You're dizzy, your head aches, and your whole body feels warm: these are all the classic symptoms of a fever. Everyone experiences getting a fever every now and then, for different reasons. It's one of the most common health ailments in the world.

A fever is uncomfortable, but do you know that it's actually a sign of something good? It means your immune system is working normally. When the body becomes sick, whether because of an infection or another cause, the body thermostat makes the temperature go up, causing fever. The intense, high heat is unbearable for viruses and bacteria, since they can only stand normal body temperature. These intruders are then killed. A fever is not a symptom, but a sign that your body functions properly.

No matter how normal or needed a fever is, you can't deny the fact that it's annoying and troublesome, taking you away from your everyday obligations. If you want to get over this health condition immediately, there are effective tactics you can try.

Fever Causes And Symptoms

Experts say you have a fever when your body temperature goes beyond 100.4 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. Aside from the added body heat, there are other common symptoms associated with the condition.v

• Sweating

• Aching muscles
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Chills
• Sleepiness and fatigue
• Body weakness
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech and delusion (In severe cases)

You can get a fever because of different reasons, like:

• Bacterial or viral infections – When these invade the body, the immune system fights back, causing fever. Examples of these include chicken pox, mumps, pneumonia, measles, the flu, tonsillitis, bronchitis and the common cold.

• Heat – Staying in a hot place for too long can cause exhaustion and extreme sunburn, sometimes leading to fever.
• Side effect of medications – Drugs and antibiotics for seizures or high blood pressure sometimes cause fever.
• Inflammatory conditions – These can also trigger a fever. One example is temporal arteritis, or the inflammation of an artery in the head.

Now that you know what are the symptoms and causes of a fever, you can now proceed to the crucial part of this condition: getting rid of it. Here are some ways how.

Cool Down

When they get feverish, some people turn to the “sweat it out” tactic: they bundle themselves up in thick clothes, wrap sheets all over their bodies, and let their body become soaked in sweat. For some people, this is effective, but it's not recommended, especially if you've got a very high temperature. You should do the opposite, and cool your body down. Make it as comfortable as you can by lowering the temperature.

One very simple, but effective way is by getting an ice pack and placing it over your forehead, on the the groin, crotch or even in the armpit. This cools the body temporarily. Another tactic is by soaking a clean washcloth in bowl of cool water and placing it over the forehead. You can also wipe it all over the body, to lower the temperature and reduce the fever faster.

Here's another tactic many find helpful when alleviating fever: suck on a Popsicle or eat a bowl of ice cream. Doing this can lower body temperature.

When all these fail, you can also take a lukewarm bath. Since there's a lot of water washing over a big body surface area, this is the most effective tactic to cool your body. The water shouldn't be too hot, so you won't scald your skin, and it shouldn't be too cold, so you won't go into chills.

Stick To A Fever Diet

What you ingest affects the course of your fever and how quickly it'll pass. Remember, the body is fighting the infections, so you have to assist it, by strengthening your immune system more. Most people lose their appetite when they have a fever, but this is okay, since it allows the digestive system to rest, and the immune system to work without distraction.

One effective tactic to cure a fever is by taking in plenty of fluids. Bacteria and viruses grow faster in dehydrated body cells, so you have to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Sports drinks are also recommended, since they contain more electrolytes. If the body gets all the water it needs, the toxins are removed faster and white blood cells work better. The faster the fever will pass.

Although fluids are good for fever relief, not all liquids are recommended to treat the condition. Refrain from ingesting drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Drinks with too much sugar, like soda or undiluted fruit juice, should also be prohibited since these slows down the white blood cells' ability in killing bacteria.

When your fever starts to subside, the appetite comes back. You can then eat vegetable soups and drink diluted fruit juices. Opt for simple foods like whole grains. Cooked foods are also better than raw ones.

Turn To Medications

If cooling down and drinking plenty of fluids does nothing for your fever, then it may be better if you take medications. There are numerous brands of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that work well to relieve fever. These fever reducers consist of either ibuprofen or NSAIDS, acetaminophen or aspirin. They are cheap, and they also cure other ailments like joint pain and swelling. Just remember to take the prescribed dosage obediently, so your condition will improve faster.

The choice of fever medicine doesn't matter too much, unless you have a drug allergy or a sensitive stomach. If you're under 18 years old, you should also remember not to take in aspirin. It might result in Reye's syndrome, a severe ailment that causes liver disease and brain damage.

Home Remedies

Medications, proper diet, rest and cooling down all work great, but do you know there are other alternative remedies that can help remove fever without any worries? Some of these are herbal, but some can be found all around your home. Here are alternative fever remedies you can try:

• Ginger - This herb contains some compounds that can treat fever naturally. Try making ginger tea. You can also use plenty of ginger for cooking, although this might destroy the plant's medicinal properties.
• Garlic - Soak some garlic in hot water for a few minutes, then sip it slowly. This will not only alleviate the current symptoms, but also prevent the fever from coming back.
• Willow Bark - This is where salicylates or Aspirin is derived from, so it makes sense that this herb makes an effective fever remedy. You can either get the extract or make tea out of the bark. It's a great fever reducer, but just like aspirin, it's not recommended for kids, since it can also cause Reye's syndrome.

• Raisins - Extracts from raisins work well in curing fever. Get 20 to 30 raisins and soak them in water. Crush them after. Let the crushed raisins overnight, and the next day, strain the water and throw away the skin. Drink the raisin water to lower your fever. Add a bit of lime juice to make it more effective.
• Holy Basil or Tulsi - Get some holy basil leaves and boil them in two cups of water. Mix some sugar and milk into it. Adding a small amount of honey while it's boiling is also good. This concoction helps lower body temperature.
• Angelica root – Boil and infuse the roots in water. It's effective in bringing down a fever.

Curing a fever is no sweat. You just need to know the right tactics so this ailment won't annoy you anymore. Try these methods the next time your temperature goes up. The fever will go away quicker, and you'll be back on your feet in no time.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy how to cure a headache naturally.