Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 10: “Wrap yourself in a blanket and sweat it out” is common advice given to people with fever. However, deliberately trying to make yourself sweat does not help the body fight an infection or bring down a fever faster, according to Dr Neetu Jain, Senior Consultant in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital, New Delhi.
During a fever, body temperature is already elevated as part of the immune response. Adding layers of clothing, covering yourself with heavy blankets or sitting in a hot environment to induce sweating does not kill the infection or speed up recovery.
Dr Jain explains that excessive sweating can instead make a person feel worse. Fever itself can cause fluid loss, while deliberately inducing sweating can further increase the risk of dehydration. This may result in weakness, dizziness, tiredness and increased discomfort. In extreme cases, excessive exposure to heat could even cause the body temperature to rise further.
While sweating may occur naturally when a fever begins to subside, this does not mean that the infection is being “sweated out”. According to Dr Jain, sweating at this stage is generally the body’s natural mechanism for releasing heat as it returns to its normal temperature. Therefore, sweating can be a sign that the fever is settling, but forcing yourself to sweat will not make the fever come down faster.
Instead, people with fever should focus on adequate rest, sufficient fluid intake and wearing light, comfortable clothing. The room should also be maintained at a comfortable temperature. If the fever causes discomfort, paracetamol may be taken when appropriate and in the recommended dose.
Dr Jain stressed that fever is a symptom rather than a disease itself, making it important to identify and address its underlying cause. A very high fever, one that persists for several days or continues to worsen should not be managed solely with home remedies.
Medical attention is particularly important if fever is accompanied by breathing difficulty, confusion, severe weakness, persistent vomiting or a severe headache.
Therefore, rather than bundling up under heavy blankets to “sweat out” a fever, it is better to allow the body to regulate its temperature naturally, stay hydrated and get adequate rest.