5 Tips for a Healthy Year Away at College

As an urgent and primary care provider, I see a lot of patients with coughs, colds and season viruses. Our location, being just steps from a college campus, means that a lot of these cases could be prevented with some basic, healthy habits. Following are five simple tips that I hope my own children will need when they head off to school in a few years.  

Sleep (just not through class)

It’s back to school season, which means getting plenty of sleep. It is your best defense against illness. Yes, you can go out and have a good time, but don’t forget to get some rest so your body can restore itself and keep you going. Lack of sleep lowers your resistance, making you more prone to coughs, colds and seasonal flu. Kick your noisy roommate out for a bit and take a nap if you need to.

Choose food that fuels your mind

Pizza and breadsticks at 3am alone will not cut it. Choose foods that fuel your mind. Fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins are essential to keeping your body strong. Bonus, they also help prevent unwanted weight gain that many experience in college. While mom’s home cooking may be miles away, the grocery store is a short walk. Don’t live on pizza delivery alone. Eating healthy will help keep you in school and away from your medicine cabinet.  

Fluids are your friend

Drink plenty of water and other non-carbonated, non-caffeinated beverages each day. Staying hydrated is essential to keeping our body healthy. It also flushes out any toxins you may have consumed the night before. Need an extra boost? Innovative Express Care, located just off the DePaul campus, offers IV fluids for hangovers which will get you back on your feet in no time. 

Get your flu shot

Think you don’t need your flu shot? Think again. The flu likes college living just as much as you do. Your best protection against the flu is to get the vaccine. We have walk-in appointments available daily and will have you in and out in no time.

If you get sick, call us (and your mom)

Did you get sick despite your best attempts to stay healthy? Call us. We offer same-day appointments and even walk-in appointments, which means you can just Uber on over to Innovative Express Care. Oh and call your mom, too. She’ll want to know. She may even make you some chicken soup.