FEVER IS YOUR FRIEND
Most of us have reached for some Tylenol when we are sick and feel feverish. That makes us more comfortable, but is that the best thing to do?
A recent NPR report about illness and the benefits of raising your body temperature to fight off disease inspired me to write about this common concern – why are we afraid of fevers?
Let’s explore how fever can be your friend.
Fever Phobia
So why do we worry so much about fevers?
Most people have heard about someone who had a fever complication like a childhood seizure from a fever or fever dreams and hallucinations.
While fever complications can be scary, fever does serve a purpose. Let’s look at what the body is trying to do by generating a fever.
Why Do We Even Get Fevers?
Your average body temperature varies throughout the day and generally increases in the afternoon. A true fever happens when your temperature is 100.4 F (38 C) or higher.
Fever is your body’s immune response to an invader like viruses, bacteria, or fungi. It helps stimulate parts of the immune system to fight off an infection.
When we keep trying to lower a fever, we’re fighting the body’s attempts to clear an infection.
Fever As A Friend
So, if you can tolerate a lower-grade fever (less than 102 F), it often helps to drink lots of fluids, rest, and treat other symptoms supportively to allow your body to do its thing!
Some research has shown that regular sauna users who raise their body temperature routinely get less colds.
When To Worry
Yes, there are definitely times when fever can be a concern or a sign of a more serious illness. Let’s list some of those circumstances:
Your fever is accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, and vomiting
You are having trouble breathing with the fever
An infant less than three months of age with any temperature above 100.4 F. They require immediate attention.
Children 3 months to 3 years of age with a fever above 102.2 F require consultation with a healthcare professional or pediatrician.
Any temperature of 105 F or higher may indicate a more serious infection and requires immediate attention.
You are confused or extremely lethargic.
You are running a fever for more than 3 or 4 days and any other symptoms are not improving.
You have bad belly pain or it hurts when you pee.
That list seems pretty long! But most people won’t have severe illness with a fever. If you ever have concerns, always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergent evaluation.
How To Stay Well During The Winter
So, how do you avoid illness in the first place, especially during the winter months. Let’s look at the best options.
Wash your hands. See my previous hand hygiene blogs. Good handwashing is the number one way to avoid illness.
Try not to touch your face. That’s a tough one, but we pick up viral illnesses in particular after touching a contaminated object and then touching our nose, eyes, or mouth.
Use hand sanitizer. If soap and water are not around, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can do the trick.
Consider wearing a mask in crowded public (or even private) areas or at events. Yes, everyone is tired of masks, but they do prevent picking up illnesses transmitted by infected aerosols from coughing, sneezing - even laughing!
Stay home. If you are sick, stay home if you can to prevent spreading illness. If you can’t, wear a mask, cough into your elbow or a tissue, and wash your hands.
Be healthy and safe this winter season and check out our infrared saunas at PFP. They are included with our Unlimited Pass and personal training contracts!