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Stay healthy with flu shots
UWM flu clinics held Nov. 5-7, later dates
By Sarah Nennig
Typically the flu lasts from ten days to two weeks.
Staying healthy is one of the most important things a student can do throughout the school year. With exams, papers to write and stressful schedules, it can be difficult to do as students spread themselves too thin.
Norris Health Center, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing, Union Marketing and Programming and the UWM Department of Human Resources are making it easier for students to stay healthy by sponsoring flu clinics on campus through November to the beginning of December. Three confirmed dates of flu clinics are Nov. 5-7 in the UWM Union.
In an interview with Colleen Bernstein, an RN with Norris Health Center stressed the importance of students getting their flu vaccines. Common symptoms of the flu include fever, profound muscle and body aches, shortness of breath and fatigue.
Bernstein said that one of the most common misconceptions about the flu, or true influenza, is that stomach problems occur. This is not true according to Bernstein. The flu is more of a respiratory illness, with nothing to do with the stomach or digestive system.
To treat the flu, Bernstein recommended a lot of rest and good general care.
“Don’t go out,” she said.
Typically the flu lasts from ten days to two weeks. Students generally have young, healthy immune systems and have an easier time fighting the flu, than those with less healthy immune systems, such as the elderly.
If a person is exhibiting symptoms of the flu, it is possible to get tested. If the test is positive for influenza, he or she can get started on medication to fight the virus. If it is caught within the first forty-eight hours, which is also when a person is most contagious, medication can reduce the impact of symptoms.
“It doesn’t cure it, but you get less of a hit,” Bernstein said.
The vaccine works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies to fight the flu. A common fear for some people is that the vaccine will actually cause them to catch the flu.
This is not true, as Bernstein stated, since the vaccine is not a live vaccine. If a person gets sick after getting the vaccine, it is likely that he or she had already contracted the virus but had yet to develop symptoms.
Sometimes the vaccine does not protect the body from other strains of the flu. Last year, for example, Bernstein said that the CDC tracked the wrong strain and vaccines were not as effective for those that contracted that strain.
For students that have a fear of needles, a special vaccine can be specially ordered that is taken by inhaling through one’s nose. However, it costs more than the needle vaccine, which is only $10 for students.
In order to prevent getting sick, Bernstein suggests that students take good care of themselves. Students should eat properly, get plenty of rest and should start taking daily vitamins so that they have the best chance of avoiding illnesses. For specific dates and times visit the Norris website at www.nhc.uwm.edu. However, Bernstein’s biggest piece of advice is to “go get your flu shot.”
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