Yesterday I wrote about the Miracle of a Fever
Yesterday’s Blog Post on Fevers
Today I will share some more in-depth information about fevers that you may find interesting and hopefully useful.
A fever (pyrexia) can be a response to:
. endogenous pyrogens which are fever causing chemicals produced in the body
. infection
. bacteria
. exercise (a fever is a normal reaction)
. dehydration (a fever indicates this is a serious problem)
Basically it is an immune response.
Yesterday I wrote about the miracle of fevers and for good reason. The fever helps to heal you. However, the inability to strike a fever in response to an infection is a sign of weakness and debility. People with serious illnesses like AIDS or Cancer often do not have enough bodily strength to strike a fever. This is also common with the elderly and makes diagnosing serious illnesses in the elderly more difficult.
As for children and fevers according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics:
“Fever retards the growth and reproduction of bacteria and viruses, enhances neutrophil production and T-lymphocyte proliferation, and aids in the body’s acute-phase reaction… Most fevers are of short duration, are benign, and may actually protect the host. Data show beneficial effects on certain components of the immune system in fever, and limited data have revealed that fever actually helps the body recover more quickly from viral infections…”
A very interesting thing about the body when it comes to fevers is that digestion slows dramatically when the body spikes a fever. Food tends to ferment and putrefy so the best protocol is to fast, rest and drink plenty of fluids. And of course, monitor, monitor, monitor. You want the fever to run its course and do its job but if it starts to spike too high, it needs to be addressed immediately.
The optimal range for a fever to do its job is between 99 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Always seek proper medical attention if a fever starts to spike higher than this. For more guidelines around this here is a good and informative link:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759
In closing I cannot stress enough the power of rest. Whether you are fighting a cold, fever, or the flu, rest, rest, rest! Support your body in supporting you. 🙂
Maggie Holbik.com is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Registered Nutritional Practitioner, Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner and Certifed Life Coach who loves sharing information about wellness of body, mind and spirit.
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