Fending off flu season

Professional advice and tips on staying healthy around the contagious virus

With the flu season quickly approaching, many are left wondering what they can do to avoid contracting the pesky virus. From healthy eating to flu shots, there are several precautions students can take in order to steer clear of sickness.

Relief — Medication helps to ease flu symptoms like sore throat and coughing. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Relief — Medication helps to ease flu symptoms like sore throat and coughing. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

Staying healthy begins with taking care of the immune system, and according to Liberty University School of Nursing Assistant Professor Jerry Harvey, there are simple tactics that students can start with to build their immune systems.

“First, stay well hydrated (and) limit caffeine products,”Harvey said.

According to WebMD.com, staying hydrated helps the immune system fight off sickness, so water is the best option when it comes to drinking fluids.

Harvey also encouraged students to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and to exercise regularly.

“You heard it from your mother, and it is true: Eat a diet that has lots of fruits and vegetables,” Harvey said. “Also, do 40 minutes of cardio exercise four times a week. Eating lots of veggies and exercising will also help keep the extra weight off which supports a stronger immune system.”

Vitamin C, according to Harvey, is an essential vitamin to take during the flu season. And while citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits are popular for their ample amount of vitamin C, it turns out that other fruits and vegetables contain much more than oranges.

According to Health.com, vegetables and fruits such as chili peppers, bell peppers, kale, strawberries and mangos all contain more vitamin C than a small orange, which has an average of 51.1 milligrams of vitamin C.

For students who are constantly sharing computers, bathrooms and resident halls, the best way to keep from spreading germs is to sanitize.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that frequent hand washing is still the best way to avoid disease communication,” Harvey said. “With that said, if you are unable to wash your hands, use Germ-X. Also, there are multiple sanitation wipes that can be used on one’s computer and other electronic devices.”

Harvey prompted students to pay the doctor a visit at the first signs of the flu.

“If you suspect you have the flu, go immediately to the nurse practitioner or physician,” Harvey said. “If you are seen within two days of getting the flu … (doctors) can prescribe Tamiflu which may greatly reduce your symptoms.”

Harvey believed that students should not delay getting the flu vaccination.

“The CDC still says that this is the best way to prevent getting the flu,” Harvey said. “Because our students live in dorms and tend to be very social, they will almost assuredly come into contact with others who have the flu. A student may develop immunities to the flu virus in just a few days after the vaccine has been given.”

According to the CDC’s website, side effects of the flu vaccine include soreness and swelling at the sight of the injection, fever and aches.

Harvey suggested that students should take Tylenol or Motrin 30 minutes prior to receiving the vaccine in order to combat the side effect symptoms.

“The flu vaccine is highly recommended, so much so that most insurance companies will pay for it completely,” Associate Dean of Nursing Shanna Akers said.

Harvey said Liberty periodically holds flu vaccination clinics at a nominal cost, but many students delay getting the vaccine because their health care insurance will not cover the cost of it while the student is away from their home.

“For any student who has not had the vaccine before Thanksgiving, I would recommend that they get the vaccine while they are at home during the holidays,” Harvey said.

However, some students choose not to get vaccinated, and for those students, Akers recommended that they take extra precautions to avoid contracting the flu.

Students can keep healthy by “handwashing frequently with soap and avoiding others who are ill,” Akers said. “Being in a close proximity with someone who has a fever is never a good idea.”

Harvey also acknowledged the dangers of not being vaccinated.

“Not having the vaccine is very risky,” Harvey said. “If a student does not want the vaccine, then they should do everything they can to boost their immune system, and as a last ditch effort, they can wear a surgical face mask while out in public. For students who have an intolerance for egg products, they can receive the vaccine nasally rather than the standard injection.”

For more information on vaccinations offered at Liberty, visit liberty.edu/studentaffairs/healthservices.

BUNNER is a news reporter.

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