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How to blow the nose on freshers' flu
10 September 2007
Making friends in a new social environment will be the number one priority for most first year students arriving at university this month, with many forgetting to watch out for their health and falling foul of the infamous Freshers' Flu, just as their university careers should be taking off.
Freshers' Flu is a label used to describe the heavy cold symptoms - including headaches, cold sweats and a runny nose - experienced by many students in their first few weeks of university. It strikes at a time when students' immune systems have been lowered by the social whirlwind of Freshers' week, which is often characterised by late nights, excessive drinking and poor nutrition. Students can significantly reduce their likelihood of catching the bug, however, by following a few simple steps to safeguard their health.
Dr Peter Mace, clinical director at Bupa Wellness said, "It is really important that students are aware of what they could be doing to their bodies in the first few weeks of partying at university. Stress, which may be induced by tiredness, combined with a poor diet, late nights and too much alcohol, can weaken the immune system and be a recipe for ill health. All this can make students more susceptible to infections within their first weeks of term.
"While we have to be realistic and accept that Freshers' week is about being away from home and having fun, there are also many simple steps students can take to avoid catching Freshers' Flu. Two key examples include eating healthily, by opting for vitamin-rich foods such as smoothies, and giving their bodies time to recover, by pacing themselves and trying to get as much rest as they can."
Amy Grimshaw suffered a bout of Freshers' Flu as a first year student whilst living in university halls. She said: "As a Fresher you don't really think about your health in the first few weeks of term as you're more concerned with making new friends and having a good time. I would definitely recommend thinking ahead because once you start to feel ill you'll wish you had taken at least one night off to recover."
Parents can help too by preparing a pack of "keep safe and healthy items", such as headache tablets and flu remedies, for their children before they head off to University.
Top Tips for a healthy Freshers' Week
- Pace yourself. Try to get a good night's sleep; at least every other night would be a good start.
- Eat well. Smoothies are a quick and easy way of making sure you edge towards eating five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day.
- Have a night off the alcohol. Some of the organised Freshers' week activities will not involve alcohol, so be selective with your nights out.
- Register with a GP that is close to your University when you arrive. It is often far too late to try to register once you are already ill.
- Place a bottle of water next to your bed before your night out. You will appreciate it when you wake up the next morning.
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