The Daily OrangeTOBACK: Battling a cold before it starts begins with daily practices
By Rebecca Toback
Posted: 9/3/09, 1:58 AM EST Section: Feature
I learned many things from college. First, that I was going to be sick every other week and no amount of vitamins, orange juice or mysterious potions could change that. Second, that it was difficult to find a decent doctor around. And most importantly, and most unfortunately, that I was never going to get the sleep I needed to stop feeling as if I was going to pass out 24/7.
Upon catching my third cold - or as Syracuse University Health Services likes to call it, "upper respiratory infection" - and before it was time to break out the winter coats, I realized I was going to need to see a real doctor outside of the University's boundaries.
After waiting a week to get called back from the doctor's office, which claimed to not be accepting new patients, I got in and saw a doctor who told me what I already knew. I had a bad cold; it was midterm season and that was "to be expected," she assured me.
After digesting the obvious, I loaded up on DayQuil and cough syrup and headed back to the dorm with a box of tissues to study with my similarly contaminated floormates. Before I knew it my mom sent me a package with a variety of vitamins. Some smelled horrible, and some were easy to take down, but none solved the problem.
After midterms there were a few pleasant upper respiratory infection-free weeks and then the bug struck again. At this point I was definitely not going to throw in the towel and ride out the "freshman flu" every few Fridays. I began looking for a practical solution.
Using hand sanitizer before, during and after each class is one of the easiest ways to kill bacteria. Sitting in a desk that hundreds have sat in, and coughed all over, is just asking for a cold.
Avoid using the library computers at all costs; they're a virtual breeding ground for germs that hide in the keyboard and mouse and wait to infect your body. If you have to use public computers or other facilities that people are free to unload their bacteria onto, wash your hands often.
Upon catching my third cold - or as Syracuse University Health Services likes to call it, "upper respiratory infection" - and before it was time to break out the winter coats, I realized I was going to need to see a real doctor outside of the University's boundaries.
After waiting a week to get called back from the doctor's office, which claimed to not be accepting new patients, I got in and saw a doctor who told me what I already knew. I had a bad cold; it was midterm season and that was "to be expected," she assured me.
After digesting the obvious, I loaded up on DayQuil and cough syrup and headed back to the dorm with a box of tissues to study with my similarly contaminated floormates. Before I knew it my mom sent me a package with a variety of vitamins. Some smelled horrible, and some were easy to take down, but none solved the problem.
After midterms there were a few pleasant upper respiratory infection-free weeks and then the bug struck again. At this point I was definitely not going to throw in the towel and ride out the "freshman flu" every few Fridays. I began looking for a practical solution.
Using hand sanitizer before, during and after each class is one of the easiest ways to kill bacteria. Sitting in a desk that hundreds have sat in, and coughed all over, is just asking for a cold.
Avoid using the library computers at all costs; they're a virtual breeding ground for germs that hide in the keyboard and mouse and wait to infect your body. If you have to use public computers or other facilities that people are free to unload their bacteria onto, wash your hands often.
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