When sick, many people will feel like they have a higher than normal body temperature, along with other symptoms or discomfort. As long as you know it’s not a serious situation, it’s a good idea to know what you can do for a fever. Read the following tips to reduce fever naturally.
In this article, you’ll get some information about what a fever is and what you need to keep in mind. It’s always a good idea to have basic first aid skills to alleviate minor illnesses.
Keep reading to learn more!
What is a fever?
Fever is an increase in body temperature. In many cases, it’s an indication that you are suffering from some type of infection. As a response, your body raises its temperature to combat the pathogen to regain health. In these cases, the fever is not serious and does not require treatment. In fact, it’s even useful.
Body temperature can vary depending on age, time of day, or the activity the person is doing. In addition, the part of the body where you take the temperature is important. In this sense, body temperature is considered to be a fever when it is at or above:
- Armpit: 37.2 ° C.
- Mouth: 37.8 ° C.
- Temporal artery, ear, or rectum: 38 ° C.
It’s recommended to use a digital thermometer. They are the most effective and accurate system on the market today. Additionally, it’s more effective to take your temperature in your mouth (under the tongue) than in the armpit. On the other hand, taking the rectal temperature is the appropriate measure for babies.
Low-grade versus full-grade fever
Most importantly, you need to take into account the severity of the fever. If it is only 1 degree more than usual, it is considered a low-grade fever. Thus, it’s just a light or mild fever.
Other frequent symptoms that accompany the fever are the following: chills, tremors, pain, glassy eyes, or feeling cold.
Is lowering the fever necessary?
As you can see, fever is usually one of the various symptoms of an illness. Therefore, if the fever is mild, the important thing is to facilitate the patient’s rest and try to alleviate the discomfort (for example, in the case of the flu).
It’s important to keep in mind that taking fever-reducing medication when your temperature isn’t elevated will not accelerate your recovery from an infection or disease. However, there are some tips that you can take into account and that can be very useful.
3 Tips to Reduce Fever Naturally
1. Drink plenty of fluids
First of all, the best advice you can take to lower your fever, both in adults and children, is to increase your fluid intake. This advice is essential if you are also at risk of dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting.
In addition to water, you can also choose natural fruit and vegetable juices. These will provide lots of nutrients. For example, there’s vitamin C, which is very beneficial in fighting infections. Acerola, guava, kiwi, strawberry, citrus, are all fruits that contain high levels of vitamin C.
Increasing your fluid intake (water, natural fruit juices without sugar) or taking pain relievers can help control fever.
2. Ginger infusion for reducing fever
Ginger is a food that can help reduce fever when it’s still in the beginning phases) and some symptoms of the flu, colds, etc. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s always 100% effective or that by consuming ginger you can ignore your doctor’s orders.
The ginger rhizome helps control fever and also provides heat to the body to facilitate sweating and relieve the sensation of feeling cold.
3. Analgesics for reducing fever
Painkillers are the most common medication to treat pain and fever. Additionally, they can give you temporary relief when you experience significant discomfort. However, it’s always recommended to consult a health professional if you are feeling ill.
In general, these medications are only recommended for adults. For children, you must always take extreme care and follow the dose indicated by your doctor or the manufacturer of the drug.
Finally, keep in mind that if the fever increases or does not subside, or you have other warning symptoms, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible. Don’t underestimate severe pain, shortness of breath, or the risk of dehydration.
Via: MedicalNewsToday | VeryWellHealth
