Some students unprepared to remedy winter woes
Sannah Parker
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
|
Mathews said students think they have everything they need when they come to college, but often neglect their health.
"Many students, and freshmen especially, are so used to their parents doing everything for them, that they don't realize that they have to take care of themselves," Mathews said.
Mathews said many students do not treat their illnesses, but instead "dive under their comforters, don't treat their fevers, don't drink water and just sleep," Mathews said.
Ben Dolby, a Memphis freshman, said when he gets sick he just takes a nap and tries "to power through it."
Because students try to sleep off illnesses, Mathews said she has found that dehydration has become problem and she encourages water bottles.
Korey Back, freshman from Murfreesboro, Tenn., said he realized that sleeping for a cure is not always the best idea.
Back said, "Sleeping it off only makes it worse in the end, so I take medicine and then sleep it off."
Mathews said she recommends that students have a supply of "Tylenol for fevers and NSAIDS (non-steroidyl anti-inflammatory drugs) like Advil, Motrin or Aleve for body aches."
Another health care item Mathews said she highly advocates is a personal thermometer. "When you get a fever, we need to know the exact temperature so we can better diagnose you," Matthews said. "The more history you can give us when you come in, the better we can help you."
Mathews said one of the greatest allies a student can have is a flu shot.
"Right now we are seeing a lot of strep, viral pharyngitis, and mono, which are viral illnesses," Mathews said.
Another health issue on campus is sexually transmitted diseases, according to Mathews.
"HIV, syphilis, chlamydiae, gonorrhoeae, and of course herpes, [are] the gift that keeps on giving," Mathews said.
In response to these outbreaks, University Health Services gives free condoms to all the dorms, and the Health Department visits monthly for free sexually transmitted disease screenings, Mathews said.
Whether the student is trying to prevent a common cold or an STD, Mathews said, "These are the things you need to carry through your entire life, and we are here to help teach these things."
