2008 Woodie Awards
Drop in weather leads to the common cold and flu
Taylor Higgins
Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Features
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While there is no cure for the cold or flu, students are actively taking measures like eating well, taking vitamins, drinking lots of fluids and getting plenty of rest to stay healthy.
"I've been on my toes this winter about not getting the flu," said Jenna Spadaccini, junior, Mountainside, N.J.
"If I feel a cold coming on then I usually lay low until I start to feel better," said Spadaccini.
Another student takes a different approach.
"If I start to feel sick, I just make some chicken noodle soup, and drink plenty of ginger ale," said Rose Alvarez, junior, Berkeley Heights, N.J.
"That's what works for me," said Alvarez.
Another way to stay healthy this winter and reduce the risk of catching the flu is to get vaccinated with the flu shot.
Students can receive the flu shot by making an appointment at Health Services.
"However, because the particular flu strains that the vaccine protects against may not be the same ones that are going around your area, the vaccine is not always 100% effective," states flufacts.com.
Therefore, students who receive the vaccination must continue to take precautions to avoid getting the flu.
According to the nurse practitioner, Brenda Dunlap, at Health Services, there are ways to tell if you have a cold or the flu, and certain steps to take if you get sick.
"First of all, most colds start off as a virus, and viruses fill your head with fluid. Your tonsils start to get swollen, you start to feel miserable, and your temperature raises," said Brenda Dunlap, nurse practitioner, Fairfield.
"It takes about four to five days with proper rest, proper diet, and maybe a good multi-vitamin to get rid of it," said Dunlap.
"There is no cure, but there are steps to make you feel comfortable, like Sudafed and Mucinex to clear up your head," said Dunlap.
"If, after four or five days you still don't feel better, you should make an appointment with Health Services to rule out the possibility of an infection," said Dunlap.
"Other than that, the rest is just good common sense. Always wash your hands, eat right, and sleep right," said Dunlap.
The best treatment to avoid getting a cold or the flu is prevention. Simple steps and common sense can be the difference between a runny nose or a week in bed.
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