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Where does the idea “to starve a fever” originate?
ancient Greece
Fasting as a method of treatment for a fever dates back to ancient Greece. This treatment idea first appeared in print in the 16th century.
during the Great Depression
from doting mothers of the 1950s
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What do modern day physicians recommended in terms of diet and a fever?
fasting
reduced diet
normal diet
Most physicians suggest you keep a normal diet, as much as possible, when you have a cold or fever. Starving a fever may actually be dangerous.
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Your ancestors were misguided in their treatment of fevers because they had a poor understanding of:
body temperature
the effects of nutrition
both of the above
Your ancestors had a poor understanding of body temperature, the role of nutrition and the nature of disease. This may explain their poor advice to starve a fever.
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A fever constitutes a body temperature increase of at least:
1 degree Fahrenheit
Your normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. A fever constitutes a raise in body temperature by at least 1 degree Fahrenheit to 99.6 degrees, which is considered a low-grade fever.
1.5 degrees Fahrenheit
2 degrees Fahrenheit
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What body temperature is considered a high-grade fever?
above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
above 102 degrees Fahrenheit
above 103 degrees Fahrenheit
Seek medical attention if you have a high-grade fever, which is a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit. This may be a sign of a serious medical complication.
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Besides a viral or bacterial illness, what types of medical conditions cause a fever?
cancer and inflammatory bowel disease
heat exhaustion and multiple sclerosis
both of the above
Various medical conditions can lead to a fever, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, heat exhaustion and multiple sclerosis. This is why you should seek medical attention whenever you experience a fever.
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What part of the brain is responsible for body temperature?
the thalamus
the hypothalamus
The hypothalamus acts like your internal thermostat. During a fever, the hypothalamus is tricked in believing that your body temperature is too low.
the cerebellum
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How does a fever fight off infection?
The heat kills bacteria.
The heat stimulates the production of antibodies.
A fever is not necessarily a bad thing and may help you fight off illness. The heat simulates your white blood cells to produce antibodies for fighting infection.
both of the above
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Which Greek philosopher theorized about a link between diet and fever?
Plato
Aristotle
Aristotle argued that food is to a fever, as wood is to a fire. Instead of starving a fever, however, Aristotle believed you should overeat, with the belief that an excessively hot body temperature would get rid of a fever.
Socrates
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Besides starving a fever, what was another misinformed fever remedy of the 19th century?
ingesting castor oil
bloodletting
both of the above
In addition to starving a fever, doctors prescribed castor oil for inducing vomit and bloodletting as ways of treating a fever. Such “scientific” remedies were published in medical journals.
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What does starving a fever actually do to your body?
decreases your immune system
Starving yourself robs your cells of needed energy to help with your immune response. A good immune response is essential for fighting off a virus.
causes gastrointestinal problems
both of the above
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What were the consequences of starving a fever in previous centuries?
death
a lengthy virus and complications
both of the above
Some people who suffered from a fever were starved to death. At the very least, people who had a fever and were treated with starvation suffered excessively long illnesses with complications.
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Eating a good diet when you have a fever results in:
a better ability to kill foreign invaders
A Dutch study done in 2002 revealed that eating while you have a fever increases your body's ability to destroy cells infected with a virus.
a healthier gastrointestinal system
both of the above
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What is gamma interferon?
a chemical messenger
Gamma interferon is a chemical messenger that triggers T cells to destroy virus infected invader cells. Gamma interferon is increased if you have a fever and eat a proper meal.
a type of invader cell
an antibody that kills invader cells
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Why don't you feel hungry when you are sick?
due to hypothalamus controls
due to gastrointestinal issues
either of the above
The immune system screws up your hypothalamus controls, which make you think that you're not hungry. An illness may also cause gastrointestinal issues, leading to symptoms of nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.
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During the flu season, you should:
continue with your low-calorie diet
slightly increase the food intake of your low-calorie diet
discontinue your low-calorie diet
Experts suggest that you discontinue your low-calorie diet during the flu season. You need good nutrition during this season to boost your immune system.
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What should you drink when you are sick?
water
flat lemon-lime soda
either of the above
It's very important to drink plenty of fluids. Drink water or flat lemon-lime soda. Carbonated drinks may bother your stomach.
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How much liquid should you drink when you have a fever?
as much as you possibly can
only very small amounts
start off small and gradually increase intake
Start off small with only a couple of ounces of liquid every 15 to 30 minutes. If you can hold that down after a few hours, begin drinking larger quantities of water, tea, fruit drinks and broth.
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What should you eat when you have a fever?
anything you want
Really, anything that doesn't make you feel nauseous is okay. You may want to start off with something small, like buttered toast and go from there.
only carbohydrates
only carbohydrates or protein
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Try to each food rich in __________ when you have a fever.
vitamins B6 and B12
zinc
both of the above
Eat foods like lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes and nuts. These foods are rich in protein, vitamins B6 and B12 and zinc. These nutrients help boost your immune system.
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