FitSugar

When Is a Fever Too High?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:30:00 -0800

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.

Fit's Tips: If your fever persists for more than five days, or it goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

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Relax Already With a Bath Thermometer

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:15:00 -0700

We've all done this: Decide you need to relax with a soak in the tub. Start filling the tub and walk away to get all the accouterments prepped for your relaxing bath (crossword, music, candles, bath oil, etc.). Excitedly come back to a tub, nice and full. Get in. Find out it's scalding hot. Jump out of tub screaming. Look at your foot to see whether it is still there or burnt off entirely.

Avoid this awful situation by getting a bath thermometer. Commonly used by moms who want to make sure their baby's baths are at the appropriate temperature, these bath thermometers can be used by adults who are easily distracted too! The ideal bath temperature, so that you don't shock your body, is about 98-99 degrees (though some like it hotter). However, usually if it's any hotter, you'll be sweating to cool down, and if it's any colder your body will be in overdrive trying to warm itself up - hardly the relaxing experience you were looking for.

I especially like this Mobi Digital Bath and Room Thermometer ($12.99) because it also measures the room temp as well, which is kind of cool. Buy it from target.com.

Thermometer temperature

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:31:23 -0700

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HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Fever is an important part of the body's defense against infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections in humans thrive best at 98.6°F. Raising the body temperature a few degrees can help the body fight the infection. In addition, a fever activates the body's immune system to make more white blood cells, antibodies, and other infection-fighting agents.

Review Date: 2/27/2008

Reviewed By: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_19700

Temperature measurement

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:09:49 -0700

Illustrations

Temperature measurement

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Temperature measurement is a method to take a person's temperature and determine whether it is within a normal range. A high temperature is a fever.

How the test is performed

In the past, a glass thermometer filled with mercury was used to measure body temperature. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends against using mercury thermometers because the glass can break, and mercury is poisonous.

Electronic thermometers are most commonly used and recommended. The temperature is displayed on a digital readout. Follow the directions that come with the thermometer. Electronic probe thermometers can be placed in the mouth, rectum, or armpit. Electronic ear thermometers are common and convenient, but some users report that the results are less consistent than probe thermometers.

Plastic strip thermometers change color to indicate the temperature. This method is the least accurate. Place the strip on the forehead and read it after 1 minute. Read it while the strip is in place. Plastic strip thermometers for the mouth are also available.

Always clean the thermometer before using. You can use cool, soapy water or rubbing alcohol. If you are using a glass thermometer, grip the end opposite the bulb and shake the thermometer downwards until it reads 95°F or less.

You can measure the temperature on three body locations:

Mouth -- place the thermometer under the tongue and close the mouth. Breathe through the nose, and use the lips to hold the thermometer tightly in place. Leave the thermometer in the mouth for 3 minutes or until the device beeps.
Rectum -- this method is for infants and small children who are not able to hold a thermometer safely in their mouths. Place petroleum jelly on the bulb of a rectal thermometer. Place the small child face down on a flat surface or lap. Spread the buttocks and insert the bulb end of the thermometer about 1/2 to 1 inch into the anal canal. Be careful not to insert the thermometer too far. Prevent the child from struggling, since this can accidentally push the thermometer in further. Remove the thermometer after 3 minutes or when the device beeps.
Armpit -- place the thermometer in the armpit, with the arm pressed against the body for 5 minutes before reading. This is the least accurate method for using a glass thermometer.

Digital thermometers have easy-to-read displays. To read a glass thermometer, gripping the end opposite the bulb so that the numbers are facing you. Roll the thermometer back and forth between your fingers until you see a silver or red reflection in the column. Compare the end of the column with the degree marking in the lines on the thermometer.

How to prepare for the test

Wait at least 1 hour after vigorous exercise or a hot bath before measuring body temperature. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes after smoking, eating, or drinking a hot or cold liquid.

How the test will feel

There is very little discomfort.

Why the test is performed

The measurement of body temperature determines whether a person has a fever. It may be helpful in monitoring to see if a person is ill or whether a treatment is working -- especially in antibiotic treatment of infections.

Normal Values

The normal temperature varies by person, age, time of day, and where on the body the temperature was taken. The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C).

Your body temperature is usually highest in the evening. It can be raised by physical activity, strong emotion, eating, heavy clothing, medications, high room temperature, and high humidity.

Daily variations change as children get older:

In children younger than 6 months of age, the daily variation is small.
In children 6 months to 2 years old, the daily variation is about 1 degree.
By age 6, daily variations gradually increase to 2 degrees per day.
Body temperature varies less in adults. However, a woman's menstrual cycle can raise temperature by one degree or more.

For information on when to call a doctor due to specific temperatures and ages, see the article on fever.

What abnormal results mean

If the reading on the thermometer is more than 1 to 1.5 degrees above the patient's normal temperature, the patient has a fever. Most fevers are a sign of infection and occur with other symptoms. Abnormally high or low temperatures can be serious, and you should consult a health care provider.

What the risks are

There is essentially no risk. There is a rare risk of bowel perforation if the rectal thermometer is not carefully inserted.

Review Date: 10/17/2006

Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_003400

7 Food Safety Tips For the Fourth of July

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:35:18 -0700

Fourth of July is all fun and games - until someone gets food poisoning! OK, while that may not be your biggest concern this holiday, don't forget food safety when making salads and moving meat from the kitchen to the 'cue. Here are a few important rules to remember.

Clean your plates. If you transport raw meat to the grill on a platter, be sure to wash the platter before plating up the cooked meat or swap out a clean one.
Keep separate cutting boards. Don't use the same cutting board for raw meat that you do for other foods, and be sure to wash rigorously anything that comes into contact with the raw stuff.
Take the temperature. Use a meat thermometer to determine when you meat is cooked: the FDA recommends a temp of 160°F for ground beef and 165°F for poultry.

For tips regarding the nonmeat part of the meal, read more.

Wash the produce. Even if you're grilling the veggies, be sure to rinse them thoroughly and give potatoes and root veggies a scrub with a brush.
Opt for loose lettuce. Avoid potentially contaminated bagged produce and go for heads of lettuce instead. Better yet, discard the outermost layers before washing.
Mind the mayo. Don't leave mayonnaise-based salads like potato salad out for more than two hours or, if it's above 90°F, an hour.
Put it away. Refrigerate any leftovers within two hours of eating.

4 Health Dangers of Summer

FitSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Summertime and the living is easy . . . except for a few commonplace health hazards to watch out for. Here are four things to keep in mind as you enjoy the warmer weather and longer days.

The pool. Even though the water is treated with chemicals, the people swimming in the pool may not be as hygienic as you. They may not shower before taking a dip, and may even relieve themselves in the pool instead of using a bathroom. For these reasons, do not swallow the pool water, try not to rub your eyes, and shower afterward with hot water and soap.
Undercooked meat and food that's been left out. When going to a friend's barbecue, choosing meat that isn't rare is a good way to avoid salmonella, but keep in mind that color isn't necessarily a good indication. Meat should be cooked to at least 160 degrees, so buy your friend a meat thermometer, so you can all avoid food poisoning. Also beware of potato salad and other perishables that have been left out. In the hot Summer sun, don't eat anything that's been out for more than an hour.

To see what else you should be aware of read more.

Sun exposure. The warmer weather means many of us are spending hours outdoors, but the sun can put you at risk for sunburns, heat stroke, and dehydration. Just be sure to cover up with sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and try to stay cool.
Bugs. Warm weather brings out buzzing mosquitoes, which can bring with them diseases like West Nile Virus. To protect yourself, bug spray is a good idea. Watch out for ticks too since they can transmit Lyme disease. Wear tall socks, pants, and long sleeves when going into woodsy areas, and check your skin every time you come inside.

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Healthy To-Do: Update Your First Aid Kit

FitSugar — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

I recently cut myself pretty badly while chopping veggies and when I went to my first aid kit to get some Neosporin, I realized I was all out.

So learn from my mistake and take some time this weekend to update your first aid kit and medicine cabinet. Throw out expired products and make sure you're stocked up on the necessities. I made a little checklist of some things you may need in case you get sick or hurt so read more.

Antiseptic solution or towelettes
Cotton balls
Antibiotic cream such as Neosporin
Bandages including band-aids and gauze
Adhesive tape
Latex gloves
Instant ice packs
Tweezers and a sterile needle
Sterile eyewash, such as a saline solution
Thermometer
Anti-diarrhea medication such as Pepto-Bismol
Anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen
Pain reliever such as Tylenol
Hydrocortisone cream

Trying To Conceive - Timing And Fertility

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:34:52 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Ovulation Video

Identifying Your Fertile Days

Many couples spend so much time preventing an unplanned pregnancy that they assume that when they are ready for a family all they have to do is stop using birth control. Getting pregnant is not always that fast -- it can take up to a year or longer -- nor is it automatic.

To get pregnant, healthy sperm need to meet an egg in the fallopian tube. When an egg is ready to be fertilized, the ovary releases it into the tube. This is called ovulation, and it usually happens about 2 weeks before a woman expects to get her next period. For a woman with 28 days from one period to the next, this is about 14 days after the first day of her previous period. Women with longer or shorter cycles can calculate their ovulation day by subtracting 14 days from the length of their cycle. For example, a woman with a 21-day cycle ovulates on day 7,and a woman with a 35-day cycle ovulates on day 21.

For the best chance of getting pregnant, plan intercourse in the week around ovulation day. It’s recommended to have intercourse every other day, starting five days before expected ovulation and ending 2 days afterwards. If you have irregular cycles and are not sure when you ovulate, you can buy an ovulation predictor kit. These test LH, the hormone of ovulation, in the urine and are very accurate.

If you are willing to take some extra steps, you can also monitor two body functions to pinpoint your most fertile times, maximizing your chances of getting pregnant. These methods are less expensive than ovulation predictor kits, but they require more effort.

The changes in the consistency of your cervical fluid and your body temperature are two indicators of fertility. This article explains how to monitor your cervical fluid and temperature, identify the changes, and learn what they mean.

Evaluating Your Cervical Fluid

Cervical fluid protects the sperm and helps them move through the cervix toward the uterus and fallopian tubes. Like everything else involved with the menstrual cycle, cervical fluid changes in preparation for ovulation. You will notice obvious differences in how it looks and feels over the course of the cycle.

At the beginning of your cycle, you probably will not notice any cervical fluid at all. Then it may become sticky or gummy, and then creamy and white. Finally, as ovulation approaches, it becomes more clear and stretchy, almost like egg white. This stretchy, egg-white fluid signals that you are about to ovulate.

Cervical fluid can usually be felt inside the lower end of the vagina, especially on fertile days. Rub your fingers together to evaluate the consistency of the fluid and see how it matches up with the descriptions below:

Menstrual period occurring (no cervical fluid is present)
Vagina is dry (no cervical fluid is present)
Sticky/rubbery fluid
Wet/creamy/white fluid - Fertile
Slippery/stretchy/clear "egg white" fluid - Very Fertile
Dry (no cervical fluid)

The cervical fluid will be slippery and stretchy on your most fertile days.

Taking Your Basal Temperature

Your body temperature shifts subtly during your menstrual cycle, rising after your ovulate. If you check your temperature each day, you can track when ovulation has occurred. Basal body temperatures are a simple way to keep track of your cycle, but they are limited, because you don’t know that you have ovulated until after the fact – and then, it’s too late to plan to have intercourse in order to get pregnant.

If you want to try tracking your cycles, take your temperature first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. Try not to move too much, as activity can raise your body temperature slightly. Use a glass basal thermometer or a digital thermometer so that you can get accuracy to the tenth of a degree. Keep the thermometer in your mouth for five minutes. If your temperature is between two marks, record the lower number.

Try to take your temperature at the same time every day if possible. Shake the thermometer down when you are done so that you do not have to shake it in the morning and thus risk raising your temperature from the movement.

After you ovulate, your body temperature will rise and stay elevated for the rest of your cycle. If you don’t get pregnant, it will fall at the end of your cycle, and you will get your period. Create a chart and write down your temperature everyday. From one day to the next, your temperature will zigzag a little. These small temperature changes will seem random at first - ignore them.

Also, ignore the occasional "fluke" temperature that is obviously way out of alignment with the others -- this can happen for any number reasons (like stress) and not important to finding pattern. If you look at a complete cycle, you will probably notice a point at which the temperatures become higher than they were in first part your cycle. More specifically, the rise is when your temperature increases 0.2 degrees above the previous six days. That temperature jump occurs just after ovulation.

The limitation with monitoring your temperature is that by the time you are certain that you have ovulated, it is usually too late! You can still try to get pregnant the morning your temperature rises, but chances are slimmer. The egg is probably gone by that point.

Nevertheless, temperature tracking can be helpful. After several cycles, you may be able to see a predictable pattern and get a sense for your most fertile days. The rise also lets you know when you are less likely to become pregnant if you have intercourse. And lastly, temperature is a good indicator of whether you are pregnant. If your temperature does not go down at the end of your cycle, you probably succeeded!

Review Date:
2/24/2007
Reviewed By:
Douglas A. Levine, MD, Gynecology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Pregnancy Center Links

Pregnancy - identifying fertile days

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:18:56 -0700

Overview

Definition
Information

Illustrations

Female reproductive anatomy

Uterus

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Fertile days are the days a woman is most likely to get pregnant.

Information

When trying to conceive a baby, many couples plan intercourse around days 11 to 14 of the woman's 28-day cycle. However, it is often difficult to know exactly when ovulation is going to occur. Doctors recommend that couples who are trying to have a baby have intercourse between days 10 and day 20 of a woman's menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that having intercourse every other day works just as well as having intercourse every day in order to become pregnant.

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle and are no sure when or if you are ovulating, ovulation predictor kit can help. These kits, which can be bought at most drug stores, check for LH (luteinizing hormone) in the urine.

There are other various methods to help detect when you are most likely to be able to conceive a baby.

Evaluating Your Cervical Fluid

Cervical fluid plays protects the sperm and helps it move through the cervix toward the uterus and fallopian tubes. Cervical fluid changes in preparation for ovulation. You will notice clear differences in how it looks and feels over the course of the cycle.

Menstrual period occurring (no cervical fluid is present)
Vagina is dry (no cervical fluid is present)
Sticky/rubbery fluid
Wet/creamy/white fluid -- FERTILE
Slippery/stretchy/clear "egg white" fluid -- VERY FERTILE
Dry (no cervical fluid)

The cervical fluid will be slippery and stretchy on your most fertile days. You can use your fingers to check the consistency of your cervical fluid. Find the fluid inside the lower end of the vagina. Tap your thumb and first finger together -- if the material stretches while you spread your thumb and finger apart, this could mean ovulation is near.

Taking Your Basal Temperature

After you ovulate, your body temperature will rise and stay at an elevated level for the rest of your ovulation cycle. At the end of your cycle, it falls again.

You can use a special thermometer to take your temperature in the morning before you get out of bed. Use a glass basal thermometer or a digital thermometer so that you can get accuracy to the tenth of a degree. Keep the thermometer in your mouth for 5 minutes. Try not to move too much, as activity can raise your body temperature slightly. If your temperature is between two marks, record the lower number. Try to take your temperature at the same time every day, if possible.

Create a chart and write down your temperature everyday. If you look at a complete cycle, you will probably notice a point at which the temperatures become higher than they were in the first part of your cycle. More specifically, the rise is when your temperature increases 0.2 degrees above the previous 6 days.

Temperature is a useful indicator of fertility. After monitoring several cycles, you may be able to see a predictable pattern and get a sense for your most fertile days.

Review Date: 1/18/2007

Reviewed By: Douglas A. Levine, M.D., Gynecology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_007015

What's the Deal With Cold Hands and Feet?

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0800

It's Winter, and for many people, especially women, their hands and feet are always cold. The reason this happens is basically your body's way of surviving cold temps. When the thermometer level drops, your body tries to keep your core warm, where all your vital organs are. So the blood vessels in your extremities constrict and limit circulation to these parts of your body. The result is cold-to-the-touch fingers, hands, toes, feet, nose, and ears. The best thing to do is bundle up with warm clothes, exercise, or drink hot beverages to increase your body temperature.

If it's not cold where you live, then cold hands and feet could mean something else. To find out what then read more.

If you have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease such as history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, then cold hands and feet could also be a sign that there are blockages in the small blood vessels. Medications can help with this, or increasing your omega-3s.

If your fingers and toes are often cold and they turn a whitish color, then you may have Raynaud's Disease, which can be caused by cold weather or stress. If you're concerned about your hands and feet constantly being cold, then it can't hurt to make an appointment with your doctor.

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