Jan. 28, 2008
The News Argus
HEALTH
7
Protect yourself
in the winter
i
Photo courtesy of MCT Wire Service
During the cold fall and winter months, it is recommended that individuals protect themselves and others
from the spread of seasonal illnesses.
Charity Holloway
STAFF REPORTER
Many people have heard
about the colds and sick
nesses that dominate the
winter season. But do they
really take precaution?
Walking around the
Winston-Salem State
University campus, there
are many people w'ho wear
short-sleeves shirts, long
sleeve shirts without a
jacket, and flip-flops or
sandals instead of a pair of
boots or tennis shoes.
Are the dangers of the
winter season taken seri
ously?
"People who don't wear
the proper clothes for the
holidays are just stupid.
Even when there is a little
sun outside, it's still very
unsafe to wear improper
clothing," said Allen
Lockhart, a junior.
Some people do not seri
ously take heed to the dan
gers and it could be
because they are not edu
cated about the different
types of seasonal colds.
The most talked about ill
ness that occurs mainly
during the winter season is
the flu. Influenza refers to
several common strains of
flu virus that go around
each year in the fall and
winter seasons.
A flu pandemic is
described as a new flu
strain that starts spreading
easily and quickly around
the world. Depending on
the strength of the strain, it
can cause many people to
get sick at once, causing
severe illness and many
deaths.
The pandemic flu has
not occurred yet, but in all
cases people generally
want to prevent it from
happening. If a pandemic
flu were to hit the world,
many would die because it
would take a long time to
develop a vaccination.
"What we need to be
concerned about is what
we call the seasonal flu,"
said Nurse Ester Joe, who
works in the Student
Health Services in the A.
H. Ray Student Health
Center. "Flu season gener
ally lasts until the end of
March and the first part of
April, but you can still get
it after that."
Symptoms of the sea
sonal flu include fever,
chills, headache, body
aches, sore throat.
coughing, sneezing and
shortness of breath.
"The main thing to do to
prevent the flu is wash
your hands," Joe said.
Other preventahve meth
ods include covering your
coughs and sneezes, acting
responsibly if you get sick,
getting available flu shots,
thoroughly cooking meats,
poultry and eggs, and sup
porting common good
efforts.
Common Good efforts are
steps that the government
has put in place in the event
a pandemic flu breaks out.
"Remember to wash
your hands," Joe repeated.
She recommends scrub
bing hands and wrists for
at least 20 seconds. Avoid
touching your eyes, nose
or mouth with unwashed
hands. Also, try to keep
hand sanitizer with you.
If you feel you have flu
symptoms, make your way
immediately to the A, H.
Ray Student Health Center.
"Students should know
we are always here for
them, even after hours,"
Joe said. She pointed out
that after the Health Center
closes, students can call
888-267-3675 to talk to a
nurse on duty. "The nurse
will listen to your symp
toms and tell you what you
should do," Joe said.
For more information on
preventing the bird flu, flu
pandemic, seasonal flu or other
services provided by the health
center, call 336-750-3300.
Massages; Helping to relieve stress
Charity Holloway
STAFF REPORTER
As many college students
know, being in school can
cause a lot of stress. The
pressure of doing well,
completing tasks and par
ticipating in extracurricular
activities can become over
whelming.
"I'm just a freshman, and
I already feel overwhelmed
at times. The pressure is
unbelievable," said Sasha
Massey.
Not only can stress lead
to health-related problems,
but it can also trigger men
tal and social problems.
For example, physical
stress can cause a rapid
heartbeat, headaches, back
ache, sweaty palms, upset
stomach, nausea, and diar
rhea.
Emotionally and men
tally, it can cause undesired
symptoms such as becom
ing irritable and intolerant
of minor disturbances, feel
ing irritated or frustrated,
losing your temper more
often, and yelling at others
for no reason. It can even
cause people to doubt your
ability to do things.
One way Winston-Salem
State students can relieve
stress is by utilizing the
Health Center, which pro
vides massage therapy.
The massage program
started last fall and is free
of charge. The services are
usually available on
Mondays twice a month,
from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The
services will start in
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February.
Massey decided to try
out the services. She was
able to lie down on a mas
sage table, which has a
opening at the top for the
user to insert their head.
She received a five-minute
massage from Kayla Haire,
a licensed massage and
body work therapist.
After her massage,
Massey seemed pleased.
"My body feels much
better. I feel like my body
is not tensed up anymore.
My muscles feel so
relaxed."
Haire works for Elite
Massage, which is part of
the gym 24/7 Fitness. "It
helps out a lot of things,"
she said, explaining that
massage therapy can help
with inflammation and
blood flow in the body.
"Most importantly, it helps
relieve stress from the stu
dent," she said.
According to the Web site
massagetherapy.com, it can
enhance immunity by
increasing the body's flow
of lymph nodes; it exercises
and stretches weak, tight or
atrophied muscles, lessens
depression and anxiety,
and even relieves migraine
pain.
To receive a free mas
sage, visit the health center,
located behind Gleason-
Hariston Terrace Residence
Hall and next to the
Anderson Center. Or, call
336-750-3000, and ask for
an appointment.
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