Do you know How to Check Temperature Without a Thermometer? Whether you’re dealing with a sudden wave of chills and aches and pains, or you just feel a little hotter than usual, the desire to know if you have a fever as soon as possible is understandable.
After all, a fever tends to serve as an indicator that your body is finding something off and trying to return to its normal. But if you don’t have a thermometer lying around, or the only one you could find was buried deep in some bathroom drawer and you’re not sure just how long it’s been in there, you might be wondering:
Is there any legit thanks to gauge whether your temperature is above normal without a thermometer? Read on to learn what to do if you’re feeling feverish, no matter your thermometer situation, with insight from immunology docs.
Check Temperature Without a Thermometer
A thermometer is specifically designed to measure body temperature, and other methods that people might use, such as touching the forehead or feeling the skin, are not reliable ways of determining body temperature.
However, some indirect signs can give a rough idea of whether someone has a fever, which is an indicator of a high body temperature. These signs can include sweating, shivering, a flushed face, or feeling hot to the touch. It’s important to note that these signs are not a substitute for a thermometer, and anyone who suspects they have a fever should use a thermometer to accurately determine their body temperature.
How to Check Temperature Without Thermometer
Checking your body temperature without a thermometer is possible, but it won’t provide you with precise measurements like a thermometer would. Here are a few methods you can use to get a rough estimate of your temperature:
Hand Back of Neck or Forehead: Use the back of your hand to touch the skin on the back of your neck or your forehead. If it feels warmer than usual, it could be a sign of a fever.
Touch Your Chest: Place your hand on your chest. If your chest feels warmer than usual, it may indicate a higher body temperature.
Check Your Skin: Observe your skin’s appearance. If your skin appears flushed, red or feels hot to the touch, it might be a sign of a fever.
Feeling Chills: If you feel chills or have the sensation of being overly hot or cold, it can be indicative of a change in your body temperature.
Assessing Sweating: Excessive sweating or a lack of sweating can also be signs of a change in body temperature.
Monitoring Your Symptoms: Pay attention to other symptoms of illness, such as a sore throat, cough, or body aches. These can be indications of a fever or infection.
Check for an Elevated Heart Rate: An elevated heart rate, also known as tachycardia, can sometimes accompany a fever. You can check your pulse by placing your index and middle fingers on your wrist (radial pulse) or the side of your neck (carotid pulse) and counting the beats per minute.
While these methods can provide some indication of a potential fever or elevated body temperature, they are not as accurate as a thermometer. If you suspect that you have a fever or need an accurate temperature reading, it is best to use a thermometer. Digital thermometers are widely available and are easy to use for precise temperature measurements.
Do you need a Thermometer to Tell if you have a Fever?
The only thanks to know needless to say that you simply have a fever is by taking your temperature with a thermometer.
Unfortunately, your chances of accurately guessing whether or not you’ve got a fever without a thermometer are fair at best, he says.
Case in point: Patients who self-reported feeling feverish at a rural teaching hospital in India had a 58 percent chance of actually having a fever, according to a study in Tropical Medicine and International Health.
1. Use the Rear of Your Hand, Not Your Palm
When you think you’re running a fever, you’ll probably ask someone to feel your forehead. That’s not too far off, experts say.
The commonest thanks to check if someone features a fever without a thermometer is to feel the forehead or neck with the rear of your hand. Do not use the palm, as it is not as sensitive to temperature changes as the back of the hand is.
You can tell if someone features a fever if you’re significantly warmer to the touch, everywhere on the body, not just the forehead/face. Other signs include redness or flushing of the cheeks/face.” Ali also notes that if the temperature change occurs with feelings of extreme fatigue, there’s a good chance it’s a fever.
It’s easier if you can get a friend, roommate, or family member to check your forehead, but you can try yourself, too. It’s nowhere near as accurate as taking your temperature, but it can help you get a sense of if you’re sick or not.
2. Look at Your Cheeks
You can get another hint about whether you’re running a fever by looking in the mirror. Another way to check if someone has a fever is to see if their skin appears to be redder than usual.
A fever can cause the cheeks to become flushed or red,” Lee says. If you notice this, it might be because your body is in battle mode.
“It could indicate the body is in the middle of fighting something,” Caleb Backe, health and wellness expert at Maple Holistics, tells Bustle. A cold washcloth might bring temporary relief, but if you’re feeling seriously flushed, it’s always safer to call a doctor.
3. Take a Peek at Your Pee
Fevers can cause dehydration. But you might not realize how much water you have been drinking if you’re sick in bed. If you’re running a temperature, it’s important to drink many fluids. The elevated temperature increases metabolism, and you can quickly become dehydrated.
Check In With Your Pain Levels
Thum, Backe, and Lee all say that headaches and body aches, too, are potential signs of a fever. So if you have aches and pains that don’t correspond with any injuries or a headache that’s going alongside sweats or fatigue, you could be running a temperature.
Luckily, the same medicine that can help with your aches and pains can help regulate the fever itself. Taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen will also help decrease your temperature but must be taken every four to six hours.
Get Someone to Bring You a Thermometer
If you’re concerned about whether or not you’re running a fever, the only thing you can do to know is to get a thermometer.
The only sure thing to check for a fever is to use a thermometer. You can buy these over the counter at a pharmacy.
A fever may be a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit,” Thum says. So, if you can muster the energy to walk to the store, it’ll be a worthwhile investment (plus, if this happens again, you won’t have to wonder).
If you’re confident that you’re sick and potentially contagious, try calling a friend who’s been there for you before and seeing whether they’re able to drop one off on your doorstep.
When do you have to seek medical attention for a fever?
If you feel ill and you’ve got a moderately high fever, that’s your cue to call a doctor to figure out the next steps.
Witches. Otherwise? “In general, if you’re experiencing fever associated with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, a rash, or confusion, it’s probably best to seek medical attention,” he says.
(FAQs)
Q. How can you tell if you have a fever without a fever?
A. Feeling changes in your temperature. Fevers can make people feel hot or cold, Cutler says.
You might feel and look flushed or shiver, both of which indicate that your body is trying to lower your temperature. When trying to diagnose fever without a thermometer, people often touch their foreheads.
Q. Can I use a food thermometer to check my temperature?
A. Fortunately, you can use a meat thermometer to check your body temperature. It’s not as precise as an oral thermometer, but it can help you keep track of your body temperature.
Q. How many minutes should you take your temperature?
A. Keep the thermometer under your tongue for 3 minutes. Remove the thermometer without touching the tip. Gently wipe the thermometer with a tissue.
Q. How soon after eating should you take your temperature?
A. Always clean the thermometer before and after using it. You can use cool, soapy water or lotion. Wait a minimum of 1 hour after heavy exercise or a hot bath before measuring blood heat. Wait for 20 to a half-hour after smoking, eating, or drinking a hot or cold liquid.
Q. What is the most accurate way to take your temperature?
A. A rectal or ear temperature reading is going to be a touch above an oral reading. A temperature taken within the armpit is going to be a touch less than an oral reading. The most accurate thanks to measuring temperature, requires a rectal reading.
Q. Which thermometer is most accurate for adults?
A. Rectal thermometers, which go into your rear end, are the most accurate, but they can be uncomfortable. Armpit, ear, and forehead thermometers aren’t as accurate. Most doctors think an oral thermometer, which you hold under your tongue, is best.
Conclusion
There are several ways to check your body temperature without a thermometer. However, these methods are not as accurate as using a thermometer, so it’s always best to use a thermometer for an accurate reading of your body temperature. If you suspect that you have a fever, it’s important to seek medical attention, especially if your symptoms are severe or persist for more than a few days.
We also have a detailed review of How to Use Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer in case if you want to check that out! and other articles.
