throats Health Services can provide a decongestant, cough medicine, Ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains, and a juice pass to the cafeteria. St. Francis' Emergency Room and Marist's campus physician, who getting fresh air, and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, which helps transport nutrients.
Since antibiotics do not work against cold and flu germs, use the enclosed chart for recommended medication to fight your symptoms. For students who have head congestion and scratchy throats Health Services can provide a decongestant, cough medicine, ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains, and a juice pass to the cafeteria. St. Francis' emergency room and Marist's campus physician, who has more hours on campus this year - five days a week - can write prescriptions for Marist students, who to receive a discounted rate at Hyde Park's East Park Pharmacy. Students can pick up their prescriptions or have them delivered to Health Services. Eckerd's also fills private prescriptions, but does not give a Marist discount.
Additional ways to fight off unwanted infection include gargling with salt water or antiseptic mouthwash, using lozenges, drinking hot honey and lemon (made up of fresh lemon juice, boiled water and added honey), taking extra vitamin C, using a humidifier, and of course homemade chicken noodle soup.
Health Services will make the flu vaccine available in preparation for the upcoming flu season. However, there have been recent news reports of a vaccine shortage due to the Chiron Corporation, which provides half of America's flu vaccine. Chiron failed to meet sterility standards. VOA News says that Health officials have devised a contingency plan that prioritizes children between six and 23 months and adults over 65, people with chronic problems, and health care workers over healthy individuals.
coughing behind you in class; and if prevention fails, it could be you.
Although everyone on campus seems to be carrying tissues and stocking up on vitamin C, it is likely the coughing will only last a few days: Health Services said it has not yet made any diagnoses of strep throat.
Jane O'Brien, director of Health Services, stated that students have been coming in with "simple upper respiratory infections, but all strep throat tests have come back negative." She said there has been a steady flow of ill students since the start of the semester, mostly freshmen who live in close quarters.
Most cold-causing factors are difficult to overcome, like sitting in classrooms together, sharing bathrooms and computers, and lack of sleep, which promote the spread of colds around campus.
To help your immune system, O'Brien advises making healthy food choices, managing your time well, getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night, utilizing the fitness facilities, getting fresh air, and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, especially water, which helps transport nutrients.
Since antibiotics do not work against cold and flu germs, use the enclosed chart for recommended medication to fight your symptoms. For students who have head congestion and scratchy throats Health Services can provide a decongestant, cough medicine, Ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains, and a juice pass to the cafeteria. St. Francis' Emergency Room and Marist's campus physician, who getting fresh air, and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, which helps transport nutrients.
Since antibiotics do not work against cold and flu germs, use the enclosed chart for recommended medication to fight your symptoms. For students who have head congestion and scratchy throats Health Services can provide a decongestant, cough medicine, ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains, and a juice pass to the cafeteria. St. Francis' emergency room and Marist's campus physician, who has more hours on campus this year - five days a week - can write prescriptions for Marist students, who to receive a discounted rate at Hyde Park's East Park Pharmacy. Students can pick up their prescriptions or have them delivered to Health Services. Eckerd's also fills private prescriptions, but does not give a Marist discount.
Additional ways to fight off unwanted infection include gargling with salt water or antiseptic mouthwash, using lozenges, drinking hot honey and lemon (made up of fresh lemon juice, boiled water and added honey), taking extra vitamin C, using a humidifier, and of course homemade chicken noodle soup.
Health Services will make the flu vaccine available in preparation for the upcoming flu season. However, there have been recent news reports of a vaccine shortage due to the Chiron Corporation, which provides half of America's flu vaccine. Chiron failed to meet sterility standards. VOA News says that Health officials have devised a contingency plan that prioritizes children between six and 23 months and adults over 65, people with chronic problems, and health care workers over healthy individuals.