Why do some people put a thermometer under their arm, others in their mouths, and some...

In the midst of that same autumn time, which many associates with a scarf, runny nose, and hot drinks. Taking a person's temperature is the easiest way to assess their health status. A drop in temperature or an increase in it is always a reason to think about the reasons and start immediate treatment! But just why do all people measure the temperature in different ways and how can this affect the result? Let's talk about it in this thread...

7 PHOTOS

1. How a thermometer is used in the CIS countries

We have all been accustomed since childhood that in order to correctly measure the temperature, it is necessary to put a thermometer under the armpit and lie still for 5-10 minutes. This method is called axillary and in many Western countries, people are sure that this method is the most unreliable.

2. How is a thermometer used in America

American scientists are sure that temperature measurement using the axillary method is extremely inaccurate, if only because the body temperature under the left and right hand are different (under the right hand is lower than under the left). That is why Americans most often resort to the oral method, that is, they put a thermometer under the tongue. But it is worth considering that the temperature under the tongue is almost one degree higher than under the arms, and if the “good” temperature under the arm is 36.6, then in the mouth this figure will be 37.1.

3. Also, American scientists consider mercury thermometers dangerous for the life and health of the patient, especially if it is a child. And in some ways, they are right, because if the thermometer breaks, then poisonous mercury vapor can cause significant harm to the body. But on the other hand, mercury thermometers are still considered the most accurate of all.

4. How the thermometer used in Europe

In America, the Russian method is considered ineffective, and in Europe, they despise the American one. According to Europeans, keeping a thermometer in the mouth in a stationary state is extremely difficult, especially when we are talking about small children.

Here the rectal method is used. Doctors believe that in this way the thermometer will be able to correctly measure the temperature.

5. The thing is that in that very place, human skin is able to “show” its temperature as accurately as possible. And the whole procedure takes no more than one minute. This method is most often used for children.

6. Alternative Methods

In addition to the three main methods of temperature measurement described by us, there are many other methods in different countries of the world. For example, there are special thermometers that can measure body temperature in the elbow bend by applying it to the forehead or wrist and even an ear thermometer.

7. By the way, an experiment was recently conducted in Sweden, where 300 different people had their temperature measured in different ways. According to the results of the study, it was the rectal method turned out to be the most effective. The fact is that the thermometer in the mouth will show the exact temperature only if it is used correctly, which means in an almost stationary state, and the way to measure the temperature under the arm, in principle, gave the most inaccurate results.