{"id":5241,"date":"2024-01-18T17:32:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T17:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/?p=5241"},"modified":"2024-01-18T17:32:43","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T17:32:43","slug":"troy-health-center-warns-about-increasing-flu-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.troy.edu\/trojanvision\/2024\/01\/18\/troy-health-center-warns-about-increasing-flu-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"TROY Health Center warns about increasing flu concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION<\/a>) \u2014 As temperatures continue to drop, health experts warn the chances of catching the flu rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is flu season and and, probably, all of the students know somebody in their family already that’s had it or got it now,” said certified nurse practitioner Jacque Chirico. “Now they’ve been exposed and a lot of them is bringing it back here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Chirico, there are steps you can take to lower your chances of getting sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Have you had your flu shot yet? That should have been done, but still not too late. They can come in and get their flu shot.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the timing of flu season varies throughout the year, the illness picks up during cold weather months. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), December, January and February are usually when seasonal activities spike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are precautions that students, faculty and staff can take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precautions include staying away from somebody who is sick, take over-the-counter cough or cold medicine, and keep your immune system healthy through balanced nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you feel like you are getting sick or you start running fever and things like that, give it a day or two,” Chirico said. “If you’re not getting better, if you’re going have to miss class, make an appointment come in and we’ll test you. We have a test that’s got a flu test and COVID test combined in one. It’s a nasal swap so we can do a simple test and rule out both of those at one time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troy University’s Health Center<\/a> is located on the first floor of the Trojan Center below Barnes and Noble. It is open Monday through Friday during the following times:<\/p>\n\n\n\n