How to Avoid the Concord Crud

You may have noticed some of the trees around campus are beginning to change colors. Loose leaves blow across the ground and decorate the edges of the sidewalk, and although the weather has not shown it, fall is creeping up on us. And with it comes cold and flu season. Sniffles can be heard across campus. The dreaded Concord Crud lurks in the shadows waiting to claim its unsuspecting victims. Here are a few of the best tips and tricks to get through the Concord Crud.

1. Herbal Tea. Not only does herbal tea help with cold chills just by holding the warm cup, it can also soothe your throat, which can be raw from coughing and drainage from your sinuses. Herbal tea also has many health benefits. The Huffington Post suggests Green Tea saying, “This was another great immune system booster,” and, “It also works as a great aid against common cold symptoms.”

2.    Get the Good Tissues. Even if you are okay with using your arm to wipe your nose, your classmates and teachers probably will not be. Moreover, frequently wiping your nose will cause irritation and raw patches around your nose. Buying the higher quality face tissue may

seem like a splurge, but it is worth it in the long run. The kind infused with lotion is a lifesaver.

3.     Carry the Essentials. You do not need to carry the entire box of fancy tissues you just bought. Find a small bag or pouch and pack yourself a sick kit. For me that includes: cough drops, a few tissues folded neatly, chapstick, and hand sanitizer. That way you can toss it

in your bag and everything you need is at your fingertips.

4.    Take Hot Showers. According to Health.com, “Pull the plug on your stopped-up schnoz with 15 minutes of steam from your shower, recommends Stacey Tutt Gray, MD, co-director of the Sinus Center at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. (Shut the bathroom door and let

steam build from a hot shower.) It loosens mucus, helping you breathe easier. Close the drain and add eucalyptus essential oil to relieve inflammation. Breathing in the steamy stuff soothes coughs and chest congestion too.” It is also good for aches and pains from your cold. “Five to 15 minutes of steam—whether from a hot shower at home or in a steam room at the gym—can increase blood flow, which alleviates overworked or stiff joints, relaxes sore muscles, and provides soothing comfort, says Michele Olson, PhD, a professor of exercise science at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama.”

5.    Rest. This may seem obvious, but many people feel like they are not at liberty to slow down. If you do not give your body time to heal, your cold may worsen and force you to rest or it will drag out your symptoms and last much longer. According to everydayhealth.com, “The most common mistake people make is to not slow down and take care of themselves when they have a cold,” says Neelam Taneja-Uppal, MD, a doctor from Pensacola, Fla., who specializes in infectious diseases. 

    As the weather gets colder and colder, be aware of the dreaded Concord Crud. But if it does claim you as a victim, you know exactly how to fight it off. Stay hydrated with tea, take hot showers, and let yourself rest. As other succumb to the Crud’s power, you will rise above. Stay safe, Concord.