You asked:

My roommate is really sick and I don’t want to be around her. What if she’s contagious? I feel like I should be taking care of her, but I can’t afford to catch what she has.

It definitely stinks to have a sick roommate, but it happens to everyone at some point in time. But don’t freak out -- there are ways to reduce your risk of getting sick.

Watch your hands. Make sure you wash your hands frequently and that you’re not putting them near your face, especially when you’ve been around anyone that has been sick. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer handy to keep those germs away. To prevent spreading germs, ask your roommate if she could keep a bottle with her too.

Eat healthfully. Increase your intake of antioxidant-rich foods, like tea and blueberries. Stock up on that orange juice to keep your vitamin C levels up. Any food that boosts your immune system will help keep you from getting sick. Studies show that getting these from foods is better than getting them from multivitamins, as your body is better able to process the nutrients.

Increase your sleep. A healthy immune system is strongly supported by getting plenty of Z’s. The average adult needs about eight hours a night, so start counting those sheep!

Decrease the partying. Alcohol can actually weaken your immune system, especially when consumed in large quantities. It makes you frequent the bathroom more often, draining you of healthy nutrients that resist illness.

Help your roomie. The less time your roommate is sick, the less time you have to worry about catching anything -- so if there’s anything you can do to help her get better, do it. If she needs more quiet time to rest, for example, let her have it. You can study elsewhere for a few days.

Don’t stress out. Stress also decreases your body’s ability to fight illness. Consider getting in an extra workout at the gym, or grabbing lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

Keep your distance. Distance is on your side. If your roommate is contagious, try to stay about 6 feet away. Yeah, that makes it seem like you’re isolating your roommate, but realistically, it helps you from getting too close to a lot of bad germs.

Know when to seek a professional. If your roommate isn’t getting better or is getting worse, ask her to see a doctor right away. Her sickness could be very dangerous to her own health if she doesn’t seek help. Plus, the doctor might be able to prescribe something that will reduce her contagiousness.

Name: Sarah Arsenoff
School: UNC Wilmington
Year: Senior
Major: Marine Biology
Her Deal: This is Sarah's third year as an R.A. for freshmen and international students. She writes for Periplus, a university newsletter for students who, like her, are in the honors scholars program.

TALK IT UP

Have a better answer? Share it here.