Do you know why your body spikes a temperature when you get sick? Everyone worries about having “too high” of a temperature. It makes you feel terrible and all you want to do is sleep. How do you manage having a fever?

What if I told you having a temperature is actually a good thing? When you get a virus or bacteria attack your body, your body goes into defense mode. The Hypothalamus in your brain is the regulator of body temperature, thermostat of sorts. So to attack the “invader” your Hypothalamus increases your body temperature. When your core temperature increases, it starts to kill the invader by using phagocytes, which eat the “invader“.

Finding Balance

Why do you get the cold chills and then start to sweat while you are sick? Because of the Hypothalamus. Since it is the regulator, it also knows when your temperature is getting a little too high. This is why you will have several bouts of “breaking” your temperature. Your body is very sensitive to temperature changes.

This is why in my article 6 Essentials to Cold and Flu Season I talk about only drinking room temperature or hot liquids while you are sick. When you drink cold liquids your body has to stop and warm your core body temperature back up. This causes the body to stop killing the invader and get warm enough to have the “army” (phagocytes) start killing again.

Medicines Are Bad!

Do you take a Tylenol or Ibuprofen when your sick? You are actually prolonging your sickness when you take pills while you are sick. The job of the pill is to block what your body is trying to do. You may think that your temperature is getting too high.

How high is too high? Brain damage occurs when a temperature reaches 108°. This can only happen when you get a hot temperature outside the body, such as sitting in a closed hot car. Most body temperatures won’t go above 104°. Very rarely will you get a temperature at 105° or 106°. While these numbers sound scary they are actually harmless. Remember you have a body thermostat that regulates what needs to be happening. The less chemicals you pump into your body, the better off you are. When you have no chemicals to confuse the body, it can work at optimal function.

Best Things to Do for a Fever

Get adjusted!! YES! (Knew that was coming didn’t you?!) The chiropractic adjustment increases antibodies in the blood and decreases the anti-inflammatory response. The adjustment also increases the function of the pre-frontal cortex by 20%. “This brain region has been implicated in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour.” (https://www.neuropsychotherapist.com/prefrontal-cortex/).

If you have a small child and are worried about their temperature getting too high, GET THEM ADJUSTED TOO!! As well as, you can have them take lukewarm baths to bring down their core temperature a degree or two. Nothing is worse than a nervous parent. With having two small children of my own, I adjust them several times a day when they are sick with a fever. (Now if their temperature doesn’t break, of course I would take them to the ER. Trust your gut.) The body was made to heal itself.

So when you or a loved one are sick get in to see a chiropractor! Take lukewarm baths and drink warm liquids.

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC
El Reno, OK 73036