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Common Health Concerns:
Stomache and gastrointestinal problems
Every year during flu season (usually begining around November) thousands of people are infected with the flu. It usually comes on suddenly. The fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, headache, and fatigue can leave people feeling miserable for days.
Prevent the Flu:
The best way to prevent the flu is to get an annual flu shot (available at Student Health Services).
Wash your hands
Stay away from people with symptoms
Treatment:
There is no cure for the flu but symptoms can be treated with over the counter products and plenty of rest. Anti viral medicines such as Tamiflu can be prescribed to reduce the symptoms and duration of the flu. This medication must be started early for it to be effective.
Symptoms:
Runny nose and clear nasal drainage
Sneezing
Red, swollen or itchy eyes
Coughing
Headaches
Skin rashes or hives
Scratchy throat
Over the Counter Remedies:
Antihistamines, if taken before exposure.
Decongestants, relieves stuffiness and reduces sinus pressure.
Eye Drops, can help but read the label careful for directions.
Prescription Remedies:
Allergy Shots
Steroid and antihistamine nasal sprays. Use OTC nasal sprays with the advice of a health care provider.
Inhalers
Talk to your healthcare provider to determine which option is best for you.
Dangerous Symptoms:
Get medical help immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
Difficulty Breathing
Shortness of Breath
Severe Rash
Abdominal Cramps
Nausea or vomiting
Tightening of throat
Being tired is a problem with many college students and is usually due to inconsistent sleep patterns and late nights. However, a constant lack of energy and exhaustion is considered fatigue. There are numerous possible causes of fatigue including lifestyle and medical causes. Some reasons you may feel fatigued may be due to:
- Inconsistent sleep patterns
- Lack of nutrients in your diet
- Stress
- Depression
- Anemia
- Sleep disorders such as insomnia, apnea, or narcolepsy
- Ongoing pain
- Allergies
- Infection
- Use of alcohol or illegal drugs
- An underactive thyroid
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune diseases
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
Some of these strategies may help with your feelings of fatigue:
- Get adequate, regular, and consistent amounts of sleep each night.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Exercise regularly.
- Learn better ways to relax. Try yoga or meditation.
- Maintain a reasonable work and personal schedule.
- Prioritize responsibilities and activities.
- Change your stressful circumstances, if possible. For example, switch jobs, take a vacation, and deal directly with problems in a relationship.
- Take a multivitamin. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
- Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and drug use.
If these don’t work and you are still feeling constantly fatigued or if you have other symptoms such as headaches, change in weight and or appetite, bowel problems, or pain see a doctor about your symptoms.
Prevention
Wash the genital area daily with mild soap, rinse well and dry thoroughly.
- Drink plenty of water – a minimum of eight, 8 ounce glasses per day, or more if you’re physically active.
- Avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods, which can irritate the urinary tract in some people.
- Urinate frequently and empty your bladder completely. This helps eliminate bacteria before infections can develop.
- Wipe from front to back after a bowel movement. This reduces the chance of bacteria being transported to the urethra from the anus. Using unscented bathroom tissue can help.
- Don’t use douches, strong soaps, deodorants or sprays on the genital area.
- Urinate before and after intercourse. This may help eliminate bacteria that might have been introduced to the urethra during intercourse.
- Shower instead of taking a bath.
- Drinking a small glass of cranberry juice every day may help prevent infection by making urine less hospitable to bacteria. But be aware that cranberry juice may cause bladder irritation in some people.
Signs and Symptoms
Common symptoms of UTI in the bladder (cystitis):
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Feeling a sudden, urgent need to urinate
- Urinating more often than usual
- Urinating only small amounts even though the bladder feels full
- Blood in the urine
- Cloudy or foul smelling urine
- Pain in the lower abdomen especially when urinating
Common symptoms of urethritis:
- Same as bladder infection, but without lower abdominal pain
- Men may have discharge from the end of the penis
Common symptoms of kidney infection
- Symptoms of bladder infection (sometimes)
- Back pain, usually on one side, located at about the level of the lower ribs
- Fever
- Nausea (sometimes)
- Abdominal pain (sometimes)
Treatment
Drink plenty of water to help flush out the urinary tract. This won’t cure the infection, but may help relieve symptoms.
Don’t have sex until you are checked by your health care provider.
Get plenty of rest to help your body fight the infection.
Limit foods that may cause urinary burning, such as coffee tea, alcohol, spicy food and carbonated drinks.
See a Health Care Provider if:
You have UTI symptoms
You experience frequent UTI even through you use prevention measures.
You were treated for UTI but the symptoms didn’t go away.
Nausea/Vomiting
Possible Causes:
- motion sickness
- food poisoning
- intense pain
- emotional distress
- various viruses
- gallbladder disease
- certain smells
Consult a doctor if the following symptoms occur with vomiting:
- blood in the vomit ("coffee grounds" appearance)
- severe headache or stiff neck
- lethargy
- confusion
- decreased alertness
- severe abdominal pain
- vomiting with fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- vomiting and diarrhea are both present
- rapid breathing or pulse
- When trying to control nausea:
- Drink clear or ice-cold drinks.
- Eat light, bland foods (such as saltine crackers or plain bread).
- Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods.
- Eat slowly and eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Do not mix hot and cold foods.
- Drink beverages slowly.
- Avoid activity after eating.
- Avoid brushing your teeth after eating.
- Choose foods from all the food groups as you can tolerate them to get adequate nutrition.
- Treatment:
- Drink clear liquids
- Avoid solid food until the nausea has passed
- Rest
- Temporarily discontinue all oral medications, which can irritate the stomach and make vomiting worse
- If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.
Diarrhea:
Abdominal bloating or cramps
Thin or loose stools
Watery stool
A sense of urgency to have a bowel movement
In some cases, nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting
Possible causes:
Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning)
Infections by other organisms
Eating foods that upset the digestive system
Allergies to certain foods
Medications
Stress
Irritable bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Treatment:
Drink clear liquids frequently.
Avoid eating solid foods as long as the diarrhea continues. After the diarrhea improves, you can begin eating solid foods in small amounts.
Try low-fiber foods such as yogurt, rice, noodles, grape juice, ripe bananas, applesauce, or white bread.
Avoid greasy, fatty, or fried foods; raw vegetables and fruits; strong spices, and whole-grain cereals and breads.
Limit caffeine
If you have cramping with diarrhea, avoid gas-forming foods and beverages such as beans, cabbage, beer, and carbonated beverages.
If you are taking an antibiotic, add yogurt with active cultures to your diet.
Try over the counter medicine such as Pepto-Bismol , Immodium or Kaopectate
Consult a doctor if you have on going diarrhea or show signs of dehydration such as little or very dark urine, headache, or flushed dry skin.
Constipation
Possible causes:
A diet low in fiber
Not drinking enough water
Lack of exercise
Travel or another change in routine
Eating large amounts of milk or cheese
Stress
Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement
Antacid medicines containing calcium or aluminum
Other medicines (especially strong pain medicines such as narcotics, antidepressants, and iron pills)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Treatment:
Use a mild stool softener
Add more fiber to your diet through fruits, vegatables, and whole grains
Exercise
Drink more water