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Abstract

      </a>
    </div><p id="25b1">In the article comments, another astute observation to support the premise was offered by <a href="undefined">Allan Milne Lees</a> who offered these words:</p><div id="7143" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/thanks-markham-for-an-excellent-and-much-needed-article-da2098e76e7c">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Thanks Markham for an excellent and much-needed article.</h2>
            <div><h3>In the event readers aren’t able to think of other examples of harmful procedures routinely recommended in the past and…</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="08b4">Allan’s remarks were enough to prompt me to offer up the practice of bloodletting by phlebotomy as a way to start off this story, as it reminds us of how convinced we can all be about our beliefs. That includes doctors of all sorts as well.</p><p id="264e">I recently also wrote about the use of fever-reducers and whether they quicken or prolong the underlying disease course, as well as the efficacy of cold therapy and the use of NSAIDS to reduce swelling in orthopedic injuries.</p><div id="8a31" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/you-need-to-put-ice-on-that-fe60977367ef">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>You Need to Put Ice on That!</h2>
            <div><h3>And other folklore masquerading as good medical advice</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Ozs4smrYG8oDX6gB)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="daf1">The fact remains that many of us continue to use therapies because of their dogmatic origins rather than any hard science that proves their worth as a treatment.</p><p id="85b8">Certainly

Options

, there is a lot to consider, but that is what I urge you to do. Ask questions, read the studies, follow the facts rather than opinions or folklore. For current reference, here is the link to the CDC site for <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html">instructions on what to do when you are sick.</a></p><p id="937e">Maybe now isn’t the perfect time to be splitting hairs on whether to treat fevers in the face of COVID-19. But then again, maybe it is the perfect time?</p><p id="9703">One thing we do know is that a high fever is not reason in itself to suspect contraction of COVID-19. It’s up to you to consider whether to use fever-reducers to treat your symptoms, but the peer-reviewed evidence seems to suggest allowing that fever to run its course.</p><p id="b9d2"><b>You might also like this article:</b></p><div id="bc32" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-compassion-is-the-only-skill-that-truly-matters-in-medicine-533745444a28"> <div> <div> <h2>Why compassion is the only skill that truly matters in medicine</h2> <div><h3>Insight from 24 years as a pre-hospital emergency medical professional</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*-H_dYknvW45ijAqt)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6f47"><i>Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/key3writer/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/keytimothy242/">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/keytimothy242">Twitter</a>, and join the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/a35d63b4962a/timothykey">mail list</a>.</i></p></article></body>

Better medicine

Meanwhile, in the Ongoing Battle Between Dogma and Medical Science

Before you pop that next pill, at least ask yourself why you are doing so

It wasn’t that long ago in the big scheme of things that we were bloodletting by phlebotomy to attempt to cure any number of ailments.

The move away from doing so wasn’t without significant opposition from the medical establishment, however. And it has only been through persistent study and peer-review that phlebotomy has ceased with the exception of a few uses such as treatment for hemochromatosis.

Maybe a few decades or generations down the line we will be doing the same with the practice of some currently dogmatically supported practices that seem to lack much in the way of peer-reviewed support.

One such practice is the treatment of fever in viral and bacterial illness. Today I read a great article on the topic by Markham Heid suggesting that better outcomes might be achieved by letting a fever run its course.

The Argument for Letting a Fever Run Its Course

It may lead to better outcomes, some experts say

elemental.medium.com

In the article comments, another astute observation to support the premise was offered by Allan Milne Lees who offered these words:

Thanks Markham for an excellent and much-needed article.

In the event readers aren’t able to think of other examples of harmful procedures routinely recommended in the past and…

medium.com

Allan’s remarks were enough to prompt me to offer up the practice of bloodletting by phlebotomy as a way to start off this story, as it reminds us of how convinced we can all be about our beliefs. That includes doctors of all sorts as well.

I recently also wrote about the use of fever-reducers and whether they quicken or prolong the underlying disease course, as well as the efficacy of cold therapy and the use of NSAIDS to reduce swelling in orthopedic injuries.

You Need to Put Ice on That!

And other folklore masquerading as good medical advice

medium.com

The fact remains that many of us continue to use therapies because of their dogmatic origins rather than any hard science that proves their worth as a treatment.

Certainly, there is a lot to consider, but that is what I urge you to do. Ask questions, read the studies, follow the facts rather than opinions or folklore. For current reference, here is the link to the CDC site for instructions on what to do when you are sick.

Maybe now isn’t the perfect time to be splitting hairs on whether to treat fevers in the face of COVID-19. But then again, maybe it is the perfect time?

One thing we do know is that a high fever is not reason in itself to suspect contraction of COVID-19. It’s up to you to consider whether to use fever-reducers to treat your symptoms, but the peer-reviewed evidence seems to suggest allowing that fever to run its course.

You might also like this article:

Why compassion is the only skill that truly matters in medicine

Insight from 24 years as a pre-hospital emergency medical professional

medium.com

Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.