Headache, general tiredness, malaise … All these can be symptoms that you have a fever, that is, that your body temperature is higher than usual, reaching over 36.5ºC. In fact, when a person reaches 37 degrees it is considered that they have a few tenths of a fever and, therefore, they have to rest to be able to recover and stabilize the temperature.
The best way to measure this temperature is by using the use of a thermometer, but … what if you don’t have one handy? In this oneHOWTO article we are going to discover you how to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer with some tricks that can help you recognize your state of health. In addition, we will also give you tips so that you can lower your fever quickly and feel better.
Palpate areas such as the forehead or neck
One of the best ways to measure fever without thermometer is palpating and checking body temperature by touch. It is one of the most traditional ways to achieve it and, for this, you will have to touch areas such as neck or forehead and assess whether the heat they emanate is higher than usual.
What you can do for a more reliable result is to compare the temperature of the person who is unwell with that of the forehead of another who is well. If the heat that emanates from the skin of the sick or sick person is higher, it is very likely that they have tenths of a fever.
Many people, instead of feeling with their hands, do it with their lips. Why? Because the heat of the hands can be deceptive, it is an extremity of the body that can be easily cooled and from which the heat usually escapes, on the other hand, the lips are always at a balanced temperature equivalent to that of your body. Therefore, checking the temperature with your lips is a good option if you ask yourself how to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer.
Check your heart rate to see if you have a fever
Another good option to learn how to know if you have a fever without a thermometer is through the control of palpitations and the heart rate of the person who is ill. By observing the number of heart beats per minute we can know if a person has a higher temperature than usual and, therefore, has a fever.
Let us bear in mind that, an adult person at rest, usually has a frequency of 80, that is, 80 beats per minute. When we have a fever the heart rate increases about 10 or 12 beats for every centigrade of fever; therefore, if you have a fever of 38, your heart rate can be approximately 100 beats per minute.
It is one of the most reliable ways to know if you have a fever without using the thermometer but, in any case, this may vary if the person is older, a child or suffers from some type of illness.
Analyze the symptoms you are suffering
After these two measurements that we have proposed, we will discover another way in which you can know the state of your health: observe how you are. Fever wreaks havoc on our well-being, as our defenses are struggling to eliminate the harmful agent that has entered the body.
Therefore, it is important that you know that fever often produces symptoms as the following:
- Tiredness and general fatigueBear in mind that most of your energy is being derived from the fight against the aggressor who is making us sick, therefore, it is normal for you to feel down, tired and with very little strength.
- Feeling of pain in the bones: Another of the most common symptoms of fever is pain in the muscles, bones and joints; headaches are also common.
- Shaking and sweating: these two signs also have to do with your body temperature, since it is common that with the change in temperature there are ups and downs and we can either be much colder than normal or start sweating.
Once you have explained how to know if you have a fever without a thermometer, you need to know exactly when it is considered a fever, so do not hesitate to visit this other oneHOWTO article.
Lower fever fast: tips
Now that we have answered your question of “how to know if I have a fever without a thermometer”, let’s move on to the next step and discover some methods that will help you lower fever quickly. Below we will discover the most effective methods that will help you balance your body temperature and help you recover.
Don’t bundle up too much
If you have followed the steps of how to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer and the result is positive, keep in mind that your body is much warmer than usual and, therefore, you do not have to cover yourself excessively. That would only cause the temperature to rise further. The best thing is that you are covered but with light clothing, even if you have chills; This will allow the sweat glands to eliminate excess heat and achieve a better balance.
Lukewarm bath
Taking a warm bath will help lower your body temperature and make you feel much better. The water should be warm, never completely cold, as the sudden change in temperature could harm you. Get in the bathtub for about 10 minutes and you will see how, little by little, you feel better.
Cloth with warm water
With this method you will achieve the same objective as with the previous one, that is, to lower the body temperature in areas where heat accumulates most (on the neck, forehead, wrists or ankles). Of course: do not put more than two towels on the body, as you could lower your temperature too much. It is best to go area by area and remove the towels when they have completely dried.
In this other oneHOWTO article we show you tips so that you can Lower a fever without medication.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer, we recommend that you enter our Family Health category.