Written by Bradley Bommarito
While many of us returned from fall break feeling refreshed and prepared to take on the remainder of the semester, others may not be feeling so perky this week. We are entering flu and cold season, which normally begins by mid-October and peaks sometime between December and February.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “What is Influenza (Flu)?” webpage, flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. As described on their “Disease Burden of Influenza” webpage, the CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9.3 million and 49 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 960,000 hospitalizations, and between 12,000 and 79,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
It can be tough to distinguish between the flu and a common cold, but generally flu symptoms develop quite suddenly and are greater in severity. Symptoms include fever and/or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.
The flu tends to heavily affect children, the elderly, and pregnant women. It can cause or worsen bacterial infections and worsen chronic health problems such as congestive heart failure, asthma, and diabetes. Thankfully, a cheap and widely available flu vaccination exists.
“The influenza vaccine is, on average, 92 percent effective against multiple flu strains. The impact of the virus this season is projected to be at least twice as prevalent as compared to recent years,” said sophomore Bennet Franz, a public health major who works with Student Health & Counseling Services.
The flu vaccine will not completely prevent you from contracting a strain of flu, but it will significantly decrease your chances of this occurring as well as lessen the severity of impact and your chances of dying if you do become sick. The vaccine tends to cost less than 45 dollars without insurance, and most health insurances cover the cost completely. Students can get the vaccine through their primary care doctor, at most pharmacies, and even right here on campus.
“Students may not realize that RC Health Services offers free flu shots, discounted emergency contraceptive pills, individual counseling, and group therapy, among other things,” said Franz.
Based on the rapid spread and elevated death toll of Australia’s last flu season, experts are warning Americans to take flu season seriously this year. College students should strongly consider getting vaccinated as soon as possible due to the flu’s extreme virality in a close-quarters setting such as a college campus.
“Every health system in the developed world requires all employees to be vaccinated against the flu each season. They would not spend that much money each year if they did not think the vaccine was highly important. College students live in close quarters, so coming down with an illness often affects more than just yourself,” said Franz.
Besides getting vaccinated, there is another simple strategy for steering clear of flu and colds: taking care of yourself. Your physical and mental health impacts your immune system, so you should give your body its best possible chance of fending off illness by making healthy choices and treating your body with care.
“Eating balanced meals, taking adult multivitamins, staying consistently hydrated, and achieving adequate rest are important and easy ways to keep yourself healthy. Nutrition, exercise, and stress management are often overlooked elements of health and wellness. Some people tend to separate physical and mental health, failing to realize that they mutually impact each other significantly. Sleep is also a vital part of letting your body recover from your daily activities,” said Franz.
Those who may contract the flu, especially if they experience prolonged and elevated fever, should see a health professional and avoid contact with others. The flu is most viral during the first 2 to 4 days of the illness, which tends to coincide with peak fever as well. It’s important to prevent the spread of the flu by self-quarantining during the period in which you’re most infectious.
“If you have a fever, you could be contagious for a virus or infection. It is in everyone’s best interest to take a day to recover from illness rather than to push through and potentially put others at risk,” said Franz.
