Your body’s like a little furnace. It puts out heat all the time. It comes from your body doing the work that keeps you alive. When it puts out a lot more or a lot less heat than usual, it’s trying to tell you there’s a problem. Not everyone’s “normal” body temperature is
the same. Yours could be a whole degree different than someone else’s. A German doctor in the 19th century set the standard at 98.6 F, but more recent studies say the baseline for most people is closer to 98.2 F. For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Babies and children have a little higher range: 97.9 F to 100.4 F. Your temperature doesn’t stay the same all day, and it will vary throughout your lifetime, too. Some things
that cause your temperature to move around during the day include: Your temperature reading changes based on where on your body you measure it. Underarm readings can be a degree lower than what you’d find from your
mouth. Rectal temperatures usually are up to a degree higher than mouth readings. A body temperature higher than your normal range is a fever. It’s
hypothermia when the body temperature dips too low. Both need to be watched. How high is too high when it comes to your temperature? Anything above 100.4 F is considered a fever. You may feel terrible, but on the whole, a fever isn’t bad for you. It’s a sign your body is doing what it should when germs invade. It’s
fighting them off. However, if your temperature is 103 F or higher or if you’ve had a fever for more than 3 days, call your doctor. Also call if you have a fever with symptoms like severe throat swelling, vomiting, headache,
chest pain, stiff neck or rash. For children,
fevers are a bit more complicated. Call your pediatrician if your child is: If your body loses too much heat, it can be very serious, even fatal. Hypothermia is when your body temperature goes below 95 F. You might think of
hypothermia as something that only happens when you’re exposed to extremely cold weather for a long time. But it happens indoors, too. Hypothermia is a special concern for newborns and the elderly. Babies may not be good at regulating their temperature. They can lose heat quickly. It’s important to keep them warm. A temperature below 97 F is considered too low for babies. Older adults can also struggle to keep their body temperature in a normal range if they’re somewhere with intense air conditioning or there’s not enough heat. For both the elderly and young children, a below-normal body temperature can be a sign they’re sick. Other things can also make you more likely to get hypothermia. They include:
HypothermiaNot what you're looking for? What is hypothermia?Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C). It's a medical emergency. Normal body temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C). Hypothermia happens most often in very cold temperatures. But even cool temperatures (above 40°F or 4°C) can be dangerous to a person who is chilled from rain, sweat, or being in cold water for a long time. Hypothermia can progress from mild, to moderate, to severe. As the body temperature drops, it affects body organs such as the brain. This makes it hard to think clearly or move well. It can also affect the heart. This causes abnormal heart rate and rhythm. Dropping body temperature affects the ability to breathe normally, and causes loss of other body functions. If not treated, hypothermia can lead to death. What causes hypothermia?Hypothermia occurs when you lose more body heat than your body can produce. It can be brought on by staying in cold temperatures for a long time. Who is at risk for hypothermia?The following people are most at risk for hypothermia:
Even young, healthy adults are affected by hypothermia when exposed to the cold for long periods of time. What are the symptoms of hypothermia?These are the most common symptoms of hypothermia:
Untreated, hypothermia can be fatal. If the person has symptoms of hypothermia even if a temperature can’t be taken, call 911. How is hypothermia diagnosed?If someone has hypothermia symptoms, a healthcare provider will do a physical exam. The provider will find out about the person’s exposure to the cold. They will also check their level of consciousness and vital signs. The provider will want to know if the person has a health condition that puts them at risk for hypothermia. And the provider will check for a body (core) temperature of less than 95° F (35° C). Other tests that may be done are blood tests, a chest X-ray, and an ECG (electrocardiogram). Body temperature can vary depending on many factors. These include where the temperature is taken on the body, and the type of thermometer used. A low-reading thermometer is needed for an accurate temperature. Standard thermometers are not able to measure temperatures below 94° F (about 34° C). A healthcare provider uses thermometers that can more accurately measure the core body temperature. These thermometers are often inserted into the rectum to get an accurate core temperature How is hypothermia treated?The goal of treatment is to prevent further heat loss and rewarm your body. People with hypothermia need medical care right away. While waiting for medical care, try these warming methods to help the person:
Hospital treatment depends on the degree of hypothermia. Rewarming methods of treatment may include:
Some other methods to rewarm the body can include hemodialysis (blood is pumped through a tube into the machine to filter and warmed and returned back into the body) or use of a heart-lung machine (pumps blood out of the body and is rewarmed and oxygen is added and returned back to the body). Depending on how severe the hypothermia is, other treatments can include:
What are possible complications of hypothermia?Hypothermia and frostbite both occur when skin is exposed to cold and the body temperature falls. With frostbite, the body tissues become frozen. Long-lasting (permanent) damage may happen if the affected area is not treated right away. In most cases, the person is not aware of frostbite because the frozen skin and tissue are numb. In severe cases, gangrene can occur. This is when the affected area’s skin turns black, and tissue dies. In the most severe cases, a body part may need to be amputated. In most cases, affected body parts include the nose, ears, fingers, toes, cheeks, and chin. Severe hypothermia can cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart failure and death. Can hypothermia be prevented?Hypothermia can be prevented by taking these steps to keep warm in the cold:
When should I call 911?Call 911 if you have:
Key points about hypothermia
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Medical Reviewer: Eric Perez MD Medical Reviewer: Ronald Karlin MD Medical Reviewer: Maryann Foley RN BSN © 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Not what you're looking for? Which occurs when the body temperature is lower than the normal average of 37 degrees Celsius Brainly?Hypothermia occurs when the body's temperature falls below 35 °C. The human body has a number of systems that maintain a constant core temperature of around 37 °C.
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.
Which occurs when body temperature is rises than the normal average of 37 degrees Celsius?For practical clinical purposes, a patient is considered febrile or pyrexial if the oral temperature exceeds 37.5°C (99.5°F) or the rectal temperature exceeds 38°C (100.5°F). Hyperpyrexia is the term applied to the febrile state when the temperature exceeds 41.1°C (or 106°F).
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.
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