Do you use a hot towel or a cold towel when you have a fever?

When I see this issue, I believe some people will say, "Of course, you need to use a cold towel, cold compress to cool down

However, the answer is not so simple! The correct method is to choose which towel to use based on the stage of fever.

Before we explain this issue, we first need to understand how fever occurs. As is well known, the human body has its own immune function. When foreign enemies such as viruses and bacteria invade, the human immune system will come into action to welcome this battle of life and death. In this battle, both sides made every effort to increase the body temperature to kill the virus, which is the cause of fever.

But it should be noted that body temperature does not immediately rise when the central nervous system orders it. This process is like a general giving orders, requiring multiple people to transmit information before implementation. When body temperature gradually rises, skin blood vessels will contract, sweat secretion will decrease, and the human body will feel cold. Especially for children, this feeling may be more pronounced and may even cause shivers.

 

At this time, the body temperature is usually below 39 ℃, and the skin needs heat. If cold compress is used, it is equivalent to resisting the instructions of the central nervous system, which may lead to stricter instructions from the central nervous system, causing the body temperature to continue to rise. Therefore, it is recommended to use hot compress method at this stage. You can use a warm towel to repeatedly wipe the patient's forehead, neck, armpits, limbs, and groin and other large blood vessel areas, promote blood circulation, help sweat, and accelerate the release of heat in the body, achieving the effect of reducing fever.

However, if the body temperature has already risen to 39 ℃ and is relatively stable in a short period of time, then cold compress methods need to be used to prevent further increase in body temperature. The correct approach at this point is to soak the towel in cold water, slightly wring it dry, and then apply it to the forehead. When the temperature of the towel reaches body temperature, soak it again in cold water and reapply it to the forehead. Repeat the cold compress until the fever subsides. At the same time, cold compress can also be applied to areas with abundant blood vessels such as the thigh root or armpit to help reduce overall body temperature.

 

But no matter what temperature of towel we use, we should try to ensure that it is clean at this time. Otherwise, it is already the time when our body's resistance is at its lowest, and the virus on the towel will make it even worse. My family usually uses a DOACE Towel Warmer, which can effectively sterilize and dry. At the same time, it can also add aromatherapy tablets to make the towel fragrant and long-lasting. Our family loves it very much.

 

However, it must be reminded that although physical cooling can reduce body temperature to a certain extent, it should not be completely dependent on it, and timely use of fever reducing drugs is also very important. If a high fever lasts for a long time, it may cause serious harm to the human body.

Persistent high fever may have adverse effects on various organs and tissues, including symptoms such as dizziness, headache, restlessness, insomnia, and even epilepsy. Long term high fever may also lead to irreversible brain cell damage, resulting in sequelae, and may have certain effects on the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.

 

In addition, fever can accelerate metabolism, increase oxygen demand, lead to lipid metabolism disorders, and may lead to ketosis. At the same time, due to the breakdown of its own protein, it may lead to a series of problems such as weight loss, dysfunction of cortical excitation and inhibition, decreased secretion of digestive fluid, decreased activity of digestive enzymes, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Therefore, if the physical cooling effect is not good during a fever, it is advisable to take antipyretic drugs in a timely manner to lower body temperature. I once consulted a doctor friend who told me that there are currently two commonly used fever reducing drugs: acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

 

I have personally tried these two drugs and feel that acetaminophen is more suitable for me. Because although ibuprofen works quickly, it may stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. Due to my sensitive gastrointestinal system, I always feel uncomfortable after taking ibuprofen. However, acetaminophen has less irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, so I did not experience any gastrointestinal discomfort when using this medication during fever.

The article should also come to an end at this point. Finally, we hope that everyone takes their own health seriously, and once they find themselves ill, they must take measures early. It is difficult to recover when the disease is severe.