If you have ever taken your child’s temperature at different times during the day you may have noticed that the temperature changed at various times. Their normal body temperature varies from hour to hour and throughout the day. A child’s temperature will usually be lower in the middle of the night than in the mid-afternoon. The normal oral temperature can vary up or down by 0.5-1C or 2F. Your child’s body temperature can rise simply due to hot weather, warm clothing or increased activity such as playing, running around or crying.
When your child develops a fever, his body temperature rises above the “normal” range. A fever is considered to be anything over 36.4C (97.7F). A fever is a sign that the body is fighting an infection caused by bacteria, a virus or other foreign organism. However, fever is not always a reliable indicator of illness as it is not unusual for a young child to have a high temperature with just a mild illness. Conversely, a very sick child may have a low temperature or no fever at all.
The best fever treatment in children is to focus on the child and how he/she is feeling rather than on a particular degree of temperature. The following steps will help reduce a fever and help your child feel more comfortable:
- Dress your child in light cotton clothing;
- Keep the room temperature at a comfortable level;
- Make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids;
- Gently wipe your child’s face with a damp lukewarm cloth of sponge. Baths are not recommended becuase they can cause discomfort and shivering;
- Never use an alcohol rub since the alcohol can be asbsorbed through your child’s skin.
Never use ASA (Aspirin) to treat your child’s fever. This medication has been linked to a rare but serious disease called Reye’s Syndrome when given to a child with a fever.
Fever treatment in children with a low grade fever (under 101F or38.5C) includes acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These should be used only if your child is in pain or great discomfort.
The fact is that a fever can do the body some good as it is a way for the body to defend itself against invading organisms. A slightly elevated body temperature gets the immune system revved up!! Also, the bacteria or virus will not function as well in higher temperatures, so your child will heal quicker if he has not been medicated.
Please be aware there are times when you definitely should seek medical help for a fever. In the first three months of life call for help immediately or go to a hospital emergency if your baby has a fever over 39C (102.2F) for more than half an hour. A baby under two months old with a fever should be seen by a doctor. Also call if a fever lasts more than six hours in a baby under six months old.
Imagine dinner out at your favorite fine dining restaurant. The well-dressed waiter arrives at your table with the menus and while he is making you feel at home he asks if you would care to start with a beverage. You reply “yes please, we’ll have a bottle of your finest purple – the purple concord”.
While most of you have seen the headlines declaring the health benefits of red wine, those of you who don’t like red wine will be happy to know that the benefits of grape juice are similar. Those of you who do love red wine may simply enjoy a break at the cash register when buying grape juice instead of wine. Purple grape juice contains the same powerful disease-fighting antioxidants, called flavonoids, which protect heart health. The benefits of grape juice may be due to a substance called resveratrol found in the skins and seeds of grapes and especially in dark purple concord grapes.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that purple grape juice helped protect heart health in those affected by coronary artery disease. Two weeks of grape juice therapy increased vasodilation (relaxed the blood vessels) and decreased harmful oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Grape juice also lowered the risk of developing blood clots that can lead to heart attacks. Previous studies had all focused on red wine rather than on grape juice which led many to believe that it is the alcohol content in red wine that has these benefits. This study demonstrated that the flavonoid components are the true heroes in the benefits of grape juice.
Purple grape juice works the same way red wine does. They both stimulate nitric oxide in the lining of the arteries and this encourages blood vessel flexibility. The flavonoid antioxidants slow down oxidation of LDL cholesterol or “bad” cholesterol in the arteries resulting in clear, healthier arteries.
For all you red wine lovers, I’ve got some sad news!!! Ounce for ounce purple grape juice outweighs red wine in the benefit department.
- The antioxidants of grape juice linger in the body longer than do those of red wine and this is because the alcohol in the red wine speeds up the breakdown of the antioxidant in the blood.
- Alcohol generates free radicals, unstable molecules that cause damage to cells, which counteract the effect of the antioxidants in red wine
- Red wine is only helpful when consumed in moderation of no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks daily for men.
For all of you red wine drinkers, cheer up!!! Red wine has one advantage that grape juice does not. Alcohol has been shown to increase levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, in the blood. So continue to enjoy your daily glass of wine. Besides, it’s quite likely you won’t find Purple Concord listed on the beverage menu!
Menopause, also known as “the change of life”, is a time of many changes in a woman’s life. It is the end of our reproductive stage but it is also the beginning of the second half of our life. With menopause comes many hurdles. Our hormones are on a wild roller coaster ride and our bodies pay the consequences with mood swings, bloating, hot flashes and insomnia. Vitamins can help ease you through this difficult passage and also protect your body in the post-menopause stage. These include:
Vitamin A
Of all the vitamins for menopause vitamin A is essential for the health and growth of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. It is an excellent supplement for maintaining strong bones, a healthy immune system and overall well being. Deficiency in vitamin A can lead to night blindness and increased susceptibility to infections. Women with low levels of vitamin A have higher incidences of heavy menstrual bleeding and are more susceptible to endometriosis particularly during perimenopause.
– Foods high in vitamin A include dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. Also considered high in vitamin A are beef and chicken livers, green leafy vegetables and orange vegetables such as pumpkin, yams, carrots as well as orange fruits such as apricots cantaloupes, and mangoes.
Vitamin B
All of the B vitamins work in harmony. They support your adrenal glands which are tiny glands on top of the kidneys that continue to produce small amounts of estrogen throughout a woman’s life. Vitamin B helps stabilize brain function, maintains health of the liver and helps to handle sugar. Low levels of vitamin B increases emotional stress, fatigue and depression. Of all the vitamins for menopause, vitamin B is especially useful
for women leading stressful lives.
– Foods high in Folic acid include green leafy vegetables, nuts, peas and beans.
Vitamin B3 is found in meat, poultry, fish, and whole wheat bread while
Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
Vitamin C
This vitamin strengthens the blood vessel’s membranes and helps maintain collagen (it can be called the anti-wrinkle vitamin). Since the need for collagen regeneration increases with age so does the need for vitamin C. Of all the vitamins for menopause, vitamin C is very helpful because hot flashes deplete the body of vitamin C. It is a potent antioxidant which helps destroy unstable molecules that can damage cells and make them more susceptible to cancer.
– Food sources of vitamin C include fortified breakfast cereals, citrus fruits, brussel sprouts, kale and peppers. Bioflavonoid, also known as flavones and sometimes known as vitamin P, because it affects the permeability of capillaries. They work in combination with vitamin C to maintain the health of capillaries, arteries and can prevent hot flashes. They resist infections and prevent oxidation of vitamin C.
Bioflavonoids are found in citrus fruits and other colorful yellow to red foods.
Vitamin D
Of all the vitamins for menopause vitamin D, along with calcium and estrogen, is essential for the strength and maintenance of bone mass and to minimize the risk of osteoporosis. All menopausal women should take vitamin D to maintain healthy bones.
– Food sources of vitamin D are canned tuna or salmon, eggs or milk products.
Vitamin E
Of all the vitamins for menopause vitamin E is the only one referred to as the “menopause vitamin” because it has chemical activity similar to estrogen. It has been used in menopause, with success, as an estrogen substitute. Vitamin E relieves hot flashes as well as psychological symptoms of menopause. It is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the arteries and heart.
– Food sources of vitamin E include wheat germ oil, eggs, green leafy vegetables, cereals and dried beans.
