Staying healthy this winter
By Taryn Dameron

Winter is coming, and a look around most MU classrooms will tell you that student illness is coming right along with it. So what is a student to do? Aside from hiding in your dorm and avoiding human contact, the Student Health Center has some tips to help students make it through to spring.

“The most important thing is to keep the immune system up,” said Terry Wilson, health educator at the Student Health Center. “Once the immune system crashes, you’re going to get sick.”

Wilson recommends that all students receive a flu shot, which will be available to students for $20 on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at N112 Memorial Union, and on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 233 Brady.

In addition to a flu shot, the brochure, “I don’t have time to be sick,” put out by the Student Health Center, offers a few key self-care methods that students should take into consideration. Methods include getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids, eating well, exercising and avoiding tobacco smoke. 

“The problem is that students are so busy,” Wilson said. “They are trying to manage school, manage their job and maintain a social life, and something gives. Whether it’s sleep or nutrition or exercise, something gives. We want them to try and stay focused on being healthy.”

Getting an adequate amount of sleep means feeling refreshed when you wake up, having plenty of energy for the day and even waking up before the alarm. According to ETR Associates, a non-profit organization focused on health promotion and education, some ways to ensure better sleep are developing a regular sleep pattern, reducing stress and avoiding caffeine in the evening.

Important fluids the Student Health Center recommends are water, clear fruit juices, herbal teas and sports drinks. Signs of proper hydration include urinating every two to three hours, having moist lips and not feeling dizzy or light-headed when you stand up. Healthy eating habits that will help fight illness include eating fruits and vegetables daily.

Smoking increases the risk of catching a cold and keeping it longer. According to the Student Health Center, tobacco smoke, even second-hand smoke, paralyzes the hair cells that line your nose, sinus and lungs for up to 48 hours, disabling your body from getting rid of mucus and germs in the normal way.

For tips on quitting smoking and more details on staying healthy this winter, stop by the Student Health Center or visit studenthealth.missouri.edu.

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