Everyone has that class in which the professor can't speak loud enough to be heard over the coughs, sneezes and sniffles coming from the students. You hear about every third word that is spoken, and your shirt sleeve is dripping wet from snot. Maybe you learned how to use a Kleenex in first grade, but wouldn't it be nice to just avoid the cold-flu ordeal that comes at the beginning of every spring semester?
There are a few things students can do to avoid missing the second week of class with a fever and muscle aches, and none of them are difficult.
First and foremost, wash your hands. Often. This means when you go to the bathroom, when you borrow your sick roommate's iPod, when you get done working out, after you blow your nose. Wash your hands. Washing your hands doesn't mean splashing around in the water; it means using soap and scrubbing. It also means using hot water. Also, be sure not to overuse antibacterial hand gel. These products can work wonders in a pinch, but bacteria can develop immunity to it if you overuse it.
The second-best step you can take to avoid getting sick is making sure you get enough sleep at night. This is the beginning of the semester, and unless you have an evil professor, you should not have had to pull an all-nighter yet. This is the time of year when your stress level and homework load should be relatively low. I realize in two weeks that could all change, but get ahead while you can. Everyone has heard how eight hours of sleep is ideal, but you know your body the best. Some people can get by on five hours - most of us can't - but you know when you haven't had enough Z's.
Along with getting enough sleep is knowing how to deal with stress. These two factors tend to go hand-in-hand. When you are stressed, you stay up later to get things done, or you can't sleep at all. This is where your stress-management skills come into play. Whether your stress-busting activity of choice is yoga, working out at Peter's Recreation Complex or baking cookies, find something and do it when life gets a little hairy. You might avoid a cold that could put you even farther behind than you already are.
You can also eat healthy foods to avoid getting sick. Orange juice and vitamin C have long been what people consume to avoid colds, but just eating more healthily in general should also help your body boost its immune system. Exercise can also help keep you cold-free. In addition to preventing sickness, exercise also can make you feel better when you are already sick. Just make sure you stay hydrated and be sure not to overexert yourself.
If you are going to the Rec and you are sick, make sure you wipe down every machine you touch with the disinfectant, and use the antibacterial hand gel provided in the weight room and at the service area desks. If you want to work out in the Rec and are weary of the sick people around you, then wipe down your machine before you use it, and don't forget about washing your hands, too.
Last but certainly not least, stay hydrated. If you give your body the tools it needs to stay healthy, it won't let you down. When you start to skimp on things your body needs, that's when you get sick. So follow these tips to keep you healthy and productive during a season of sickness.
Kendall Hall is a senior in kinesiology and a certified personal trainer at the Peters Recreation Complex. Please send comments to sports@spub.ksu.edu.
