The yearly back-to-school “ick” has struck Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School. Hundreds of students have been getting runny noses, bad coughs, upset stomachs, and have no idea what’s causing it. Don’t spend so much time finding out who caused it, instead figure out something that will make it better.
Many of our student athletes have been unable to come to practice because of getting sick. Freshman Alex French, a member of the Cross Country team, says, “I have been battling against my illness, and have not been able to put forth my full effort when practicing with my team.” Not only does not putting forth effort when practicing affect her, but it also affects her team.
Another member of the Cross Country team, freshman Eden Clark, has also been struggling running while being sick. She states, “Running is beginning to get difficult because I keep having coughing fits and I can’t breathe.”
Not only does illness cause problems in your daily life, but it also causes problems with sports and activities. In fact, many of our peers are getting sick with the same exact symptoms. Sophomore Annelies Chase says she has been getting a runny nose, bad throat, and a cough.
Freshman Emily Zafirau complains of a dry throat and runny nose. Even though these symptoms may seem like they are just the common cold or the flu, it can be so much more.
For example, these symptoms also line up with COVID-19, Pneumonia, seasonal allergies, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and many others.
Even though it may seem like there is no way out of getting the sickness, it is important to take the right medications and precautions. Some students have recommended clorox wipes, tissues, Dayquil, chewing gum, and Alver.
While there is no way to prevent this all from happening, there are things people can do to lessen their chances of falling ill. A lot of people will blame their sickness on other people saying that they shouldn’t be going to school. While this is true, people also need to look to their own habits to realize why they may be getting sick.
When going from summer break back into school, a student’s diet changes significantly. They go from home-cooked lunches, to school food. This causes your immune system to act up, causing you to have a higher chance of getting sick.
School is also known as a place for causing stress. Too much homework, tests every week, and trying to keep up with the grades. All those things are big factors for why kids have stress in school. This causes physical exhaustion, irritability, and uncharacteristic mood changes. These all cause your immune system to weaken little by little. That is why it’s important to create a good schedule for yourself to limit stress and overall anxiety that you might get during the beginning of school.
It’s also important to stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines such as the flu shot. However, the biggest step you can take to prevent illness is to stay at home when you feel unwell. Going into school will only make it worse, due to the fluctuating germs around.
It’s crucial to make sure you stay healthy during the back-to-school season. Lexi Hawk, one of the students at BBHHS, believes that, “Being healthy is being in a good mental spot, being happy with everything, and also staying physically active.” Even though being physically active is a good way to be healthy, it’s equally as important as being in a good mental spot too. Having good mental health helps with stress and anxiety, which are big factors in causing an illness to occur. However, you should always stay physically active to prevent future illnesses that can occur when you aren’t athletic.
In conclusion, getting sick is preventable, but it has to be a team effort for all the students and staff members. As long as everyone takes precautions when they are sick, it can limit or even eliminate the yearly back-to-school sickness all together.
