2006-12-23 22:54:53 · 16 answers · asked by mr nice 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
STARVE A FEVER FEED A COLD, im not screaming sorry 'bout the caps!
2006-12-23 22:56:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This wives tale axiom doesn't just apply to whether or not to provide nutrients, but to rather how to deal with these maladies. When a person has a fever, one of their symptoms is that they have chills. The problem is, that the fever is the bodies reaction to an infection in which the core temperature is rising above the norm of 98.6. If you apply the axiom of "feeding the fever" by giving the individual warmth, such as a blanket, you could be doing more harm than good. By making them warm you are running the risk of increasing their core temperature causing that person to possibly lapse into a coma and even death. So you want to starve the fever. In some cases of severe fever ice baths are used to lower core temperature. On the other hand someone who is suffering a cold, in which there is no fever or a very low one, you can "feed the cold" by staying warm and even eating some warm tasty chicken soup. So; "Starve a fever, feed a cold"!
2006-12-25 19:18:20 · answer #2 · answered by jpc 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's feed a cold, starve a fever and I found a couple of websites that were showing figures to studies conducted over the past few years that showed this to be more than 'an old wives tale'.
Here is one of the links for you if you're interested.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?i...
Karma.
x
2006-12-24 07:08:31 · answer #3 · answered by angelkarmachic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Starve a fever feed a cold.!!!
2006-12-24 07:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by JAM123 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The saying goes, 'feed a cold and starve a fever.' I suspect it to be nonsense. If your body needs food, it'll tell you - so why do you lose your appetite when you've got a cold?
2006-12-24 07:10:13 · answer #5 · answered by FrozenCamel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed the cold. Build up bodily resistance - even though the "old wives" didn't think in those terms.
"Starve a fever" - get the body to expel it's "evil humours" (terms the old ladies would have thought in), and then allow itself to be replenished by - "Chicken Soup"!!!
2006-12-24 07:01:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is feed a cold and starve a fever!
2006-12-24 06:57:30 · answer #7 · answered by mrwurzal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've also heard it as 'feed a cold and START a fever' (UK). Sayings like this are just old wive's tales and pretty meaningless and even those meanings can get misunderstood over the centuries. For example, my mother always used to say 'n'er cast a clout (any item of clothing) 'til May is out'. Being a city girl, she thought it meant the month, whereas, in fact, it means until the May (Hawthorn) blossom is out.
2006-12-24 07:09:23 · answer #8 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
feed a cold, starve a fever. but drink plenty of fluids either way.
2006-12-24 06:57:00 · answer #9 · answered by setter505 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right the firt time,feed a cold
2006-12-24 06:57:56 · answer #10 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋