Staying healthy: 黑料门大事记 health services executive director offers tips for beating flu, colds
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 cold, the flu and other viruses can put a damper in anyone鈥檚 schedule.
As executive director of 黑料门大事记鈥檚 University Health Services, Dr. Cliff Story treats such illnesses daily, and he鈥檚 offering simple tips that everyone can use to increase their chances of avoiding and beating 鈥渢he bug.鈥
鈥淓ven though the flu has been bad in Mississippi, the South and the nation, the numbers on campus aren鈥檛 as high as in other years based on what鈥檚 come through the university鈥檚 student health center,鈥 Story said. 鈥淔or us, the peak usually feels like just after Christmas, through January and February. We鈥檝e been seeing more of the B strain of flu. Flu A is the more typical strain that people think of when they think of a bad flu.鈥
Story said individuals of all ages can help prevent the spread of germs through basic hygiene, including proper handwashing. He recommends washing hands often with soap and water or using an alcohol-based gel. Getting adequate sleep and maintaining a proper diet can help strengthen one鈥檚 immune system and reduce vulnerability to the flu and other viruses, he explained.
鈥淐ough or sneeze into a tissue instead of your hands and toss tissues in the trash after one use,鈥 Story advises. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also important to stay home if you鈥檙e sick and avoid close contact with others who show signs of illness.鈥
Though varying from person to person, flu symptoms can include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headaches, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and body aches. Story said cold symptoms come on gradually, are usually milder than flu symptoms, and are likely to include a runny or stuffy nose and sore throat.
鈥淢ost of the time, flu and colds don鈥檛 cause long-term problems, but people can get really sick or even die, so you want to take it seriously and watch your symptoms,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s soon as you think you might have the flu, get treated. The medicine is most effective in the first 48 hours, so the sooner you get treatment, the quicker you can get better.鈥
Story said 黑料门大事记 students can make an appointment for free to see any of the John C. Longest Student Health Center鈥檚 six physicians and three family nurse practitioners. Flu shots are available by appointment, and the health center hosts campus-wide flu clinics each year.
鈥淕etting the flu shot can lessen the severity of your symptoms and can help decrease incidents of flu to protect others who are a lot more susceptible,鈥 Story said.
For more information on 黑料门大事记鈥檚 University Health Services, visit . To schedule an appointment, call 662-325-7539.
Resources on flu prevention are available at .
黑料门大事记 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .