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>>Taking medications for what your body should be capable of handling with proper nutrition and rest cannot be healthy. Could you explain a bit more as I can t

>>Taking medications for what your body should be capable of handling with proper nutrition and rest cannot be healthy. Could you explain a bit more as I can think of a case where this seems to be false: While my child's body can eventually handle colds and flus, if his temperature goes above a certain level there's a significant chance for brain-damage, so I counteract the bodies natural fever with medication.

ceejayoz 12y ago
It should be noted that a low fever appears to be helpful for the immune response. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sick-feverish-suffer-through-it-get-well-faster-docs-say-f1C6436878 http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sick-feverish-suff... If you're running a 101 degree fever, it may be more effective not to suppress it.
- amandalotti 12y ago
  yeah i wrote a pretty comprehensive blog post about this - ie when it's better NOT to treat a fever http://www.iodine.com/blog/should-you-treat-a-fever/ http://www.iodine.com/blog/should-you-treat-a-fever/
Detrus 12y ago
I did say healthy adults. Not that most adults are healthy.
evilduck 12y ago
I'm no medical professional so take my statements with healthy skepticism, do your own research, etc, but as a father myself I share the concern and my understanding was that common viral infections like the flu, common colds, ear/throat/sinus infections, whatever, do not cause dangerous fevers (>105ºF). Your temperature regulation usually has to be impaired in some other way like being in hot conditions, overexertion, or a combination of them. Obviously in infants the story is different due to physiological immaturity but the fever response to infection is a positive indicator of the body's thermal regulation working correctly and treating a fever is simply for symptom relief and possibly even detrimental to treating the illness.

ceejayoz 12y ago

It should be noted that a low fever appears to be helpful for the immune response. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sick-feverish-suffer-through-it-get-well-faster-docs-say-f1C6436878 http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/sick-feverish-suff... If you're running a 101 degree fever, it may be more effective not to suppress it.

amandalotti 12y ago
yeah i wrote a pretty comprehensive blog post about this - ie when it's better NOT to treat a fever http://www.iodine.com/blog/should-you-treat-a-fever/ http://www.iodine.com/blog/should-you-treat-a-fever/

Detrus 12y ago

I did say healthy adults. Not that most adults are healthy.

evilduck 12y ago

I'm no medical professional so take my statements with healthy skepticism, do your own research, etc, but as a father myself I share the concern and my understanding was that common viral infections like the flu, common colds, ear/throat/sinus infections, whatever, do not cause dangerous fevers (>105ºF). Your temperature regulation usually has to be impaired in some other way like being in hot conditions, overexertion, or a combination of them. Obviously in infants the story is different due to physiological immaturity but the fever response to infection is a positive indicator of the body's thermal regulation working correctly and treating a fever is simply for symptom relief and possibly even detrimental to treating the illness.