Re: digital thermometers? - SPEED of temp rise in hypoT/normal peopl

[Guest guest]

>>One thing I've noticed (with a Walmart thermometer) is that the

SPEED at which the temperature rises seems to be different. If my

temperature eventually settles at 98.6, it rises faster than if it is

going to settle at 97.9. Since the digital thermometer (at least the

Walmart one) works by waiting until the reading doesn't change (to

within a tenth degree) within 20 seconds, a person with a higher temp

might get a more accurate reading, simply because the temperature

rises fast enough and the thermometer doesn't time out.

This would be expected from thermodynamics (a greater temperature

difference between the oral environment and the ambient temperature

would cause a change quicker). But I wonder if something more could

be going on - a half-degree difference doesn't seem like it should

cause that much a difference in the rate of change (although I

haven't done the calculations, and couldn't without knowing what the

tip was made of, how it absorbs heat, how the thermo-electric element

works, etc) Since the body is continually maintaining its

temperature, the oral tissue will actively generate more heat as the

tip draws it away (which would depend on how quickly cells respond to

" temperature loss " ), and that response may be different for hypoT and

non-hypoT people.

Has anyone else noticed this?>>

Yes, I do notice this all the time. If my temp is at 98.6 or higher, it will go

up and reach that level much more quickly than if my temp is about 98 or 98.1. I

have to leave it in my mouth about a minute or so longer when my temp is low. I

thought this was just me, but I guess it is a factor with digital thermometers.

Dove Rose

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My Beloved is mine and I am His. (SS. 2:16)

~ Jesus, My Eternal Passion! ~

[Guest guest]

> Yes, I do notice this all the time. If my temp is at 98.6 or

> higher, it will go up and reach that level much more quickly than

> if my temp is about 98 or 98.1. I have to leave it in my mouth

> about a minute or so longer when my temp is low. I thought this was

> just me, but I guess it is a factor with digital thermometers.

>

I think digital thermometers are basically designed as " fever

thermometers " - you don't really care *what* the temp is - you just

care if it's 98.6, or a fever under 100 (tylenol and cold compress

and wait for it to break), or over 104 (to the ER?). They are NOT

designed with any other kind of use in mind, like people who might

have LOW temps.

Jim

[Guest guest]

> Yes, I do notice this all the time. If my temp is at 98.6 or

> higher, it will go up and reach that level much more quickly than

> if my temp is about 98 or 98.1. I have to leave it in my mouth

> about a minute or so longer when my temp is low. I thought this was

> just me, but I guess it is a factor with digital thermometers.

>

I think digital thermometers are basically designed as " fever

thermometers " - you don't really care *what* the temp is - you just

care if it's 98.6, or a fever under 100 (tylenol and cold compress

and wait for it to break), or over 104 (to the ER?). They are NOT

designed with any other kind of use in mind, like people who might

have LOW temps.

Jim