Finals week is almost upon us. It's the most stressful time of year, but combine that with being sick and it's a recipe for disaster. Besides being stressed for tests and the constant amount of studying, being in close proximity with 35,000 other students doesn't help. Here's some ways you can survive while having the flu during finals week.
Studying for finals can take a toll on your sleep schedule. Staying up for an absurd amount of hours to cram for a class doesn't help anyone. Many students even pull all-nighters to study. However, lack of sleep can negatively impact your immune system. According to an article by Mayo Clinic, during sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines. These cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or are under stress. Sleep deprivation can decrease the production of these cytokines. Having a normal sleep schedule with 7-8 hours can bolster your immune system and aid in your recovery. Remember, sleep is your best friend when your sick but don't overdo it.
How much sleep you actually need to fight a cold
This chart shows the percentages of catching a cold when exposed to a virus (%) and its correlation with the amount of sleep
Often when people study, stress, and are sick, they either eat junk food or completely neglect it all together. But, eating nutritious food can provide the necessary vitamins your body needs. Eating foods such as oatmeal can be a quick meal that'll fill you up and provide the nutrients you need. I know this may be common knowledge, but when it's finals season, you'll unknowingly grab for that pizza instead of an apple.
My last bit of advice would be to try and not go out as much as possible. Staying inside for a few days may make you go crazy, but it's better than getting into contact with others. The only thing worse than 1 sick college student is 10 sick college students. Going out will only help to spread the flu. If you do have to go out, remember to stay bundled and have several tissues.
Having a fever, coughing and sneezing, and aching all over is painful for everyone, but studying for a final makes it even worse. You'll have to push through it though, with a pounding headache and droopy eyes. Just remember that after finals, you'll have two weeks of break!
