Posted on 07/24/2023 9:05:24 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Clinical evidence suggests elderly individuals are at a higher risk of contracting viral infections. Quite notably, older people also have lower mean body temperatures.
A team of researchers has now been able to bridge the gap by linking higher body temperature with an increased infection-fighting capability of the gut microorganisms or "microbiota."
"High-heat-exposed mice raise their basal body temperature above 38°C, allowing them to produce more bile acids in a gut microbiota-dependent manner," remarks Dr. Takeshi Ichinohe.
The authors speculated that signaling of deoxycholic acid (DCA) from the gut microbiota and its plasma membrane-bound receptor "Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5" (TGR5) increased host resistance to influenza virus infection by suppressing virus replication and neutrophil-dependent tissue damage.
While working on these experiments, the team noticed that mice infected with the influenza virus showed decreased body temperatures nearly four days after onset of the infection, and they snuggled together to stay warm.
The team noticed similar results after switching the influenza virus with SARS-CoV-2 and the study results were also validated using a Syrian hamster model. Their experiments revealed that body temperature over 38°C could increase host resistance to influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Moreover, they also found that such increase in body temperature catalyzed key gut microbial reactions, which in turn, led to the production of secondary bile acids. These acids can modulate immune responses and safeguard the host against viral infections.
"Our finding that reduction of certain bile acids in the plasma of patients with moderate I/II COVID-19 may provide insight into the variability in clinical disease manifestation in humans and enable approaches for mitigating COVID-19 outcomes," concludes Dr. Ichinohe.
The study reveals that high-body-temperature-dependent activation of gut microbiota boosts the serum and intestinal levels of bile acids. This suppresses virus replication and inflammatory responses that follow influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
This may also be why so many in warmer climates did well with COVID-19.
Then this Heat Wave is great!.................
Why do people jump for the antipyretics as soon as a temp is apparent?
Thank God I’m always hot. (At least that’s what the women say)
I had a natural health adviser (chiropractor practitioner) tell me to never take medicines intended to “reduce fever.” The fever is there for a reason.
It’s amazing how much we’ve gotten wrong in medicine.
Was about to say the same thing..
When I start to feel a cold or flu coming on, I hit the sauna and hot tub.
Pretty much knocks the infection out before it gets a chance to take hold.
And? Honestly while maybe not as specific as what the article identifies, I learned in grade school Health Education that a rise in temperature helps the body fight infections.
That was back in the 1970’s
LOL. Good post!
Same.
Whenever I have a cold or fever I can’t kick, I always have a long soak in a bath as hot as I can tolerate. I then go under a pile of blankets and sweat for as long as I can. I drink plenty of fluids during this. Always seems to work.
There are so many health benefits to running a fever when you are sick. Unless it’s really high, knocking it down with ibuprofen is counter productive.
The 7 Benefits of a Fever
https://www.drberg.com/blog/the-7-benefits-of-a-fever
Based on what I've been noticing over the last several years, that would be about everything.
Stay away from cold hospitals. Go outside and get some Vit D sunlight.
Bring on the (not so) “record breaking” temperatures! Let Mother Nature heal the planet.
Yep, put good fluids by the bedside and blanket up, suffer the aches and heat until a few hours or the next day you break into a cold sweat.
Once the cold sweat happens you know you beat the flu / cold.
Mind you this does not mean suffer a run away fever of 106 or more, there is a point to go to the hospital or lower the fever.
Exactly. A little temp rise is the body working to destroy the bad guys. It’s doing what it is meant to do.
Ivermectin works well
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