What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

  • Hypothermia Causes
    • What causes low body temperature?
  • 11 First Signs & Symptoms
    • What are the first signs and symptoms of low body temperature?
  • 7 Risks
    • What things put you at a risk of low body temperature?
  • 8 First-Aid Tips
    • What to do if hypothermia occurs?
  • How to Prevent Hypothermia
    • How can you prevent hypothermia?
  • Fever Temperature
    • What body temperature is considered a fever?
  • When to Visit a Doctor
    • When should one visit a doctor for the treatment of a fever?
  • Fever Causes
    • What causes a fever?
  • Diagnosis
    • What is the best way to measure a fever?
  • Related Resources
    • Related Resources - What Body Temperature Is Too Low? Hypothermia

What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

Hypothermia is a medical emergency, which if left untreated can lead to brain damage and cardiac failure.

Body temperature below 95°F (35°C) is considered abnormally low, and the condition is known as hypothermia. This happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency, which if left untreated can lead to brain damage and cardiac failure.

What is the average normal body temperature?

The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C).

The normal body temperature can be anywhere between 97°F (36.1°C) and 99°F (37.2°C) in different individuals.

What causes low body temperature?

Low body temperature (hypothermia) occurs when heat loss from the body is higher than heat produced in the body. It is most commonly caused by exposure to cold-weather conditions or cold water.

Conditions that can cause hypothermia include:

  • Wearing clothes that fail to keep you warm in cold conditions
  • Spending prolonged periods in cold weather (without adequate protection)
  • Living in a house that's too cold (due to either poor heating or lower temperatures of the air conditioner)
  • Falling into the cold water

What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

What things put you at a risk of low body temperature?

Not everybody who is exposed to the cold develops hypothermia. Age factor and your tolerance levels play a role in how your body responds to the outer environment.

Several factors that increase your risk of hypothermia include:

  • Fatigue: How well you tolerate the outside cold also depends on your energy levels. Exhaustion makes cold temperatures more unbearable for you.
  • Old age: With aging, your body becomes less able to tolerate and sense low temperatures in the external environment.
  • Very young age: Children, especially infants, lose heat faster than adults. 
  • Alcohol and recreational drugs: Although alcohol makes you feel warm inside for a while, it results in rapid loss of heat from your body. Both alcohol and drugs affect your judgment, and you can end up in cold conditions without realizing what it can lead to.
  • Medical disorders: 
    • Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid)
    • Poor nutrition
    • Anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder in which a person eats a lot and then vomits out voluntarily)
    • Diabetes
    • Stroke
    • Parkinson's disease
    • Trauma to spine
  • Psychiatric illness: Mental disorders hamper with your ability to judge what is right for you, and hence, you may get stranded in cold conditions without taking adequate care of yourself.
  • Medications:
    • Certain antidepressants (medicines that treat depression)
    • Narcotic pain medications (codeine, fentanyl, and morphine)
    • Sedatives (medicines that put you to sleep)

What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

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What to do if hypothermia occurs?

If you find anyone affected with hypothermia, here are eight first-aid tips that you can follow until medical treatment is initiated:

  1. Do not massage or rub the person’s body
  2. Shift the person from the cold to a warm environment
  3. Remove wet clothing and cover the person (except for the face) with blankets 
  4. Lay the person on a warm surface (blanket or bed)
  5. Provide warm, sweet liquids (avoid coffee, alcohol)
  6. Use warm, dry compress (only on the neck, chest wall, or groin and not on the arms or legs)
  7. Do not apply direct heat (no hot water or placing a hot-water bag on the person’s body)
  8. Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when necessary (when breathing and pulse is undetectable)

How can you prevent hypothermia?

Before venturing out during a cold spell, follow the acronym COLD (cover, overexertion, layers, dry) to prevent hypothermia. Here is what you should do for yourself and your child:

  • Cover: Wear protective coverings, especially over the head, face, and neck.
  • Choose mittens over gloves to cover the hands.
  • Overexertion: Know your limits. In an extremely cold environment, avoid activities that cause you to sweat a lot.
  • Layers: Wear layers of clothing that should have
    • Loose-fitting,
    • Lightweight, and
    • an inner layer of wool or silk material
  • Dry:
    • Dry yourself as quickly as you can if you get wet.
    • Wear mittens and boots that can keep off the snow from your hands and feet to avoid getting frostbite.

Health News

What body temperature is considered a fever?

What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

Fever is the body's response to infection and other conditions.

A fever is defined as a body temperature that is higher than normal. The normal body temperature, however, varies slightly among different individuals. The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (or 37°C).

  • For adults, a fever is when the body temperature is higher than 100.4°F.
  • For children, a fever is when their body temperature is more than 100.4°F (measured rectally), 99.5°F (measured orally), or 99°F (measured under the arm).

Having a fever means the body’s immune system is fighting against infections. This is a good sign in most cases. If the fever is between 100.4 and 102°F, it is considered a low-grade fever. A low-grade fever may not require treatment in most cases. If the body temperature goes beyond 102°F, treatment is essential.

When should one visit a doctor for the treatment of a fever?

A fever between 100.4 and 102°F is considered a low-grade fever. A low-grade fever may not require treatment in most cases. Treatment for a low-grade fever is needed if the fever occurs in very young infants (less than three months of age) or if it’s accompanied by serious symptoms such as confusion or inability to eat or drink without vomiting or stomach upset.

One must visit a doctor for fever management if

  • A fever is accompanied by neck stiffness, confusion, or irritability.
  • A fever remains above 103°F (39.5°C) for more than two hours after home treatment.
  • A fever lasts longer than two days.
  • A fever is accompanied by a rash.
  • There is photophobia (intolerance to light).
  • There are signs of dehydration such as less amount of urine, sunken eyes, and absence of tears.
  • The person gets seizures or any abnormal movements or becomes unresponsive.

If a fever rises above 105°F (or 40.5°C) and does not come down with treatment, urgent medical help must be sought because it is a life-threatening emergency.

What happens when body temperature is lower than normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?

QUESTION

Emotional trauma is best described as a psychological response to a deeply distressing or life-threatening experience. See Answer

What causes a fever?

The body has an internal thermostat that regulates body temperature, usually around 98.6°F, despite the changing temperature in the surroundings. Any infection or stress can “reset” the thermostat causing a fever. A fever does not mean disease. It is rather a sign that the immune system is actively trying to fight an illness or infection. When someone has a fever, the body temperature increases, making it harder for bacteria or viruses to survive.

Some of the common causes of fever are as follows

  • Common cold
  • Flu
  • Ear or throat infections 
  • Bronchitis
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI)
  • Mononucleosis is a contagious illness that is most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and certain other infections. It is also called “the kissing disease” because it spreads easily through body fluids such as saliva.
  • Medicines such as certain antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, and anti-seizure medications
  • Cancer
  • Heatstroke
  • Autoimmune diseases such as lupus
  • Certain childhood immunizations 
  • Stress
  • Menstrual periods
  • Heavy clothing
  • Rigorous exercise
  • Dehydration, especially in newborns

What is the best way to measure a fever?

The best way to measure a fever or body temperature is by using a thermometer. It can be inserted into the mouth (orally), into the rectum (rectally), or under the arm (axillary).

A fever can also be recorded by using a special instrument, commonly available in stores, that is inserted in the ear and records the eardrum temperature.

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Medically Reviewed on 3/2/2022

References

References:

Body temperature norms. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001982.htm#

Hypothermia. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682#:~:text=Hypothermia%20is%20a%20medical%20emergency,95%20F%20(35%20C).

Prevent Hypothermia & Frostbite. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/hypothermia.html#:~:text=What%20is%20hypothermia%3F,leads%20to%20lower%20body%20temperature

What happens when the body temperature falls below 37 C?

Normal body temperature is 98.6° F (37° C). Hypothermia is a medical emergency. When a person's body temperature is dangerously low, the brain and body cannot function properly. Left untreated, hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) and death.

Which occurs when body temperature is lower than the normal average of 37 degrees Celsius * 1 point a diarrhea b hydration C hyperthermia D hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs when the body's internal temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius. Hypothermia can occur in any situation wherein the body loses more heat than it can generate.

Why is my body temperature lower than 37?

If your core body temperature dips down to 95 F (35 C) or lower, that's considered hypothermia. It's often caused by exposure to cold weather, but there are other factors that can put you at risk for hypothermia, such as age and certain medications.

What does it mean when you have a lower than normal temperature?

A low body temperature can be normal for some people, but it can also be a sign of a health condition that could be serious. If your body temperature drops below 95 degrees F, it can indicate hypothermia. Often caused by exposure to the cold, hypothermia is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.