How to Avoid Getting Sick in College

Needing medical attention is expensive when you do not have health insurance. On top of the pills and medicines, you need to purchase and take, you will have to seek a doctor’s consultation and a prescription for medicines which also costs so much. As much as possible you want to avoid getting sick in college so you do not spend the money you are saving for college essentials. 

When you are sick in college, there are fewer people you can depend on to take care of you. You cannot expect your friends (not even your college professors ) to help you out more than they could because they are also busy trying to work out their way in college. Meanwhile, you spend less time studying and more time trying to nurse your way back to health, which is a major inconvenience and might put you off track.

With the looming threats of sickness everywhere, now is the right time to take precautions and be healthy as ever. News has reported new strains of viruses circulating in different places which is causing panic and anxiety among people. One of these viruses is the novel coronavirus which has made its way to US soil. But this is no cause for concern at all because there are ways to avoid catching the virus, and it is also an effective way to avoid getting sick in college altogether. 

As it’s often said, prevention is better than cure - so, better take these tips on how to avoid getting sick in college:

Wash your hands regularly

Flu viruses spread quickly from one host to another, but they can be eradicated through proper hygiene. Washing your hands every four hours will kill the virus and stop it from getting into your system. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep your hands clean and germ-free.

Do not touch your mouth, nose, and eyes - basically, STOP touching your face

If you cannot wash your hands every four hours, then refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, which are your mucous areas. The mucous areas give the viruses direct access to your respiratory and digestive systems. You cannot keep track of what your hands have touched, so it is best that you keep your hands off of your face.

Get vaccinated 

Vaccinations are very important for everyone. It helps you be more immune to different viruses and bacteria that may cause you to get sick or get the flu. Though there is no corresponding vaccine for every sickness, getting immunity through existing vaccinations will automatically help you avoid getting common sickness e.g. common cold, flu. 

Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep causes the immune system to get compromised, especially if it is on an everyday basis. When you don’t get enough sleep your body gets tired quickly and you will feel the lack of energy immediately the next day, which will eventually lead to being sick in college. It’s a common habit for students to pull an all-nighter to study for an exam or write their term papers to be passed the next day, but it’s more important to plan ahead and avoid procrastinating rather than cramming it all on one day. Plan your activities and tasks accordingly so you can sleep earlier at night and have enough sleep. 

Eat a balanced diet

If you live in a dorm, then having a balanced diet may be hard to achieve if dorm meals and cafeteria food are your only options. As newly-independent college students, you also cannot help but feel the freedom of having anything you want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with no one to remind you to eat your veggies and fruits. However, once you feel the brunt of too much sugar, salt, and fatty foods, you will want to go back to a healthy diet. Eat lots of fiber and nutrient-rich foods to have a strong immune system so you can fight off the common flu and avoid getting sick. 

Keep hydrated

Water is your friend, not coffee or energy drinks. It is very important that you keep yourself hydrated every day because water helps your body function properly. A person can live through water longer than it can live through eating food. Water has properties that can help the body feel rejuvenated and satisfied, so constantly drinking enough water is essential to a healthy body. You will likely avoid getting sick in college if you keep a water bottle with you at all times and refilling them at water stations whenever necessary. 

Avoid sharing utensils and water bottles

Sharing utensils and water bottles with other people will make you vulnerable to viruses that may have come from the person you shared with, especially if they are showing symptoms of the flu or they are a stranger. It might offend some friends or family, but they have no choice but to understand the situation if you explain it politely. Also,  avoid sharing shower towels and your toothbrush (which you actually need to do, even without the nCoV concern).

Get vitamin C

Stock up on vitamin C tablets or eat foods that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C builds up a person’s immune system and protects them from getting sick. If you take vitamin C every day, then the likeliness of you getting sick will lessen.

Avoid alcohol and drug use

College is a time for parties and having fun, but you can have fun without abusing alcohol and drugs. These two substances are key players in parties and help with having fun, but they also have long-term effects on our bodies. Alcohol and drugs have a role in weakening our bodies, making us an easy target for all sorts of illnesses, including mental illnesses like addiction, anxiety, and depression.

Keep your dorm room clean

A clean and organized dorm room means it is protected from any bacteria or virus that might be looming in the environment. Make sure you and your roommate regularly clean your space to avoid getting sick in college. It will not be easy, but it is a small price to pay to avoid unnecessary bumps in your college life. 

Have an accessible first aid kit

It is good to be prepared because you will never know when you will catch a common cold, allergies, or any other medical concern. Keep it nearby and have it stocked up with all first aid necessities like medicine, band-aids, morning-after pills, and many more, just in case you get sick or have a medical emergency. 

Be familiar with the campus clinic

If you know your way around the campus, then this will not be a problem. If not, then take a walk and find out where the campus clinic is. When your fever is no longer going down even after you have rested and taken medicine, this is where you will go. If you have a general practitioner you prefer to visit, then you can go there as well. If you cannot avoid getting sick anymore, then you might as well have a plan in action to prevent your illness from getting worse. 

Get active

Exercise is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. When you are fit and active, the likeliness of you getting sick in college is at a minimum. Your body is reactive towards your attempts to be more healthy and will reward you with a strong immune system. It improves the circulation of white blood cells and helps reduce stress, enabling you to hit two birds with stone.

Be well-informed

Whenever there are new strains of disease and illness reported in the news, people tend to panic. Their initial thought is to exhaust all means to keep themselves away from danger, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, some people take advantage of this situation to manipulate information to their benefit, which does not help anyone at all. The best step forward is to be informed by proper health organizations instead of just reading some person’s posts on Facebook or Twitter. By doing so, you will avoid getting sick in college and you will be better protected from any illnesses.

Manage your stress

College can be overwhelming and stressful for any student. When you have to deal with multiple coursework and research papers, you tend to have a challenging time managing your stress levels. You have nothing to worry about if you manage your time accordingly, eat healthily, and exercise. The things you do to avoid getting sick are also helpful in keeping your stress level down to a minimum. So while your stress can put you at risk of getting sick, taking the steps to a healthy lifestyle will keep everything at bay.   

Writing services for college students

If you ever find yourself in a situation where your health is compromised, you do not need to worry about it one bit. Getting sick does not mean your college prominence is over. You can seek help from friends and let your professors know about your condition so they can adjust some schedules around so you will not have a hard time keeping up once you are back. Alternatively, CustomEssayMeister can offer expert writing services for you. We have competent writers who are more than equip to help write your academic papers for you. With us, getting sick will not hinder with you meeting your requirements anymore. Just let us know the writing assistance you require and we will have it ready for you at your own time.