Infectious disease is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Deaths from infectious disease have been increasing. More Americans died of an infectious disease in 2000 than in 1980.1  90,000 die each year in the U.S. due to nosocomial infections,2  many resulting from surgery. Individuals whose immune systems are compromised3 are particularly susceptible.

Primary Prevention - taking steps to prevent the occurrence of an infection - is, of course, important, but with travel, meetings, conventions, and the many other ways we come in contact with large numbers of people, infections still occur.

Secondary Prevention4 is the early detection of an infection5 followed by actions taken immediately to reverse, halt or retard its progression (e.g., taking antiviral drugs, anti-oxidants6 or antibiotics).

But how can you detect an infection early? Basal metabolism is the level of metabolism7 "needed for maintenance of life when an individual is at digestive, physical and emotional rest,"8 such as just before you get up in the morning. If your basal metabolism is elevated, an infection may be present.

And how do you monitor your basal metabolism? Subtle changes in basal metabolism can be observed by monitoring your basal metabolic temperature.9  Basal metabolic temperature (BMT) can be measured immediately upon waking after 6 to 8 hours of sleep.

Normal daytime body temperatures range from 98.6 to 100.4° F.,10 depending on your level and type of activity. However, normal basal temperatures range from 97.0 to 98.6° F.11 

An elevation in BMT is a near-universal and early signature of infection. It is a precursor to symptoms, thus leading infection symptoms and speeding intervention.12

The BD^TM Rapid Digital 9 second thermometer13 provides a non-invasive, inexpensive, convenient means to monitor basal metabolic temperature.

However, only observing your BMT reading each morning will not give you an accurate picture of the changes in your basal metabolism. Cyclical physiological changes, stimulated by certain hormones released into your blood stream, increase and decrease your basal metabolism which results in a BMT that cycles up and down.14

To accurately identify an abnormal elevation in BMT early, the basal temperature must be graphed on a template designed for that purpose, such as Healthcarelink's proprietary, easy-to-read GraphChart. Deviations from the norm become immediately apparent as do trends.

Respiratory Infections: Many individuals are susceptible to respiratory infections including bronchitis and pneumonia. In the United States alone, ordinary pneumonia killed 62 thousand people in 1999. Asthmatics are particularly susceptible. There are 17 million with asthma in the U.S.

Peak flow meters are recommended to monitor the lung function of asthmatics.15  This inexpensive device provides a non-invasive, inexpensive, convenient means to monitor lung function and can be used at home by anyone, not just asthmatics.

Peak flow meter readings fall before symptoms are otherwise noticed (providing early detection).16

A drop in waking peak flow (WPF)17 correlated with an above normal BMT is a signature of an impending respiratory infection.18  Early detection of a respiratory infection permits early intervention.

Healthcarelink has developed a simple, fast and convenient means to graph BMT and WPF on its proprietary GraphChart template. After you obtain the readings each morning, you can use any ordinary phone or the Internet to forward your readings to the GraphChart System. Within 120 seconds your GraphChart can be viewed by you or your healthcare provider anywhere in the world on the Internet using a unique ID and PIN. The GraphChart System is totally confidential and HIPAA compliant.

Summary

The simple routine of taking your BMT and WPF upon waking each day will provide an effective Secondary Prevention against respiratory and non-respiratory infections, through early detection, when your readings are recorded for visual analysis on the GraphChart System.

1. Source: Ten Public Health Achievements - United States, 1900-1999 MMWR 4/2/99/48(12);241-243.
2. Acquired in the hospital, e.g., 1 in 6 heart patients return due to infections.
3. Oncology patients (due to radiation or chemotherapy) and HIV/AIDS patients.
4. Defined by the American Board of Preventative Medicine.
5. Viral and bacterial.
6. OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), Vitamin C, E and beta carotene.
7. Sum of chemical reactions. Source: Oxford Dictionary of Biology.
8. Source of quotation: Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary.
9. See also "basal body temperature" definition in The Mosby Medical Encyclopedia.
10. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Section 13. Infectious Diseases, Chapter 150. Biology of infectious Disease, "Manifestations of Infection."
11. Source: Healthcarelink. See also Broda O. Barnes, M.D., "Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness."
12. BioAlert Systems and its subcontractor, The Cleveland Clinic.
13. BD is a trademark of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
14. See "Estrogen modifies the temperature effects of progesterone" in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
15. The National Asthma Education Program.
16. Source: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
17. Peak flow readings taken immediately upon waking.
18. Healthcarelink's patent application: Respiratory Infection Alerting System.

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