The important & protective role fever plays
fever is often healthy
Fever plays some key roles in our health. We may find it an inconvenience, fear it even, perhaps expecting to always feel well. But fever is not necessarily to be feared because it…
Raises your body temperature and blood stream acidity, impeding further infection, and destroying cancer cells and circulating viruses (stopping the never-ending cycle of viral replication) across all systems
To be precise, at 101 degrees most bacteria are unable to survive. At 102 degrees viruses are unable to replicate and spread
Functions like a muscle, requiring challenges (resistance) to grow stronger. In fact, your adaptive immune system’s response to such challenges is what allows it to function at a higher level
In an evolutionary sense, fever is prioritised over antibodies, meaning it’s more effective and thus more important
Fevers are typically short-term and self-limiting. They become dangerous when they get to over C 39.45-40 deg, or F 103-104, or last more than four days
As long as fever doesn’t overwhelm the body, it can be a normal and vital part of having a healthy immune system. I try and listen to and trust my body, usually allowing short-term fever to do its important work.
What suppressing fever does
On the other hand, drugs that suppress fever such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen…
Lower the body’s temperature, silencing its defensive actions AND hindering the immune system
This allows invading organisms to survive
This in turn can contribute to the development of chronic disease
As long as it doesn’t overwhelm the body, while having a fever can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, it’s an essential part of having a strong and effective immune response. We should respect it. Suppressing fever is like suppressing the immune system
If you have chronic fever, however, it’s a whole other story. You need to find the root cause of this ongoing inflammation and deal with it. For more on that check out my other posts.