What Can the Cosiano Health Center do for you?

What to do when you have a cold

By Allison Niese
For the Pulse

Aaaachooo! This can be the first sign that the common cold is knocking at your door. The weather outside is cold one day then mild the next. You’ve started to notice that everyone is coughing and blowing their nose in class. You’ve guessed it, it’s that time of year when everyone starts passing around the common cold.

If you’re unfamiliar with Ohio weather and the cold and flu season, then you may be wondering what are the signs and symptoms of the common cold. Symptoms of a cold normally include: sore throat, runny nose, and coughing.

For students at the University of Findlay, the Cosiano Health Center is a resource that can be used all year round.

When asked if there is a spike in student visits during the colder months, Tara Travis, a registered nurse, who works at Cosiano said visits often stay consistent.

“You would think it would be busier during the colder months because people stay indoors more, therefore viruses can be spread more. However, we stay busy throughout the year treating many different illnesses, giving vaccines, keeping vaccine records for health science majors, completing physicals and caring for faculty and staff,” Travis said.

Because students are staying inside, due to the cold weather conditions outside, they are increasing their risk of catching the common cold. Cosiano is here to help.

Even though Cosiano sees anywhere to 40-100 students a day, Travis says that they strive to make each student feel at-home.

“We are like your doctor’s office away from home. Some differences that make it more convenient for the students to come to our office are we are a free service including giving over the counter medicines, you can be seen quicker with being able to just walk-in without an appointment and be seen and out the door in a timely manner,” Travis said. “We can see you for a cold when typically you may not go to the doctor for that. We have a free HIV clinic the first Thursday of every month.”

According to Travis, the Cosiano Health center will talk to students about any concerns they might have regarding their health.

Cosiano is available to students, staff, and faculty. Their services are free, too. Even if you waived the University’s health insurance, you can still use the services at Cosiano.

According to Travis, Cosiano treats more than just the common cold.

Some of these treatments include: primary care for illnesses and injuries; physicals (routine, work); Womankind exams (pap smears, pelvic exams, and breast exams); immunizations (including Hepatitis B, Influenza & Tetanus); TB testing (PPD); allergy injections; blood draws; STD screening and treatment; HIV screening; pregnancy testing; diagnostic tests; nebulizer treatments; and follow-up care after an emergency room visit.”

In order to stay healthy through the stress and seasonal allergies, Travis suggests that students get plenty of rest, drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and eat a healthy diet. Most importantly, students should be sleeping seven-eight hours a night, according to Travis, because “immune systems are attacked when we do not get enough sleep.”

Cosiano is open from 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. They are staffed with three registered nurses on a daily basis and have one doctor in their office three days a week. There is no appointment needed to see a nurse, but a doctor visit does require an appointment.  To schedule an appoint you can call 419-434-4550.

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