FitSugar

When Is a Fever Too High?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:49:00 PST

With the nasty flu bug making its rounds, there's only so much eating healthy, getting enough rest, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and avoiding germs one can do. If you're unlucky enough to get the flu, your body will hike up your body temperature to boil away all those germs. So is there a point when your temperature can get too high?

When you get the flu, a sudden high fever is totally normal, and it can get as high as 104° F and last for three to four days. The best thing you can do is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, since a fever can cause you to become dehydrated. Don't attempt to cool off your skin with cold packs since they'll just make you shiver, which will end up raising your body temperature. Instead you should alternate between taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours to help reduce your fever. Alternating these meds will help to prevent accidental overdose, and sometimes the combination of the two will be more effective in bringing down your fever. But if your fever persists for more than five days or goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

Not as Average as You Think

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:00:34 PST

It used to be that when I got sick, a temperature reading of 98.6°F was enough to persuade me that I didn't have anything serious. But a recent article in the New York Times says that 98.6 isn't so average after all. Suddenly what I thought was my safe zone is just slightly off.

Although resting body temperatures vary between individuals, a study found that on average it's 98.2°F - not 98.6 as once believed. The results of the study also show that body temperatures increase over the course of the day.

This seems pretty minor, I mean what's a few tenths of a degree? Not much, until you consider that with every decade our body temperature declines, as well. This becomes even more of an issue among the elderly. A study confirms that many nursing-home patients with serious infections had temperatures below 101°F, which is usually where concern comes in relation to temperature reading. And their temperatures remained below 101°F even though they had an increase of 2.4 degrees or more, which can be indicative of a serious fever.

In light of these new findings it seems like a good idea to check your temperature on a series of "well" days. That way, you have a sense of what your average body temperature, which can be used as a gauge to measure yourself against when you're sick. I know I will definitely be doing this.

Beyond that, I think this article is also a good example that regardless of what a measuring instrument may say or not say about your health, it's good to listen to your body. If you feel like there's something serious going on, never hesitate to call your doctor.

Best Practices: Extend the Life of Your Workout Wear

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:43 PST

You splurged on $70 capris, but since they make such a difference in the way you feel during workouts, you'll never go back to cheapo clothes again. Because you've shelled out a lot of dough for these items, it's best to know how to take care of your workout clothes so they'll last. Always check the label or the brand's website for care instructions, and to answer a few common concerns about washing wicking-wear, we spoke to a few of our fave brands to get the skinny on the matter.

Go With Cold
We spoke with Zobha, Lululemon, and SmartWool, and they all agree: wash your technical and wool workout garments in cold water. No need to hand wash either! Just drop your clothes into the machine. But Lululemon adds "avoid washing with fluffy clothing (i.e. big cotton sweatshirts)" so your favorite leggings don't end up with a bunch of unwanted lint as decoration.

Say No to Bleach and Fabric Softeners
Bleach does not play nice with technical fabrics, so these brands say to avoid it. When it comes to your woolens, SmartWool recommends avoiding fabric softeners "because they coat the merino wool fibers and reduce the fibers' ability to naturally manage moisture and regulate your body temperature."

To Tumble Dry or Not
When it comes to drying your gear, all these brands agree: it's perfectly acceptable to tumble dry your clothes on low. Lululemon does provide the caveat that "hanging to dry will help prolong the life of the garment." I find using the dryer helps lessen the stink factor that affects some of my workout wear. Plus it saves time - I hate when I grab a pair of air-drying capris for my morning workout and they're still damp.

If you have more questions on washing your fave pieces of gear, read up on how to wash workout clothes for more tips.

Brown Fat, the Cold, and You: How to Make Your Fat Burn Calories

Leta Shy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:33:54 PST

Not all body fat is created equal, at least according to two new studies reported by the New York Times last week. One study found that brown fat burns calories "like a furnace" when you're cold, and another found that regular white fat can be converted into calorie-burning brown fat while you exercise.

The first study found that brown fat burns glucose as well as other stores of fat when its own are depleted in order to keep the study participants warm. The other study found that in mice exercise creates a hormone that may be turning those dangerous white fat stores into fuel-burning brown fat. These studies aren't the first to identify the seemingly magical properties of brown fat. Brown fat has been known for years to be a calorie-torching element found mostly in those who are leaner, younger, or women (compared to older or obese people or men).

More research is necessary to see just how brown fat can help promote weight loss, but even so, by making a few simple changes you can take advantage of the findings. How can you possibly increase your own store of brown fat? Read on for some metabolism-boosting tips.

Why You Sweat More Than Your Exercise Buddy

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:10:19 PST

You're trucking along on the treadmill and as you reach for a towel to wipe off the perspiration on your forehead, you can't help but notice the guy to the right who's sweating so much. It looks like he jumped in a river. Why is it that some people sweat like crazy and some are barely glistening?

First off, sweating is the body's way of cooling itself off and maintaining a healthy temperature. You're born with between two and four million sweat glands. Women have more sweat glands than men, but men's glands are more active. How much you sweat depends on your gender, the number of sweat glands you have (more glands equal more sweat), how hot it is, how intensely you're exercising, or how anxious you feel.

The amount a person sweats also depends on how many sweat glands are activated and how much sweat is excreted from each gland. It turns out that fit men sweat significantly more than fit women. The same amount of sweat glands might be activated, but women produce less sweat from each gland. Fit people sweat more efficiently by sweating sooner during workouts, when their body temperature is lower. However, a sedentary person working at the same intensity will heat up a lot faster and possibly sweat more. Also, overweight people sweat more profusely than normal-weight individuals because fat acts as an insulator that raises core temperature.

Unfortunately, some people suffer from excessive sweating, a common condition called Hyperhidrosis. Their bodies' faucets turn on and their palms, feet, back, and face become covered in sweat, even if it's cold out or they're not moving. If this sounds familiar, consult your doctor to see what treatment options are available.

InCase Thermo Snap Case Is Like a Modern Day Mood Ring

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:59:10 PST

Let's face it - if you weren't into mood rings when you were younger, then you probably didn't like fun stuff. But the secret of the mood ring (spoiler alert) is in your body's temperature. Picking up where the mood ring craze left off is the InCase Thermo Snap Case ($35) that changes from dark to light, depending on the temperature. A long phone call or a handprint will make a lasting impression as the case slowly returns to room temp, but considering how much I'm on my phone, I'm looking forward to lots of color-changing opportunities.

I kinda wish the color change was more dramatic (throw some purple, green, and blue in there!), but hey - maybe version 2.0 will more closely resemble the mood rings of my past.

Get a Good Night's Rest . . . Regardless of Who You Are Sleeping With

Heather Dale — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:32:09 PST

If improving your sleeping habits made the list of your 2012 resolutions, then let's get to it! There are simple things you should and shouldn't be doing to get some quality shut-eye, but what about the person who sleeps to your right (or left)? Do you ever look at your partner as a roadblock to your sleeping success? If your significant other is interfering with your sleepy time, here are some helpful tips to get you back on track . . . no separate rooms required!

Some like it hot, some like it cold: If your partner likes to keep the heat cranked throughout the night, while you prefer to keep it at a lower temperature, use scientific evidence to win this battle. Like it or not, room temperature has a significant impact on sleep. To get proper, quality sleep, the body needs to reach an internal temperature of 65 to 72 degrees F. If he (or she) is still set on sweating it out, load up the blankets on their side of the bed and have them wear socks and a sweatshirt to bed.

Keep reading for more tips.

How to Combat Winter Blahs and Blues

Heather Dale — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:23:08 PST

When January rolls around, the festive fun has come to an end, and we resume our regular day-to-day routines . . . good times, right? This month can be especially difficult for some because the party is over, the temperatures are dropping, and the days are awfully short. If you're experiencing any symptoms that feel like major depression, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that is cyclical and seasonal, meaning that it comes and goes at the same time every year. If you suffer from SAD, symptoms may include irritability, a drop in energy level, and possible weight gain. Various studies have shown that four to six percent of the population has been diagnosed with SAD at some point in their lives, while 10 to 12 percent have shown symptoms related to SAD. Fortunately, there are some easy remedies you can try at home to help get you through the next few months.

Keep reading to see what they are!

The 40 Best Shirtless Moments of 2011!

Mackenzie Wagoner — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:09:06 PST

The sexiest men in Hollywood kept the temperature rising all year long with jaw-dropping shirtless moments. When David Beckham wasn't baring his abs in Malibu, Robert Pattinson was shooting sexy honeymoon scenes without his shirt for Breaking Dawn. Ryan Gosling let his six-pack steal the show in Crazy, Stupid, Love, and Garrett Hedlund and Andrew Garfield showed serious skin on a boys' day at the beach. In case you missed it, check out the best bikini pictures of the year and see all the buff celebs in our roundup of 2011's best shirtless bodies!

Also, don't miss all our Best of 2011 coverage across the PopSugar Network!

Fact or Fiction: Working Out in the Cold Burns More Calories

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:25:45 PST

You may have heard that exercising in the cold burns more calories than exercising in moderate temps, but is this a fact or myth? It's sensible to assume that the effort it takes to warm up your body burns more calories, but it's not as simple as that. Keep reading to find out how exercising in the cold affects calorie burn.

Shivering does burn calories - that involuntary tensing of muscles to warm the body burns about 200 for every 30 minutes. So if you're not wearing enough layers and you're cold while working out in low temps, your body burns more calories to keep warm. In a study of "scantily clad" exercisers, the participants burned 13 percent more calories in the cold than when they performed the same type of exercise at room temperature (450 compared to 400). But don't take the above to mean that you should dress in less to increase calorie burn. It's important to dress appropriately to both protect your skin and to prevent hypothermia.

Keep reading to find out if breathing cold air increases calorie burn.