Final Exams Bring Colds
The end of a college semester brings two things--lots of finals and plenty of students with colds. It's not the exams that make students sick, but the stress of preparing for them does make students more susceptible to colds and other viral infections.
Chronic stress can cause exhaustion, irritability, depression, headaches and problems with digestion. It also suppresses the immune system, which can lead to upper-respiratory infections, says Francis X. Brennan, Jr., assistant professor of psychology at Wilkes University in Wilkes- Barre, PA.
Stress can reduce your levels of Secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA). IgA is an antibody produced by B lymphocytes, says Brennan. IgA is found in all muscosa and provides a first line of defense against upper respiratory infection.
"The end of a semester typically puts a lot of stress on students because they usually are studying for several exams, preparing research papers, finishing projects, and some are even job hunting," says James Motiff, professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, MI.
Students start feeling they have lots to do and not enough time to do it. That's when the all-night study sessions start. As a result, students sleep less, drink more caffeine and stop eating normal meals, leaving them awake and wired, says Motiff.
"The fear of messing up on exams--especially finals--yields all sorts of problems for students," says William Jones, coordinator of counseling services at Gettysburg College, PA. "Not only are students fearful of not doing well on final exams, but most have the added fear of a visit home and the need to explain their grades to parents."
Students could eliminate some of the stress by not approaching any exam with a do-or- die attitude, says Robert McBrien, director of student counseling services at Salisbury State University in Salisbury, MD.
While a majority of students get a little panicky over an exam, test anxiety can turn an exam period into a "horror show" for some students, says McBrien. Catastrophic thinking and performance-based fears can lead to students hyperventilating, using fragmented thinking, fainting and experiencing memory blocking.
"One thing you don't want to do is increase the stress symptoms by using caffeine and other stimulants," warns Dr. Diane Bonner, director of counseling at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA.
Stimulants keep the body going and heighten the stressful state. Students also should avoid alcohol or sugary snacks, which give a burst of energy followed by a dip shortly afterwards, and alcohol. Foods like popcorn and pizza provide more consistent energy.
"The best remedy is obviously prevention," advises Bonner. "Eat a healthy diet with three square meals a day. Exercise regularly and maintain your regular sleep schedule as much as possible." ###
Editors and Reporters: Feel free to contact Brennan at 717-831-4566; Motiff at 616-395- 7727 (office) or 616-227-3761 (home); Jones at 717-337-6960 (office); McBrien at 410-543- 6070 (office) or 410-749-8053 (home); or Bonner at 717-372-4238 (office). Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963.
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