Friday, March 28, 2008

Thank the Lord!

Well, since I really don't ride bikes any longer, I have decided to begin ranting on a regular basis...so, here it goes.

To all the parents out there: take a peak at THIS link. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the article: "Fevers, or elevated temperatures, are good. Fever is the body's mechanism for fighting infections-speeding up metabolism to increase heart rate and blood supply where it is needed, producing more white blood cells to devour pathogens, and increasing antibody responses to infection. Fevers should not be suppressed with fever-reducing medication (antipyretics). Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin have no place in the home treatment of fevers below 105°F (40.5°C). A child with a fever higher than 105°F should be under medical supervision because a serious infection such as meningitis may be the cause, but only fevers beyond 108°F (42.2°C) have been known to cause brain damage. If your baby under three months of age has a fever or seems sick and lethargic, see your medical provider."

This goes back to a few posts ago...see my rant about immunizations. People get really bent out of shape when they start getting a hint of a cold. What people don't realize is that when you start manipulating a fever, supressing a cough, or taking NSAIDS to reduce aches and pains, they are actually prolonging the process of healing. Sure, tylenol has been shown to reduce fevers, but it most certainly doesn't provide a vehicle for the "bad bugs" to be removed from the body.

These are the kind of articles I think people should be issued at every Dr. Visit. I feel like the health care industry does a poor job educating their patients. There is a wealth of resouces available regarding health, illness and disease, but many practitioners fail to deliver this information. Anyway, I guess I am suggesting for people to inform theirselves, because your care-giver will likely speak over your head, leave you in a state of fear, and treat you for the same thing over and over again (*note, I am bashing my own profession too!)

- The Colonel

BTW, though I haven't been riding, I am not just sitting around getting fat. I have been running and doing some core stuff still, and working my tail off around my house...pics coming soon!

2 comments:

Brady said...

curtie...

shoot me an email at bradybeckham at gmail.com so I have your addy. please

Sarah Moran said...

Im finally writing to just say I AGREE!!! It's scary how much information is not shared and how much time, health and money could be saved if it were.