To Our Newest Demon Deacons -
We are so excited to welcome you to campus in just a few weeks! As we prepare for your arrival and the start of the semester, we wanted to take a moment to share some important information that we hope will enhance your wellbeing as a member of our community. Please be sure to read it all, as it addresses key points you need to know.
At Wake Forest, wellbeing is about much more than physical health. It is an
eight-dimensional balancing act
that you can practice to enable you to cope with adversity, build rewarding relationships, and live with a sense of purpose. Today, we want to focus on general tips for good health, and the role of allergies.
- Dr. Cecil Price, Director of the Student Health Service, explains: “One of the challenges of being a student on a college campus is exposure to illnesses among friends, classmates, and hallmates. Communal living environments – as well as busy, active lifestyles – contribute to college students’ risk of contracting common contagious illnesses.” Please review these tips on keeping yourself well.
- Dr. Joanne Clinch, Clinical Director of the Student Health Service, encourages students and families alike to consider that, “many students will experience allergies now that they are living in a new part of the country”. Having never experienced problems with seasonal allergies, students may attribute these symptoms to a sinus infection, or conditions within their room or residence hall. Read more about seasonal allergies.
Many students may also have allergies that are not seasonal, such as allergies to naturally occurring mold spores, dust or other indoor allergens. The Office of Residence Life and Housing has seen an increase in questions about mold and first-year residence halls, so we want to provide you with the facts.
- At the start of school last year, Winston-Salem experienced abnormally large amounts of rain, and our office received a higher volume of calls to investigate potential mold and moisture concerns.
- Some students who experienced normal respiratory ailments or seasonal allergies questioned whether their illness was related to conditions within their residence hall.
- Upon reviewing the data about student illnesses, our Student Health Service did not find a significant difference in the distribution of respiratory ailments across our residence halls. In other words, no one residence hall had a disproportionate number of illnesses.
