Flu Medicines Can Increase the Spread of the Virus

~~Got the flu? Think twice before you pop a pill to feel better.
 
Most over-the-counter flu medications include a fever-reducing ingredient such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. But suppressing fever, according to new research, actually increases the number of seasonal flu cases by at least 5 percent in the U.S., and could cause as many as 1,000 additional deaths from influenza nationally each year.
 
Fever Defense
 
Fever acts as a defense mechanism for our bodies. The normal human temperature creates a cozy environment perfect for many microbes, including the influenza family of viruses, to live and replicate. As our body temperature rises naturally when we have a fever however, the viruses can not replicate, or reproduce as efficiently. Fewer viruses in the body mean a lower risk of transmitting the pathogens to other people.
 
Reducing a fever has the opposite effect, allowing the virus to replicate freely and possibly for a longer period, which increases the risk of infecting others. But that's only half the story: Since the infected person probably feels better (or at least a little less miserable), he's more likely to go to work or school, thereby coming into contact with many more people.
 
Flu Transmission
 
Researchers gathered information about influenza transmission for both humans and ferrets, which are the animal model of choice to study how the virus might work in us. Using statistical analysis of the data, they determined that widespread use of fever-reducing medications actually increased the number of cases of seasonal flu in the United States by 5 percent. According to a 2009 study, the infamous 1918 influenza pandemic may in fact have been worsened by the widespread use of aspirin, another fever suppressant.
 
The latest findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, come in the thick of flu season for North America and during a spike in China of new cases of H7N9, one of influenza's newer and more deadly strains.
 
Chiropractic care doesn't add chemicals to your body. And it doesn't remove parts. Instead, it seeks to restore proper control and regulation of your body so your health can return, in a natural way.
 
Dr. Douglas G. Pfeiffer
Rt. 663
Pennsburg, Pa. 18073
(215) 679-7800