Freshers Flu
81 Months Ago
After a week of partying hard during Freshers Week, the inevitable consequence will come – the dreaded Freshers Flu. Realistically, it’s just a bad cold, but without somebody at home to look after you, it might feel like you’re slowly dying.
Common symptoms:
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fever
What causes it?
- People everywhere – you’re meeting a lot of new people and with so many of you in one place, germs will spread.
- Not sleeping – we know it’s tempting to stay up all night when you’re having so much fun but with early morning lectures, your body won’t thank you.
- Junk food – it’s all too tempting to reach for the takeaway menu or the Pot Noodle but
do try and have a few vegetables and vitamins to keep your strength up. - Alcohol – too much alcohol leads to poor decisions - and hangovers. Please remember to drink responsibly or you’ll feel the consequences the next day.
- Excitement/nerves – it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed or have too much fun, both of which will take it out of your body.
Keep it at bay:
- Stock on up on vitamin supplements and plenty of paracetamol.
- Wash your hands often – there will be a lot of
handshaking and a lot of passing germs! - Get plenty of sleep – any excuse to stay in bed.
- Hydrate yourself - step away from the beer! Make sure you drink plenty of water to help your body recover.
- Eating isn’t cheating. Make sure you eat well, especially if you are drinking
What to do if you do get it:
- Take Paracetamol regularly (always follow the instructions on the medicine packet)
- Try throat gargles with warm salty water or throat pastilles
- Drink plenty of soft drinks (it may also help to warm these)
- Stay at home if you have a raised temperature
- Avoid cigarette smoke
Contact your doctor if you have:
- Any difficulty in breathing
- Any difficulty swallowing saliva or opening your mouth
- A persistent high temperature
- If symptoms persist for more than a few days
You'll bond with everyone else over how terrible you'll feel - you're all in this together!
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