Yes, it’s that time of year again. It’s getting cooler out, and before you know it the leaves will be changing, along with your wardrobe. You hear the crisp fall breeze whistling through the trees, the fallen leaves crunching under your feet, and…hacking coughs? That’s right, ladies, flu season is almost here.

Now, I have a bit of a strange confession to make – I’ve never had the flu! It’s not that I don’t get sick. In high school, I used to get sick every winter without fail, but I usually got stuck with sinus infections or bronchitis. Never the flu. As you probably remember, in the fall of 2009, which was my freshman year of college, the swine flu hit. Almost every friend I had made at school got some version of the flu, whether it was of the piggy variety or just your grandma’s regular old influenza. I was scared. I’d just been sick for weeks (bronchitis AND a sinus infection) and had missed tons of classes. So what did I do? I got vaccinated for the swine flu and the regular flu. And it worked. No flu for me.

Even though I had a good experience, I’m still never sure whether or not I should get a flu shot, and I’ve heard lots of my friends say the same. I’m not a medical professional, so I can’t give a recommendation on the topic, but I’ve put together some information about the pros and cons of the influenza vaccine to help you (and myself) to make the decision this fall.

First, the facts: this link from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will give you all the basic information you need to know about the vaccine itself, including the different types of vaccines, and who should not be vaccinated. Read More »

The flu sucks. There, I’ve gone and said it; plain and simple. It makes you feel gross, look gross and keeps you in bed all day (in a very different way than you’d want). Usually I’d be looking for any excuse to cuddle up with my favorite movie and relapse into a diet of soup and saltines, but not when it’s for weeks on end and makes you feel just plain shoddy.

It’s no fun having to constantly worry about keeping yourself in check and healthy (especially when you’re packed into college dorms and apartments like germ-infested sardines), so here are some simple and easy ways to integrate healthy actions into your daily life.

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My top contender for Halloween costume this year is “The Swine Flu.” Who knew dressing up as a pig could be so dangerous?  But in all seriousness, swine flu is still among us, and no matter what your college is doing to protect you (read: installing bottles of antibacterial everywhere), we must protect ourselves.

Here are ten tips students should heed when battling the Swine Flu.

10.  Let’s take a look on the bright side. Swine flu is giving you a reason to avoid those all-nighters in the library. The best way to stay healthy is to get a good night’s sleep. Exhaustion will weaken your immune system. So if you happen to opt for sleep instead of a problem set, never fear. When you’re teacher asks where your homework is, just say the swine flu ate it.

9. Wash your hands frequently. I never leave the house without a bottle of Purell, and these days I’m getting stingy with sharing it. Hygiene is key. If you can’t take the flu, stay out of the pig’s pen.

8.  If you feel sick, stay home! You’re not going to impress the hottie in your Bio class if you come into Lab looking like death warmed over. You’ll be labeled the Swine-Spreader and there goes your good reputation.  Next thing you know, you’ll be have to eat your lunch with the Mono-Makeout Slut.

7. Speaking of makeout sluts… Now’s a good time to get your urge to kiss under wraps. Kissing may be like a handshake for you, but you’re going to be exchanging more than a hello with this swap of spit. The Swine Flu is sneaky and it’s looking to sow its wild oats. It will wait for you to put your beer goggles on and then it’ll plant a wet and germy one right on your lips. Beware. Read More »

So finally it is spring…well, at least the snow is sort of melting here, and the temperature is starting to average above freezing during the day. This is the time to be outside on the slushy grass or walking around campus, right?

Well, I wish. It seems like spring at college, I am realizing, is the time of the cold, the headache, the sore throat, and the contagious undergrads.

I’ve noticed everyone here is getting sick. I’m told it’s because I’ve never lived with so many people before, and that we’re all staying inside so much. Basically, germs are running wild. So drink your orange juice for Vitamin C and avoid sneezing classmates. Not that any of that really worked out well for me. And I must say, I’ve learned a very important lesson: taking care of yourself when you’re sick at college is the worst. Read More »