Acetaminophen
Re “Unease over pregnancy, Tylenol use” (A10, Sept. 27): It is a disservice to readers to use the trade name Tylenol. The drug is acetaminophen. There are many products that contain acetaminophen that are not the name brand Tylenol. You have to read the labels.
Additionally, fever is a symptom of an infection. Dangerous fevers of 104 or better are so incredibly rare that their cause will not be amenable to acetaminophen and doctors should be aware of the temperature before treatment.
While acetaminophen can help reduce the temperature and relieve some of the symptoms, it also decreases the body’s ability to fight infections. The human immune system creates fevers to increase the killing ability of white blood cells and decrease the infectious agents (virus and bacteria) from reproducing.
And, by the way, while you’re feeling under the weather, you’ve slowed down your activity level using what energy you have to get better, not to keep your same schedule.
Too often the kids I cared for were dosed with antipyretics (acetaminophen or NSAIDs) to get the kids to school or daycare only to have the school or daycare call home because the sick child needed bedrest more than the reading group.
For aches and pains or headaches, it does help and it’s not unreasonable. It’s all a matter of how much and how often. Talk to your doctors.
I’m not anti-fever or pain control but being informed and not knee jerk “pop a pill” in our response to fevers and aches is a safer, wiser approach.
Dr. Stephen C. Restaino, Chesapeake
Religion
Re “My Hero” (Your Views, Sept. 19): According to the Heritage Foundation’s article, “Did America Have a Christian Founding?,” it’s clear that the Founders were not all of one religious mind. Some were traditional Christians while others were deists with no Christian beliefs. The Founders’ personal religious beliefs were irrelevant, as all the Founders shared a commitment to a secular nation with no established religion.
In 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in which he presented his views on the relationship between religion and the role of the state in the new nation. Basing his views on the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which said that there should be “no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” Jefferson stated that there must be a “wall of separation” that clearly limited the involvement of religious denominations and religious leaders in matters related to national governance.
The United States is not and has never been any kind of Christian nation. Any Christian principles that the U.S. was allegedly founded on can also be found in other religions, including the Noble Truths of Buddhism.
Only about 65% of Americans identify as Christian. There are thousands of other religions on the planet, and they all have equal rights and considerations in America. All religion should be kept completely out of all government. No question.
Perhaps Christianity should adopt one more commandment — “Keep Thy Religion To Thy Self.”
Lee Matthews, Hampton
Election season
I’m old enough to remember a time in this country when people had the good sense to keep their political views to themselves. It was a better time in my opinion, a happier time.
I can tell you this for certain: You won’t change anyone’s mind by belittling the other side. In fact, you’ll probably reinforce their opinion. Yard signs are just an eyesore and mailers are a complete waste, straight from the mailbox to the trash. Candidates spend millions on this nonsense. So there!
Sam Jackson, Newport News
