Sick and tired? Maybe it’s midterm season

Midterm season is upon us. It is the wonderful time of year where students pull all-nighters, drinking coffee, taking caffeine pills, and doing everything possible to stay awake during late cram sessions.

These behaviors may lead to better grades, but unfortunately for students, they take a toll on the immune system, leaving students’ bodies vulnerable to disease.

Joan Young has been a Registered Nurse at the Moncton General Hospital for 16 years, she says the number of students coming in nearly doubles around midterm and exam times.

Stress and lack of sleep can cause sickness even for the most active students. Photo credit: ght.org.uk

“I can always tell it’s that time of year again,” said Young. “Kids are coming in with the flu, bags under their eyes, the whole bit.”

This is even more unfortunate for students who live in residence. If they’re outgoing, they could have contact with as many as 30-40 people in one day in any given residence. Presumably, stress is at its peak and sleep is a valuable commodity. With immune systems low, and flu season just around the corner, seasonal influenza runs rampant in residences.

Kraig Crossman is a second year resident of Harrington Hall. For the second consecutive year, he has gotten sick around the third week of October.

“My first year, I got this crazy flu,” said Crossman. “And then this year, I got an ear infection and my roommate had strep throat. It’s been nuts.”

He isn’t alone. Crossman said that there are more than 11 people on his floor in residence that are suffering from anything from a common cold and migraines to influenza and vomiting.

It’s a struggle for most of these students to eat healthy as well. The cafeteria on campus offers healthier choices but only during certain hours. According to Young though, food isn’t the only issue.

“One of the biggest problems is that students don’t drink enough water,” said Young. “Water is used by the body in many ways and if you become dehydrated, your immune system can’t fight off the flu or anything else for that matter, near as effectively.”

For a stressed student living in residence, sleep and fluids seem like a recipe for success.

As Young said, “if you’re vigilant… and take care of your body, it will take care of you.”

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Posted by Matthew Robertson on Oct 31, 2009. Filed under Features, This Week's Edition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.