When body temperature rises above its normal level of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, it means there is a state of hyperthermia. An increase in body temperature causes many physiological responses to occur in the body. Hyperthermia takes advantage of the fact that many invading organisms tolerate a narrower temperature range than body tissues and are therefore more susceptible to increases in temperature (they may die from overheating before harm is done to human tissue). Examples are viruses such as rhinovirus (responsible for one-half of all respiratory infections), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and the microorganisms and bacteria that cause syphilis and gonorrhea.

  Hyperthermia treatments may reduce the number of invading organisms to a level the immune system can handle. Hyperthermia stimulates the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and interferon(aprotein substance produced by virus-invaded cells that prevents reproduction of the virus). Hyperthermia also releases toxins stored in fat cells, therefore it is useful in detoxification therapy. 

 

 

  Body temperature can be quickly increased by the external application of heat. This approach causes blood vessels to swell and the body to perspire in an attempt to prevent an increase in temperature. An increase in body temperature may be accomplished by such low-tech methods as immersing the body in hot water, sitting in a sauna or steam bath, or wrapping oneself in blankets with a hot water bottle.

  Other, high-tech approaches include the use of shortwave or microwave diathermy, ultrasound, radiant heating, and extracorporeal heating.

• Diathermy is the application of radio frequency electromagnetic energy to the body to cause a temperature rise.
• Ultrasound is the application of high energy sound waves to cause an increase in body temperature as a result of friction produced at the molecular level that is created as the sound waves strike different body tissues. For whole body or large area treatments, multiple ultrasound applicators may be used.
• Radiant heating devices produce infrared heat that is applied to the body.
• Extracorporeal heating is accomplished by removing blood from the body, heating it, and returning it to the body at a higher temperature.

 

  Hyperthermia can be produced either locally or over the whole body. Locally-applied hyperthermia is used to treat infections such as upper respiratory infections (with inhalation of steam or a local application of diathermy), or for infected wounds in a hand or foot (generally produced with immersion in a hot water bath). Whole-body hyperthermia is used when there is a general infection, when a local application is impractical, or when a general whole-body response is desirable.

  For whole-body hyperthermia, practitioners normally use the methods of full-immersion baths, saunas, steam, and blanket packs. For a localized application, immersion baths, steam, or, occasionally, diathermy are used. In conventional medical settings, whole-body treatment usually involves the more high-tech approaches of diathermy, ultrasound, radiant and extracorporeal heating; for localized treatments, diathermy and ultrasound are used.

  Hyperthermia in all of its forms is often used in the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and other conditions of the lungs and body cavities, and as a modality for physical therapy.

 

  The beneficial effects of hyperthermia in the form of hot packs, baths, and saunas have been recognized for thousands of years. In 500 B.C., the Greek physician Parmenides stated that if only he had the means to create fever, he could cure all illness. The early Romans built elaborate baths which included saunas, cold plunge baths, and swimming areas. The sauna has long been a part of Finnish tradition, and the Russians use steam baths regularly. Native American cultures use sweat lodges in cleansing practices.     

  Physicians have observed that people suffering from certain illnesses, such as cancer, gonorrhea, and syphilis, often become free of these illnesses following a high fever from another infection. This has led to research into the production of fever by various methods (injection of foreign substances, hot packs, hot baths) to treat a wide variety of health problems from the common cold to AIDS and cancer.