Flu at Forty – Why Fevers Hit Harder As You Age

Winter has a knack for delivering a flurry of colds, flu, and other unwelcomed bugs¹, and if you’ve hit your 40s, you might feel like these illnesses have turned into heavyweight contenders.

Fevers, in particular, don’t just knock – they kick the door down, leaving you flattened and wondering how you’re supposed to balance recovery with the endless to-do list that comes with adulting². Here’s why fevers hit harder as we age and how manage winter illnesses while juggling life’s demands^3&4.

Understanding Your Body’s Natural Defence

Fevers are a natural response to infection, as your body raises its temperature to fight off bacteria or viruses.^2a While the mechanism stays the same throughout life, how we feel and how quickly we recover from infections can change as we age. Here’s why:

1. Changes in the Immune System

The immune system is the body’s most powerful weapon in fighting and avoiding sickness and infection.^3a However, as you get older, your immune system gradually weakens^3b (a natural process known as immunosenescence^3c), increasing susceptibility to infections, particularly viral diseases like influenza.^3d 

2. Underlying Health Conditions

Chronic health conditions become more common in middle age⁴ and can exacerbate fevers.^5a Some medications and treatments can also lead to a serious fever, including antibiotics and blood pressure drugs.^5b 

3. Lifestyle Factors

Life’s demands can take a toll. Stress from work, family, and other responsibilities can disrupt your body’s ability to regulate inflammation effectively. Inflammation from stress can make you more susceptible to catching viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, such as a cold or flu⁶. 

How Fevers Affect Your Daily Responsibilities

Balancing recovery with the demands of adult life can feel overwhelming when you’re under the weather. Fevers don’t just make you feel lousy; they also zap your energy, focus, and patience. Here’s how fevers can interfere with your daily life: 

• Work Productivity: Fevers often bring headaches and muscle aches^2b, making it hard to concentrate or sit through meetings.
• Parenting Challenges: Caring for kids while running a fever can feel impossible, especially when they don’t understand why you’re moving at half-speed.
• Sleep Disruption: Fever can cause night sweats,⁷ which can make getting a full night’s sleep difficult.
• Emotional Impact: Feeling sick can make you irritable,⁸ especially when you’re struggling to keep up with your to-do list. 

Balancing Recovery and Responsibilities

Fevers can last different lengths of time depending on the individual, the underlying cause, and the treatment. However, most fevers tend to go away within three days.^9a Here are five tips to help you bounce back from a fever while keeping up with your daily routine:

1. Prioritise Rest^9b

Even if you can’t take the day off entirely, find pockets of time to rest. Short naps, lying down between tasks, or going to bed earlier can help your body heal.

2. Stay Hydrated

Fevers can lead to dehydration, especially if you’re sweating or losing fluids. Drink plenty of water, hot tea, or watered-down.^9c 

3. Manage Symptoms^9d

Over-the-counter medications can help lower fevers and ease aches and pains, making it easier to get through the day. 

4. Try Sponging

Evaporation plays a key role in cooling the body. A simple and effective way to lower body temperature is by dabbing cool tap water onto the skin. Focus on areas where heat tends to accumulate the most, such as the armpits and groin.^9e 

5. Ask for Help

Whether it’s delegating tasks at work or asking friends and family to take over the school drop-off, lightening your load can give you more time to recover. Postpone non-essential meetings, scale back on household chores, and focus only on the tasks that really need your attention.

When to Seek Medical Attention

An adult is generally considered to have a fever when their body temperature rises above 37.2°C to 37.5°C, depending on the time of day and how the temperature is measured^10a. Although most fevers resolve on their own within a few days, here are times when you should consult a doctor. Seek medical help if you experience:

• A fever above 40.5 °C that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication.^10b
• A fever lasting longer than 48 to 72 hours.^10c
• Fevers that come and go for a week or more, even if they’re not very high.^10d
• A new rash or unexplained bruising.^10e
• Pain during urination.^10f
• Confusion or disorientation.^10g
• Have trouble walking or staying steady.^10h
• Have difficulty breathing.¹⁰ⁱ
• Have a severe headache or show signs of a stiff neck^10j

How Panado® Can Help

Dealing with fever – no matter your age, is never fun. Paracetamol, the active ingredient in Panado®, boasts over 150 years of clinical experience¹¹, offering reliable relief for mild to moderate pain, such as headaches, toothaches, sore throats, general aches, and rheumatic discomfort^12a. It also helps alleviate flu symptoms and feverishness^12b.

Clinical studies show that paracetamol is also suitable for those who are sensitive or allergic to aspirin¹³.

Panado® comes in various options to suit your needs – tablets¹⁴, capsules¹⁵, or effervescent form¹⁶. Panado® Tablets (available in multiple schedules, S0 – S2) quickly¹⁷ relieve pain and fever. If swallowing tablets isn’t your thing, Panado® Capsules are a great alternative. They’re designed with smoother, more slippery shells, making them easier to swallow – perfect if you’ve ever struggled with tablets or disliked their taste¹⁸. In cases where swallowing tablets or capsules poses a challenge, Panado® Effervescent formulation serves as a convenient solution and is ready to work immediately, making relief just a sip away!

Panado® products are available from Baby City, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Hypers, Shoprite, Clicks, Dis-Chem and Independent Pharmacies. For more information and references, visit https://panado.co.za/ and join the conversations on Facebook.