If you’re in any classes with me… you probably noticed that before Thanksgiving break, I had a cold. No, I’m not conceded and think that everyone takes special notice of me. Rather, I had an annoyingly loud, frequent, and utterly uncontrollable cough. Did I mention it lasted a good three to four weeks? My professors expressed worry for my health (one stopped lecture about four times to pardon the beast) and I got numerous death stares in any study location I attempted to work in.
The thing is, I would estimate about 50 percent of the BC population was experiencing the same cold I was, more or less. It went through all of my roommates, around my fellow Plex workers, and one of my friends had it so bad, he had to go to the hospital!
The problem is as college students, we’re too busy to get over a cold. That and we prioritize partying over a night in recovering with some tea and a few Friends episodes, which only makes matters way worse. So I’m here to offer some tips on how to 1) avoid colds and 2) nurse them.
How to keep a cold away:
1. Take notice the SECOND you feel that itch in your throat.
If you notice that tingling in your throat, you’ve probably caught it early enough to ward it off. I caught that sensation a week before I was running the Boston Half Marathon. Needless to say, I freaked and did everything possible to keep it off, like the following:
2. Take Emergen-C or Airborne®!
Every morning when you wake up, take this stuff. It will pump you with vitamin-C and help to keep your immune system strong.
3. Drink orange juice or Odwalla Monster-C!
Again, it’s all about that vitamin-C!
4. GET SLEEP!
This is the most important thing to take away: SLEEP EIGHT HOURS. I know, it sounds sooo crazy, but believe me it’s the key to your success.
5. Wash your hands
Everywhere you go, wash your hands (you should do this anyways…). Especially before eating, after going to the bathroom, or working out at the Plex.
(These strategies worked for me! I kept my cold away until after the race, phew!)
How to nurse a cold:
1. REPEAT AFTER ME: SLEEP
I know, I know, you have a UGBC meeting followed by rehearsal for the Acoustics, and then you have to zip downtown for your internship, all the while finishing your homework (hi, 10-pager). Well, do you want your cold to stay forever? MAKE TIME. Give yourself a full eight hours of rest. It will work wonders.
2. Day-Quill & Ny-Quill
Comfort your cold with medicine. Day-Quill and Ny-Quill are fantastic remedies to get you through the day/night. If you have a bad cough, be sure to get cough syrup ASAP and those delicious Halls cough drops.
3. Hot tea with honey.
This is a must for that cough and sore throat. The green tea with pomegranate, sold in Lower, is my personal favorite. The hot water will soothe your throat and the taste is delicious. Perfect.
4. STAY IN ONE NIGHT! YOU CAN DO IT.
Woah. I’m challenging you to stay in one night?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Not a bit. Let’s be real for a second. If you have a bad cold, drinking massive amounts of alcohol is only going to make it worse. Not to mention sharing cups while playing various drinking games will only spread your nasty virus, and perhaps give you another one! Get over your FOMO (fear of missing out) and chill out in your cozy room.
Happy cold season, BC! Hopefully these tips will help you stay healthy through finals. Have any tips of your own? Comment below, tweet at us, or write them on our Facebook wall! We busy, cold-prone college students need to stick together!
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