CMU's Health Services Looking to Keep Students Healthy

By: Michael McArthur


Each year thousands of college students are exposed to illnesses such as the common cold, influenza and meningococcal meningitis because of the close living quarters and crowded class rooms. Central Michigan University’s Health Services is doing their best to inform students on how to avoid these illnesses and stay healthy.

Allan Riggs, a physician at CMU’s Health Services, says that people have become so busy these days that doing the simple things to stay healthy have been some what forgotten.

“Doing the little things such as getting a good night’s sleep, drinking plenty of fluids and washing your hands can go a long way in preventing illnesses”, said Riggs.

Straying away from cigarette smoke as often as possible can help student stay healthy as well. According to Riggs, cigarette smoke can suppress the immune system making it easier to become ill.

If a student does begin to feel ill Riggs suggests that the student should take extra precautions to not spread the illness to their roommates and to get looked at by a doctor as soon as possible.

“Students should use disposable Kleenex when at all possible”, Riggs says, “A lot of people still tend to use handkerchiefs but that does nothing but keep the germs around. The student should also visit Health Services immediately to receive a diagnosis.”

Sammie Paine, a freshman from Fremont, has been around a few sick people this semester already and says that becoming sick is something she is not looking forward to.

“When two of my roommates became sick earlier this semester my other roommate and I did everything we could to try and stay healthy,” said Paine, “We made sure the room was always clean, we were constantly washing our hands every chance we had, and we tried to keep our distance as much as possible.”

According to Riggs if a student does become ill and it is believed to be more that just the common cold, there are services that Health Services offers to help one get over the symptoms and become better.

“We offer flu shots for a charge of $25 dollars and we suggest students receive those in October or November if interested”, said Riggs.

Also with the Meningitis related death of CMU student Lamott Smith this past summer, CMU Health Services is stressing the vaccine.

“Students should really look into the Meningococcal vaccine, it is a bit more expensive but it is definitely worth it”, said Riggs

For more information on how about CMU’s Health Services or how to stay healthy you can visit them online at heatlhservices.cmich.edu.