Most of the time, life requires you to juggle several responsibilities. You would have to work to pay your bills while thinking about how you are going to make time for your family and friends during the weekends. Because there are a lot of things that are consuming your time and energy, you become tired and catch a fever. Once you get sick, it will be more difficult for you to attend to your responsibilities. As such, you have to know ways on how to reduce a fever.
10 Helpful Tips on Reducing a Fever
Manage your body temperature
There can be several manifestations of fever in your body. There will be times that your fever will manifest through shivers, with your teeth chattering and you feeling really cold. Let this be and manage it by covering up to give your body some heat. Likewise, if you have already started feeling hot, control the heat by using light covers and other low-temperature solutions. Forcing yourself to stick to your beliefs might only worsen the situation. As they say, opposites attract. This principle can also be applied when you have a fever.
Use a cold compress
If you want to know how to reduce a fever, teach yourself the power of a cold compress. When you have started feeling hot, take a hand towel and soak it in cold water. Wring it out and press it on different parts of the face. You can also press it onto your neck and your wrists. Using a cold compress can help you cool down as it draws the heat out of your body. Repeat this process until you feel better.
Use wet socks
In relation to the cold compress, you can also reduce fever by using wet socks. Like the towel, use cotton socks and soak them in cold water. Wring out the extra water and put them on your feet. Then, put on another pair, preferably one that is thick and made of wool, to provide insulation and trap the low temperature. This method will help reduce fever as it increases the circulation of heat around the body. Your socks will soon dry up and you will feel a lot better after a few hours.
Drink a lot of water
One of the best ways of how to reduce a fever is to drink a lot of water. When you have a fever, there is extra heat in your body that can use up a lot of fluids. This will then leave you feeling dehydrated. To reduce your fever, drink a lot of water to help balance your electrolytes. If it is your child that has fever, you can try popsicles or flavored ices made of water to help them load up on liquid.
Eat fruits and vegetables
When you have fever, your immune system will be down and there is a bigger chance for you to catch other diseases. To prevent this, eat more fruits and vegetables. Choose fruits that are rich in Vitamin C as it will help fight infections. These fruits include orange, pineapple, watermelon, and cantaloupe. If you can, turn them into juices and mix them with leafy vegetables. Also, avoid foods that are oily and spicy as they would not make you feel better.
Eat some soup
When you have fever, you may lose your appetite and might not have the mood to eat. However, if you do not eat, you will become weaker and this will only delay the healing process. If you do not have the energy to consume whole foods, make yourself some hot soup. Not only will it give you more energy but it will also keep you hydrated. You can add some chicken or eggs to the soup for more protein. You can also add some rice and vegetables for more nutrition.
Drink herbal tea
You can also reduce your fever by drinking herbal tea. There are a lot of teas that you can buy in supermarkets but you can also make some of your own. Some herbs that are good for reducing a fever are peppermint, ginger, oregano, thyme, holy basil, calendula, and raspberry leaf. Just add a teabag or a teaspoon of dried herbs in a cup of water. Let it soak in boiled water for 5 minutes and flavor with lemon or honey. However, for kids, consult your physician first before making them drink tea.
Try taking medicine
If you want to know how to reduce a fever, there are over-the-counter medicines that you can take even without prescription. Some medicines include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. If you want something anti-inflammatory, aspirin and ibuprofen are your best options. However, do this only if this has worked before. Otherwise, consult your doctor and see your best options. Also, for future purposes, make sure to keep a stack of these in your medicine cabinet in case of emergency.
Look for signs of dehydration
As your body heats up when you have a fever, it is inevitable to feel dehydrated. This may still be normal for adults but for children and infants, It may not. As such, you have to take extra precaution as fever can easily lead up to serious dehydration. Some symptoms that you can check are sleepiness/tiredness, dry skin, constipation, few or no tears when crying, and thirst. Try encouraging your child to drink more water. If your child refuses, it might be better to call your physician for advice.
Know when to seek professional help
If you want to know how to reduce a fever, you have to know when to seek professional help. Before anything else, check the body temperature. The normal is 98.6F or 37C. If your reading is far from this or if there are other symptoms aside from fever, immediately seek help from a physician.
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