Freshers flu: Is it an illness, a hangover, or just a myth?

Freshers’ week – chaotic club nights, involuntary introductions, and tacky tote bags. But beneath Disco Dave’s dreadful dance floor tunes lies a mosh pit of micro bacteria, from which you can’t escape on even the best of bar crawls. 

Regret. My only thoughts when I laid damaged and diseased in my Tocil dorm-room during the Freshers’ week of 2024. An army of bacteria swarmed my immune system – a conflict had clearly begun. Was dancing to Katy Perry in Neon the night prior worth the suffering?  

 ‘Freshers’ Flu’ is a universally recognised phrase. But what actually is it? A genuine illness, a myth, or merely a hangover in disguise? 

Nausea, fatigue, headaches – all making you physically unwell. If you were out in Leamington into the early hours, it might be best to skip that 10am society try-out session the next morning

Alcohol – the Trojan horse for freshers. When you’re 11 Jägers deep at Kasbah, its harmful effects probably aren’t in the forefront of your mind. However, an onslaught of terror has been raging within. Alcohol suppresses a hormone that enables the liver to hold water, leading to dehydration, so you now feel like you are walking through a desert. Your blood volume drops, reducing oxygen flow to the brain, causing blood vessel dilation. This leads to inflammation and a headache that hurts more than the pounding Kasbah speakers! 

Hangovers are only a small piece in the puzzle of freshers’ flu. Sleep deprivation may be more significant. For many, sleep takes a backseat in the hectic ride of freshers’ week. Skipping a well-deserved rest disrupts hormone balance and immune function. Your brain starts swerving – nausea, fatigue, headaches – all making you physically unwell. If you were out in Leamington into the early hours, it might be best to skip that 10am society try-out session the next morning. 

Warwick is a long way from Essex, so I’ll be honest, I missed home at first. The stress and anxiety of moving away can cast a shadow over your first few weeks – once under-appreciated home-comforts now feel like luxuries long gone. Stress releases the hormone cortisol, supressing the immune system, making you feel weak and fatigued. I never thought I’d miss Mum’s Sunday roast! Many freshers lack basic cooking skills, so serve up a gourmet selection of beans on toast, frozen pizzas and pot-noodles – fine dining at its best! This lack of nutritional value can be a recipe for disaster however, not providing enough vitamins to whip up the immune cells needed to fight off infection.  

Sure, you might feel under the weather, but that’s just part of the freshers’ experience

As swarms of freshers descend on Copper Rooms for the notoriously cringe-worthy annual icebreaker, the micro bacteria are having a party of their own. With many in close proximity, it’s the perfect environment for viruses and bacteria to thrive. All it takes is a single sneeze in the vast crowd, and the germs start networking. Adding to the frenzy, autumn is in full swing, so flu season is also crashing the party.  

Moreover, a sudden change in environment can throw your body into panic mode. New microbes, change in pollution, unpredictable weather – a perfect mix for physiological stress! Suddenly your immune system is diminished, and your body has an invitation for every germ in town. No wonder you feel like a zombie during those first few weeks of term! 

It seems freshers’ flu is a perfect storm of many factors. Late nights, endless parties, skipped meals, stress, and a sudden downpour of new germs – enough to make your immune system wonder what it really did to deserve this. Suddenly, your nose is blocked, your head is throbbing like thunder, and you have a deluge of symptoms longer than the Tuesday night Smack queue. 

Would I do it all again? Absolutely, in a heartbeat, and I am yet to find someone who wouldn’t. Sure, you might feel under the weather, but that’s just part of the freshers’ experience (obviously seek medical advice if you feel seriously sick!) You’re only a fresher once, so soak it in, party hard, make memories, and be safe!