Why Colleges Students Are Always Sick

College campuses are flu factories. I cannot sit in class or the library for more than five minutes minus hearing someone cough, sneeze or sniffle. As I have a cough box in my bed, I wonder why are college students always so sick. Why does it feel like the college "plague" is knocking out students left and right? Below are a few reasons why I think college students are especially prone to flu season:

1. Sleep Deprivation

The average sleep requirement for adolescents is between nine to nine and a half hours. However, college students are notorious for not getting enough sleep. College is characterized by late nights studying, partying, and caltering with friends. Eventually, all the lost sleep accumulates progressively as a larger and larger sleep indebtedness, which increases one's chances of catching the latest virus circulating campus.

2. Stress

Besides the positive (school work), college can be characterized by stress that rules from many different factors. Whether it be sharing a room, navigating campus, managing time, or trying to make new friends, college is plump with new experiences that could overwhelm the average student. There is a link between stress and illness, which therefore leads to more widespread illnesses on college campuses.

3. Diet

For the obedient time in 18 years, college students have to feed themselves. They can no longer be reliant on their parent's home-cooked meals that wait on a balanced diet, rather they have to maintain their own healthy diet. Finding healthy food options on campus can definitely be a disputes, and many students pig out on junk food that will ultimately make them sick.

4. Hygiene Issues

There are a lot of germs that can spread above door handles, stair railings, elevator buttons, and even red Solo cups. Furthermore, people that live in dorms are even more susceptible to illnesses, as they come in contact with more common surfaces. Due to the sustained patterns of social interactions by college students, widespread illnesses have become a part of the nature of college campuses.

5. Night Life

College students are exposed to new produces that high school did not offer. They now have easier access to parties and repositioning out at night. It is vital for college students to not push their beings to the limits by going out too much and by abusing alcohol and drugs. Substance abuse puts students at risk illnesses, as it lowers their resistance, and thus leads to more students in the flu factory.

6. Lack of Exercise

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Physical organization can improve your health and reduce your risk of developing illnesses. Due to poor time management skills, many college students do not find the time to stay fit and consume. The lack of exercising and physical activity can increase one's chances of catching a virus.

7. No Parental Supervision

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Students have the freedom to do make whatever decisions they want, as there are no parents near. As a result, many do not take care of themselves, they push themselves to the limit, and sometimes make bad decisions. Often times, college students do not prioritize their health, and this is problematic, as they do not have someone looking out for them anymore. As a result, college students are constantly in a never defending cycle of catching illnesses.

So college students, please take care of yourselves. Let's end this flu great culture on college campuses!