I learned many things from college. First, that I was going to be sick every other week and no amount of vitamins, orange juice or mysterious potions could change that. Second, that it was difficult to find a decent doctor around. And most importantly, and most unfortunately, that I was never going to get the sleep I needed to stop feeling as if I was going to pass out 24/7. Upon catching my third cold – or as Syracuse University Health Services likes to call it, ‘upper respiratory infection’ – and before it was time to break out the winter coats, I realized I was going to need to see a real doctor outside of the University’s boundaries. After waiting a week to get called back from the doctor’s office, which claimed to not be accepting new patients, I got in and saw a doctor who told me what I already knew. I had a bad cold; it was midterm season and that was ‘to be expected,’ she assured me. After digesting the obvious, I loaded up on DayQuil and cough syrup and headed back to the dorm with a box of tissues to study with my similarly contaminated floormates. Before I knew it my mom sent me a package with a variety of vitamins. Some smelled horrible, and some were easy to take down, but none solved the problem. After midterms there were a few pleasant upper respiratory infection-free weeks and then the bug struck again. At this point I was definitely not going to throw in the towel and ride out the ‘freshman flu’ every few Fridays. I began looking for a practical solution. Using hand sanitizer before, during and after each class is one of the easiest ways to kill bacteria. Sitting in a desk that hundreds have sat in, and coughed all over, is just asking for a cold. Avoid using the library computers at all costs; they’re a virtual breeding ground for germs that hide in the keyboard and mouse and wait to infect your body. If you have to use public computers or other facilities that people are free to unload their bacteria onto, wash your hands often. It may sound obvious, but don’t hang around friends with colds. My freshman year roommate and I were definitely responsible for each other’s sicknesses. When one of us had a cold, we passed it back and forth because we were in such close proximity to one another. We used many of the same things, and slept just feet away from each other. It was like a game of coughing ping-pong in our cramped quarters. So, if you find yourself caught in the middle of a match, it might be a good idea to sleep somewhere else until the coast is clear. If you go down to health services to hear them read you a list of all the things you don’t have, they’re probably going to recommend you get some rest, and send you along with your parting gifts: a bag of salt to gargle with and some ibuprofen. Of course everyone knows extra sleep will do your body good in recovery, but what college student has time for extra sleep? We’re already wishing for more hours in the day, where can we possibly sneak in an extra nap to expedite recovery. The trick is to try and hit the sack when you feel a cold coming on. As the barer of many ‘upper respiratory infections,’ I’ve found the best thing to do is just ride it out, carry around a bottle of hand sanitizer and pray that the next cold won’t be heading your way as soon as the last one escapes. And, if you can go to bed early on a Thursday night instead of heading out to party, it may just be your best bet to a more speedy recovery.

Rebecca Toback is a sophomore magazine journalism major and wants to remind everyone that if you think you have the H1N1 seek medical attention immediately. She can be reached at rltoback@syr.edu.