| Before you reach for that bottle of aspirin when you | | | | pathogens" "So, the overall efficiency of immune |
| have a cold, you may want to consider the result of | | | | defense is actually augmented." The findings were |
| a new study on fever. Researchers have found that | | | | published in the journal Nature Immunology. Future |
| running a slight temperature bolsters the immune | | | | studies may show it is beneficial not to reduce a |
| system, and might actually help people with colds and | | | | fever. |
| other infections recover more quickly. | | | | "It may not be necessary to repress a fever in the |
| Experts say little has been known about the role | | | | early stages of infection as long as it's well-controlled." |
| body temperature plays in disease. For example, do | | | | "The issue becomes when it is very, very high, and |
| people run a fever because their immune systems | | | | you know that is talking above 105 degrees [40 |
| are working hard to make them well? Or is an | | | | Celsius], above the temperatures we used in our |
| elevated temperature part of the healing process? | | | | study. Then you always have concerns, especially in |
| "Studies from our group and from others really raise | | | | children, that you might have real problems in the |
| the concept that in moderate ranges, the febrile | | | | brain and other organ failure systems." |
| temperature is providing just one more advantage to | | | | Healing is the process whereby the cells in the body |
| the immune response, the immune defense," said | | | | regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a |
| Sharon Evans. | | | | damaged or necrotic area. Healing incorporates both |
| In a healthy individual the body deposits about a | | | | the removal of necrotic tissue, and the replacement |
| 100,000 disease-fighting white blood cells every day | | | | of this tissue. |
| into each lymph node, which is part of the body's | | | | In order for an injury to be healed by regeneration, |
| immune system. These white cells, or lymphocytes, | | | | the cell type that was destroyed must be able to |
| act as sentinels for infection. To gain entry into the | | | | replicate. Most cells have this ability, although it is |
| nodes, the cells must cross delicate blood vessel | | | | believed that cardiac muscle cells and neurons are |
| tissue and membranes of the lymph system. | | | | two important exceptions. |
| But when there is a local infection or cold that | | | | Healing must happen by repair in the case of injury to |
| requires a heightened immune response, a flood of | | | | cells that are unable to regenerate, e.g. cardiac |
| white cells pack the lymph glands. A particular study | | | | muscle or neurons. Also, damage to the collagen |
| looked more closely at this process, and the role | | | | network, eg. by enzymes or physical destruction, or |
| fever plays since it accompanies infection. The | | | | its total collapse, as can happen in an infarct cause |
| researchers used mice whose core body | | | | healing to take place by repair. The healing process at |
| temperature was raised to about 39.5 degrees | | | | work in spontaneous remission is explained in detail in |
| Celsius, that of an average fever. | | | | Cancer Free For Life, as well as the reasons why we |
| Investigators found that elevations in body | | | | get sick. |
| temperature doubled the speed at which the | | | | This article is available for reprint for your website |
| infection-fighting white blood cells entered the lymph | | | | and newsletter, provided that you maintain its |
| system. "In other words, more lymphocytes are | | | | copyright integrity and include the signature. |
| coming through constantly and searching for foreign | | | | |