Fever remedies, such as Paracetamol, Aspirin or Acetominophen, help to reduce the discomfort caused by the increase in body temperature in cases of flu and colds, but also in more serious infections, such as tonsillitis or pneumonia, for example.
Generally, the effect of these medicines lasts between 6 to 8 hours, but it can be improved with some simple actions such as:
1. Always take the medicine at the same interval
Most fever medications should be taken every 8/8 or 6/6 hours, and respecting this time, avoiding taking 1 or 2 hours later, is very important to ensure a good effect.
This happens because the amount of the substance available in the body is able to remain constant, avoiding times when it is too low, preventing fever from returning easily.
2. Wear little clothing during treatment
The main effect of fever remedies is to lower body temperature, so if you wear too much clothing, this effect can be impaired, as excess clothing helps keep the body warm.
Thus, the ideal thing is to wear the appropriate clothes for the season of the year in which you are, using cooler clothes at home, as long as you don’t feel too cold. Another tip is also to sleep with less bedding, avoiding very thick blankets, for example.
3. Take warm water baths
Preferring to take a shower with water slightly colder than usual helps to lower body temperature, facilitating the effect of fever remedies and ensuring greater well-being.
Another option is to put a cloth soaked in cold water over the forehead, however, it is important to change the water as soon as it starts to heat up, to keep the temperature always low.
4. Rest at home and in a cool place
During periods of fever, the body needs to expend more energy than normal to maintain a higher body temperature and more quickly eliminate the viruses and bacteria that are causing this change.
Thus, rest should be a priority for those who have a fever, as it allows you to save more energy to fight the disease and, thus, reduce the body’s need to produce a fever for more days. Ideally, a cool place should be preferred, to allow the body temperature to drop more easily.
5. Drink more water
In addition, not forgetting to drink water, or tea, also helps to avoid dehydration caused by fever and to strengthen the immune system.
6. Eat soup with every meal
Soup is a dish very rich in water and nutrients that helps keep the body well nourished and strong to fight the cause of fever. However, cold soup should be preferred, as if it is hot, it can make the fever worse by raising the body temperature.