The Freshers Flu Guide For Sniffly Students
Your university applications are finally done, you’ve bagged your place on a great course, you’ve packed up and moved into your new accommodation, and instead of a housewarming gift, what do you get? Freshers’ flu.
This uniquely British term describes the onslaught of low-level illnesses that attack new university students right when they need to be at their best: the first few weeks of term. And sorry, postgrads, even if you did get a first in your Bachelor’s degree, freshers’ flu still won’t be scared off. That’s right - neither undergrads and postgrads are safe!
Or are they?- Follow this guide to stave off or beat freshers’ flu this term.
Freshers’ Flu Symptoms
As a viral attack, there isn’t much you can do to cure freshers’ flu. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections, and even though we’ve landed on the moon and dogs have learnt how to skateboard, we still don’t have a cure for the common cold, which is exactly what freshers’ flu is.
As such, freshers’ flu isn’t life threatening, and it isn’t really flu. If you are unlucky enough to experience it, symptoms of freshers’ flu include:
Fever
Coughing
Sore throat
Fatigue
Headaches
A runny or blocked nose
Cold sweats
Nausea
Feeling run down.
There are also some psychological symptoms of freshers’ flu that can exacerbate the physical symptoms. Feelings of homesickness, stress, and anxiety can all make the physical symptoms feel worse, and they can make you more susceptible to getting ill in the first place.
If your symptoms worsen considerably, for instance if a cough is causing a high temperature and breathlessness, you could be suffering from a chest infection. That will need treatment from a GP and careful monitoring. Plus, if your symptoms last more than a week without improvement, get a check up with a GP.
What Causes Freshers’ Flu?
Freshers’ flu is not an illness caused by a special type of bacteria unique in its ability to knock new university students for six every autumn. It’s generally believed that it’s a combination of fatigue, stress, poor diet, increased alcohol consumption (don’t deny it), and suddenly coming into contact with a huge amount of people from all over the world that causes freshers’ flu.
Suddenly mixing with a lot of new people exposes everyone to new variants of germs they may not have come into contact with before, meaning their immune system hasn’t built up any defences against them. Feeling stressed and anxious, which is a natural response to a big life change, lowers your immune system’s ability to fight off these bugs, and makes you more susceptible to getting sick.
Although there’s no cure, there are still a wealth of tactics you can employ to stave off the ugly freshers’ flu entirely, or relieve your symptoms if you’ve already become ill.
Quick fixes
For sore throats and coughs, sip warm water or tea mixed with honey and lemon. The natural antibiotic, antiviral, and anti- inflammatory properties in honey will help to kill off some of the germs irritating your throat by drawing moisture away from bacteria through its low pH, as well as soothing any soreness caused by coughing. The lemon helps to break up mucus and phlegm (yuck) and bacteria don’t like to grow in an acidic environment. Drinking hot drinks will also help you stay hydrated and open up your airways to relieve the horrible feeling of a stuffed nose.
Nasal drops and sprays can also help clear your airways more quickly if a hot drink isn’t doing the trick, so you can stop saying “By name’s Abanda” to all of your new uni friends.
Good old over the counter pain relievers will help to reduce a fever, calm down a headache, and take the edge off any aches and pains you’re feeling.
How To avoid freshers’ flu entirely
Get 40 winks - and plenty of them
Getting proper sleep is important for your health whatever time of year it is, so sleep off the Freshers’ Week parties, the early morning lectures and late night study sessions with some good quality shut-eye. Making sure you get your eight hours a night will also do wonders for your mental health, which should never be ignored during stressful times like moving to university.
Eat your five a day - any way you like
If you’re cooking for yourself for the first time, it can be tempting to just grab a handful of microwave meals to get by, but your body won’t thank you for it. There are plenty of cheap ways to get fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet in the first few weeks of university to give your immune system the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight off infections and boost overall health - a habit you should try and keep up for the rest of your course.
If you’re stuck for what to cook, try watching some cookery programs (Bake Off does not count), finding some recipes online, or investing in a student cookbook that will have those tight student purse strings in mind. Some supermarkets will even reduce fresh produce at the end of the day, so scheduling in a food shop nearer to closing time could be a great way to stock up on vitamin-rich, freshers’ flu fighting food for less.
Cut the crap!
Socialising is a huge part of university life, and you shouldn’t become a hermit just to avoid freshers’ flu. However, limiting the amount of alcohol you drink and not smoking on those legendary nights out is a good way of avoiding hurting your immune system (not to mention your wallet or your head in the morning). Alcohol consumption can also negatively affect your quality of sleep - so if you sleep for 12 hours after a pub crawl, you probably won’t feel much better for it.
Always take care of yourself and your friends while out drinking, and don’t take on more than you know you can handle.
Don’t forgo the H2O
Make sure to keep hydrated by drinking water regularly, and especially if you’re out on the lash. Not only will it ease that hangover, you’ll feel more alert in lectures, and, if you are battling freshers’ flu, any stuffed noses, sore throats, and hoarse coughs will be cared for too.
Keep it clean
To avoid catching a cold in the first place, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. Viral infections pass through direct contact, including just breathing air that’s infected with the virus. As we all know, breathing is notoriously difficult to avoid doing, so unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to protect against this particular risk.
The cold virus bacteria can also spread through touching infected objects or surfaces, which covers anything from shared cutlery and kitchen utensils, to light switches, countertops, and door handles.
Of course, you can’t seal yourself inside your dorm room and wait until everyone around you has overcome their bout of freshers’ flu, so good hygiene is the best tactic against spreading or picking up the freshers’ flu bacteria.
Get your life admin sorted
There are too many things to remember when starting university, especially if you’re moving away from home. Remember to register with a GP and enjoy some peace of mind knowing you have access to medical help if you need it. Additionally, finding out where your nearest pharmacy is will save you an extra headache if you’re already feeling unwell.
As always, be an advocate for your own body and health, and always seek medical advice if you’re worried about any symptoms you’re experiencing. The NHS 111 service is a great way to quickly speak to a medical professional if you are experiencing more serious symptoms and can’t get to a GP, along with visiting the NHS website for information on how to treat your illness at home.
Stay happy and healthy
Finally, remember Freshers’ Week is all about having fun, settling in to your new life, and making new friends to moan about 9AM lectures to, and freshers’ flu isn’t something to worry too much about. Taking simple steps to look after your health in the first few weeks of term will make sure the threat of freshers’ flu doesn’t dampen your spirits.
Written by Lois Zoppi
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