Are you feeling a tickle at the back of your throat? It might be nothing or it might be freshers’ flu! Even if you’re not sure it’s best to get ahead of it so you can return to living your best university life.
As a new student, you might not even have heard of freshers’ flu before. Freshers’ flu is not actually a flu but rather an umbrella term for all the colds and viruses that get passed around during the early days of uni by students who have spent the week mingling and mixing in lectures, freshers events and nights out.
Freshers’ flu can knock you off your feet, some students even have to return home if it’s a bad case, so knowing what symptoms to look out for and how best to treat it can help you minimize its effect.
Where can you pick it up from?
Knowing the hot spots for picking up freshers’ flu means you know where to be extra cautious. While there are some really obvious places, there are others you may not have thought of.
- The club: This is probably the number one culprit for spreading freshers’ flu. Being near a lot of people and touching the same surfaces means it’s all too easy to pick up the flu. And let’s face some of you may be getting rather close in the club.
- The gym: Gyms, for the most part, try their best to get their members to wipe down machines after use but not everyone does. Therefore if someone is ill and has coughed into their hand chances are they’re leaving their germs on any machines they’ve used ready for the next person to pick them up.
- Lectures: You’ll begin to hear some chesty coughs in your lecture halls as more and more people get taken down by freshers’ flu, and now these germs are airborne, and the cold weather might mean that you don’t have any windows open to help clear the air making it all too easy to pick up any germs flying around.
- Public transport: Another enclosed space where people might be coughing and sneezing makes public transport a hot spot for spreading illness. On top of that, you never know who’s touched the handrails and seats and what germs they might have been carrying.
- Communal areas: Flatmates and housemates are likely to catch freshers’ flu and this means it’s now in your home! If they use the kettle or toaster or even just touch the counters you could easily pick up anything they’re putting down.
- Shopping: Sometimes you pick something up to look at and put it back down again and guess what, so do other people. You may be picking up something with freshers’ flu germs on it and not realize it, and just like that you find yourself suddenly ill.
Symptoms
The symptoms of freshers’ flu can vary between each person but here are a few of the main ones that might show up:
- Cough
- Headache
- A blocked or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Feeling tired
- Feeling achy
- Fever
While freshers’ flu is usually nothing to worry about, the symptoms can be quite unpleasant and sometimes may even have you stuck in your bed for a few days. It differs from person to person as to how intense the symptoms become.
How to get better
Now I cannot promise an instant recovery, but if you follow these tips you should find that you’ll be feeling better sooner than you’d expect. It may even lessen how strong your symptoms are.
Drink plenty of fluids
Freshers’ flu can be extremely dehydrating which can make you feel even worse. Making sure to drink lots can help you feel better. Hot drinks such as lemon and honey (Literally just lemon juice, honey and some boiled water) are not only comforting but provide you with vitamin C (from the lemon) and natural sugar (from the honey).
Rest
Feeling tired is your body’s way of telling you it needs rest. It’s fighting off the cold or virus that you have so don’t feel guilty for taking a bed day because while you may feel like you’re not doing a lot your body is working hard to make you better.
Lay off the alcohol
You may be experiencing a bit of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and want to give going out a try. Unfortunately drinking will only make you feel worse. Not only will you then add to your symptoms with a hangover but it will also make you more dehydrated.
Eat Well
Junk food can be really tempting at university as most accommodations will have fast food restaurants lining the streets next to them. Opting for a healthier alternative with lots of fruit and veg will provide your body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to boost your immune system.
Over-the-counter medications
You may find that you need a bit of help to tackle certain symptoms. To reduce a fever or to help with the pain of headaches and aches you can take pain relief medication. For sore throats and coughs, you’ll want to invest in some lozenges and cough syrup. My biggest top tip for uni is to stock up on essential medical supplies. Then you’re always ready if you catch something unpleasant.
Avoiding freshers’ flu altogether
Why suffer with freshers’ flu when you can try and avoid it altogether? There’s no one hundred percent guarantee that you won’t get it but taking a few precautionary actions can lower the chance that you do.
- Carry hand sanitizer: Use your sanitizer whenever you’ve touched a surface that someone else might have done. Especially before eating, drinking or putting your hand anywhere near your face.
- Regularly clean: Don’t be a typical messy student, get into the habit of regularly cleaning and wiping down surfaces. Invest in antibacterial washes and use them regularly.
- Stay fit and healthy: You don’t have to be in the gym every day but make sure you’re keeping exercising enough with a healthy diet. This will make sure that your immune system stays strong and is ready to fight any nasty germs.
- Getting enough sleep: Sleeping enough is crucial to staying healthy. If you are tired and worn down you’ll be more susceptible to any cold or virus going around. So don’t overdo it and give yourself adequate time to rest.
