What causes low body temperature. Examination at low body temperature. Low body temperature in children

Body temperature- is an indicator of the thermal state of the body, which reflects the ratio of heat production various organs, tissues and heat exchange between them and the external environment.

Average body temperature For most people, it fluctuates between 36.5 - 37.2°C. This indicator is . But if your body temperature is a little more or less than the generally accepted norm, and at the same time you feel great, this is the normal temperature of your body. An exception is if the deviation in one direction or another is 1-1.5°C.

If the temperature deviates by 1-1.5°C from yours normal temperature, be sure to consult a doctor.

Reduced body temperature– decrease in temperature from normal by 0.5-1.5°C, but not less than 35°C.

Low temperature body– drop in body temperature below 35°C. Low body temperature is also called – hypothermia.

Body temperature and its fluctuations depend on:

  • time of day;
  • health conditions;
  • age;
  • effect on the body environment;
  • pregnancy;
  • characteristics of the body;
  • other unknown factors.

Reduced or low body temperature, like, is a symptom of the body’s response to some deviations from its normal condition, performance, living conditions.

Reduced and low body temperature carries no less danger than a high one, because if the temperature does not drop to a critical 32-27°C, a person dies, although in history there have been facts when a person survived at a temperature of 16°C.

The lowest body temperature in the world was recorded in a 2-year-old girl from Canada on February 23, 1994, who spent 6 hours in the cold.

In any case, even with slight temperature fluctuations, be attentive to your health, and if there are any deviations, consult a doctor. It is especially important to monitor the child's temperature, because... children's body is in the developmental stage, and unlike an adult, it is more sensitive to various violations in the work of organs.

Hypothermia (low body temperature) in most cases is accompanied by the following symptoms:

general malaise body;
- loss of strength, lethargy;
- trembling;
- cold and pale skin;
— ;
increased drowsiness;
- lethargy;
- increased irritability is possible;
- decreased heart rate;
— .

If the temperature is too low (below 34°C), the body may experience:

- severe trembling;
- slurred speech;
- difficulties in moving the body, up to immobilization;
- the skin becomes ashy-gray and may begin to turn blue;
- weak pulse;
- hallucinations (it may seem very hot).
- loss of consciousness.

Body temperature below 32°C can be fatal.

Causes of low and low body temperature

There are enough reasons for low temperature that doctors have developed a whole range of specifics for diagnosing the body, which will be discussed in the next paragraph. The reason for low body temperature, or, lies mainly in hypothermia of the body, so you should always remember the rules of behavior on frosty days outside.

Let's look at the most common causes of decreased body temperature...

The main factors that can provoke low and low body temperature:

Low temperature in children, especially under 3 years of age, is often one of the symptoms, which is associated with an incompletely formed thermoregulation system of the body, for which the hypothalamus is responsible. At the same time, it is better to warm the body not by rubbing, but by hot drinks and warm clothes, but it is still better to consult a doctor.

In addition, as already mentioned at the beginning of the article, a person’s body temperature can change due to changes in the time of day, being lower in the morning, and increasing over time as the person is active.

Diagnostics (examination) at low body temperature

Examination at low temperature body may include the following diagnostic methods:

general examination patient;
— ;
— ;
— ;
- Analysis of urine;
— ;
— ;
— pulse oximetry;
- hourly diuresis;
— monitoring.

Now that you and I, dear readers, have armed ourselves with the necessary knowledge about low and low body temperatures, let’s consider the question, what to do at such a temperature? How to regulate thermoregulation? How to warm your body?

Low body temperature due to hypothermia. What to do?

If the temperature is below 34°C, call an ambulance, and in the meantime, try to do the following:

1. Place the patient in bed, preferably in a horizontal position, or in a place protected from the cold.

2. Cover the patient, especially paying attention to the limbs, while leaving the head and chest area open, which is associated with different temperature levels in these parts of the body.

3. If a person has wet clothes, for example after falling into water, change them as soon as possible.

4. If the patient exhibits limb signs, do not warm them up. warm water, and apply thermal insulating bandages to frostbitten hands and feet.

5. Attach to chest heating pad, electric blanket.

6. Give the victim a hot drink - tea, fruit juice. Strictly in this state you cannot drink alcohol or coffee.

7. For warming, lavage (washing) of the abdominal or pleural cavity with warm solutions (37-40°C) is sometimes used.

8. You can also use warm baths, with a water temperature of 37°C.

9. If the patient faints and does not have a pulse, start doing and.

In severe hypothermia, the patient requires active warming (but gradual), because In this case, the body cannot independently regulate its temperature. If this is not done, or done incorrectly, the patient may die.

Low body temperature due to malnutrition and diet. What to do?

Due to the fact that a decrease in body temperature due to diet is associated with a lack of fats, carbohydrates, and minerals in the body, it is necessary to replenish their reserves.

From vitamins Special attention must be given, because it has a beneficial effect on the immune system, which weakens during fasting or poor nutrition. A weakened immune system can cause many diseases. Children are additionally recommended to take.

Vital important function The human body is thermoregulation. The human body generates heat, maintains it at an optimal level, and carries out temperature exchange with the air environment. Body temperature is an unstable value; it changes insignificantly during the day: in the morning it is low, and in the evening it rises by about a degree. Such fluctuations are caused by daily changes in metabolic processes in the body.

What does it depend on?

Body temperature is a value that shows the thermal state of any living creature. It represents the difference between the production of heat by the body and heat exchange with the air. A person’s temperature constantly fluctuates, which is determined by the following factors:

  • age;
  • physical condition of the body;
  • climatic changes in the environment;
  • some diseases;
  • period of day;
  • pregnancy and other individual characteristics of the body.

Stages of body temperature change

There are two classifications of temperature changes. The first classification reflects the stages of temperature according to thermometer readings, the second - the state of the body depending on temperature fluctuations. According to the first medical classification, body temperature is divided into the following stages:

  • low - less than 35°C;
  • normal - 35 - 37°C;
  • subfebrile - 37 - 38°C;
  • febrile - 38 - 39°C;
  • pyretic - 39 - 41°C;
  • hyperpyretic - more than 41°C.

According to the second classification, the following states of the human body are distinguished depending on temperature fluctuations:

  • hypothermia - less than 35°C;
  • norm - 35 - 37°C;
  • hyperthermia - more than 37°C;
  • fever.

What temperature is considered normal?

What should be the normal temperature for a healthy adult? In medicine, 36.6°C is considered normal. This value is not constant; during the day it increases and decreases, but only slightly. There is nothing to worry about if the temperature drops to 35.5°C or rises to 37.5°C, since its fluctuations are greatly influenced by climatic conditions, age and well-being of a person. In people of different ages The upper limit of normal temperature measured in the axillary fossa is different and has the following values:

  • in newborn babies - 36.8°C;
  • in six-month-old babies - 37.5°C;
  • in one-year-old children - 37.5°C;
  • in three-year-old children - 37.5°C;
  • in six-year-old children - 37.0°C;
  • in people reproductive age- 36.8°C;
  • in older people - 36.3°C.

Usually during the day the body temperature healthy person fluctuates within one degree.

The lowest temperatures are observed in the morning immediately after waking up, and the highest in the evening. It should be taken into account that the temperature female body on average 0.5°C higher than male body, and can vary significantly depending on menstrual cycle.

It is interesting to note that representatives of different nationalities have different body temperatures. For example, in most healthy Japanese people the body does not heat above 36.0°C, and in the inhabitants of the Australian continent the temperature is considered to be 37.0°C. They have different temperatures and human organs: oral cavity - from 36.8 to 37.3°C, intestines - from 37.3 to 37.7°C, and the hottest organ is the liver - up to 39°C.

How to measure correctly with a thermometer

To obtain reliable results, the temperature in the armpit should be measured correctly. To do this, you need to perform the following steps sequentially:

  • cleanse sweat from skin armpit;
  • wipe the thermometer with a dry cloth;
  • shake the device until the temperature on the scale drops to 35°C;
  • place the thermometer in the armpit so that the mercury capsule fits tightly to the body;
  • hold the device for at least 10 minutes;
  • Take out the thermometer and see to what point on the scale the mercury has reached.

Measure the temperature mercury thermometer in the mouth it is necessary not only correctly, but also carefully, so as not to inadvertently bite into a capsule filled with mercury or swallow its contents. Temperature oral cavity for a healthy person is usually 37.3°C. To correctly measure the temperature in your mouth, you need to do the following:

  • Before the procedure, lie quietly for a few minutes;
  • take it out of your mouth removable dentures, if any;
  • wipe the thermometer with a dry cloth;
  • place the device with a mercury capsule under the tongue;
  • close your lips and hold the thermometer for exactly 4 minutes;
  • take out the device, determine to what point on the scale the mercury has reached.

Symptoms and causes of increased body temperature

A low-grade fever of 37.0 - 37.5°C is usually considered normal, but is sometimes a sign of pathologies developing in the body. In most cases, a slight increase in body temperature is caused by the following factors:

  • prolonged exposure to the sun;
  • intense physical activity;
  • bath procedures, taking a hot shower;
  • cold, viral infection;
  • exacerbation of chronic diseases;
  • eating hot or spicy food.

Sometimes a rise in temperature to 37°C is provoked not by harmless factors, but by life-threatening diseases. More often low-grade fever installed on long time at malignant tumors And early stages tuberculosis. Therefore, even a slight increase in body temperature should not be treated negligently, and if you feel the slightest discomfort, you should go to the doctor.

Only a medical professional can determine whether a temperature of 37°C is normal for a particular person. In rare cases, doctors have the opportunity to examine amazing patients for whom 38°C is the normal temperature.

A febrile temperature of 37.5 - 38.0°C is a sure sign of the development of an inflammatory reaction in the body. The body of a sick person is deliberately heated to such a level in order to suppress the viability of pathogenic microorganisms in this way.

Therefore, lowering febrile temperature with medications is not recommended. The body needs to be given the opportunity to overcome the infection on its own, and to alleviate the condition, prevent dehydration and get rid of toxic substances, a sick person should drink a lot of warm water.

At a pyretic temperature of 39°C, there is no doubt that the body is experiencing an acute inflammatory reaction. Typically, fever is caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria that actively multiply in tissues and organs. Less commonly, a significant increase in body temperature is observed when severe injuries and extensive burns.

Pyretic temperature is often accompanied by muscle cramps, so people prone to convulsive conditions during inflammatory diseases you need to be extremely careful. When the body heats up to 39°C, you must take antipyretic medications. It is not difficult to understand that a fever is starting, since the following symptoms are usually observed:

  • malaise, weakness, powerlessness;
  • pain in the joints of the limbs;
  • weighting of muscles;
  • migraine;
  • chills;
  • heart rhythm disturbance;
  • loss of appetite;
  • profuse sweating;
  • drying of the skin and mucous membranes.

If hyperthermia is 40°C, call immediately medical care. The highest temperature it can withstand human body, equal to 42°C. If the body heats up higher, metabolic reactions in the brain are blocked, the functioning of all organs and systems stops, and the person dies.

The factor that caused the hyperpyretic temperature can only be determined medical specialist. But most often fever is provoked pathogenic bacteria, viruses, toxic substances, severe burns and frostbite.

You can increase your body temperature different ways. If the cooling of the body is caused by severe pathologies, then it is impossible to do without medications. If the decrease in temperature is not associated with diseases, then pharmaceuticals It is not necessary to consume it, just warm your feet in hot water, sit in an embrace with a heating pad, dress warmly. It is also useful to drink a hot drink in the evening. herbal tea with honey.

Attention, TODAY only!

A drop in body temperature below average is quite common. It may occur due to various reasons, in people of all ages and have varying effects.

Is low temperature dangerous?

It is generally accepted that normal values on the thermometer it is 36.6°C. In fact, readings can fluctuate throughout the day, depending on meals, menstrual cycle and even mood. Therefore, a temperature from 35.5 to 37.0 is considered the absolute norm for each individual person.

True hypothermia, dangerous to health and sometimes life, begins at temperatures below 35°C. If the numbers on the thermometer are between 35 and 36.6 degrees Celsius, then most likely nothing threatens the person’s health.

How does the body maintain temperature?

Thermoregulation is difficult process, captivating brain, nerve pathways, hormonal system and even adipose tissue. the main objective mechanism - to maintain a constant temperature of the “core”, that is internal environment person. A violation in any of the links can cause a failure of the entire thermal production and thermal transfer system.

How to measure temperature correctly?

  • In the armpit- the most common method of measuring temperature in our country. It is simple, but also quite inaccurate. So, the norm with this method ranges from 35°C to 37.0°C. In children under one year of age, low-grade fever is considered normal.
  • Thermometry in the oral cavity– the norm for Europe and the USA, but rare for Russia. It may also not be effective in children, as they often open their mouth when taking measurements, which is not recommended.
  • Rectal method(in the rectum) is very accurate, but is more often used in children. It is not recommended to measure the temperature of newborns rectally (to avoid intestinal damage). The average temperature in the rectum is half a degree higher than the armpit.
  • Thermometry in the ear popular in some countries, but gives very large errors.

Mercury thermometer- For correct measurement Temperature in the armpit should be held with a mercury thermometer for at least 5 minutes.

Digital Thermometer hold until the beep sounds, check the temperature. Then hold for another minute - if the temperature has not changed, then thermometry is completed. If it has increased further, continue to hold for 2-3 minutes.

The main rule: There is no need to measure the temperature of a healthy person! This leads to increased anxiety for no reason. If you feel the urge to take your temperature every day, this may be a symptom of depression or anxiety. In this case, you need to consult a psychotherapist.

Causes of hypothermia

A significant number of people around the world have an average body temperature that differs from standard norms. Some people see 37°C on the thermometer all their lives, while for others the readings often drop below 36°C. Therefore, hypothermia is a sign of illness only if other symptoms are present. Causes of low body temperature may include:

Past viral or bacterial infection

Any infectious disease, even a very mild one, forces the body to mobilize all its defenses. After illness, recovery occurs gradually. The fever gives way to low-grade fever (see), and then to low temperature. This is accompanied by general weakness, the person feels not fully recovered. This condition may last two to three weeks after the end of the illness.

Anemia

A low temperature, accompanied by weakness, dizziness and some other symptoms, may indicate a lack of iron in the body. A blood test for hemoglobin, as well as a determination of ferritin, helps to identify this pathology. The main signs of anemia and latent deficiency include:

  • Thinning hair
  • Striated and brittle nails
  • Addiction to raw meat and other unusual tastes
  • Inflammation of the tongue
  • Weakness and decreased performance
  • Pale skin
  • Coldness of hands and feet

After appointment iron-containing preparations(Ferretab, Sorbifer and others, see) within 2-3 months the above symptoms usually disappear, including chilliness and a decrease in temperature.

Hormonal imbalances

The human endocrine system influences absolutely all processes, including thermoregulation. Thus, tumors and brain injuries can cause disruption of the hypothalamus, which in turn is responsible for the temperature of the “core”, that is, constant internal temperature person. Such conditions always clearly manifest themselves as disturbances in consciousness, speech, vision or hearing, problems with coordination, headaches and vomiting. Fortunately, serious illnesses brain are rare. Much more often the reason low indicators The thermometer is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is a lack of performance thyroid gland, deficiency of its hormones. A similar failure occurs during autoimmune inflammation of the gland, operations on it or treatment radioactive iodine. The disease occurs quite often (according to some data, in 1-10% of the population) and manifests itself with a variety of symptoms:

  • Weakness, decreased performance
  • Weight gain, swelling
  • Chilliness, low temperature
  • Dryness
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Drowsiness, memory loss and general lethargy
  • Chronic constipation
  • Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

To diagnose hypothyroidism, you need to check your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level. If it is higher than normal, then the likelihood of this disease is high. This is especially true for women over 40 years old whose relatives have problems with the thyroid gland. After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes replacement therapy(Eutirox), which allows you to return feeling normal and get rid of symptoms.

External influences

Man is a warm-blooded creature that maintains a constant temperature inside the body. But the temperature of the skin (in the armpit, for example) quite often decreases during frost, swimming in water and being in a cool room. In such cases, it is enough to dress warmly and measure the temperature: the indicators will quickly return to normal after warming up.

Iatrogenic hypothermia

Physician-associated hypothermia, usually occurs in patients who have undergone surgery. If after a long surgical intervention leaving the patient without a blanket, the risk of hypothermia will be high. Anesthesia suppresses shivering, which prevents the temperature from dropping. Therefore, careful attention to postoperative patients is extremely important.

Overdose of antipyretic drugs— quite often, especially in children, the temperature drops sharply after an overdose of antipyretic drugs. Concerned parents, when they see numbers above 38 on the thermometer, begin to actively “bring down the temperature.” The consequences of such actions can be not only disturbances in thermoregulation, but also serious illnesses stomach, as well as bleeding. Therefore, under no circumstances should it be abused.

Overdose vasoconstrictor drops - another reason for low body temperature in a child. Due to the general effect on all vessels, such drugs can lead to hypothermia. Therefore, with a normal runny nose, without complications, it is better to rinse the child’s nose with a banal saline solution, sold in any pharmacy.

Starvation

With prolonged strict diets or forced fasting, a person loses a large number of fat reserves. And the fat depot, together with glycogen, is responsible for the balance of heat production and heat transfer. As a result, thin, and especially emaciated people often get cold for no apparent reason.

Skin diseases

Skin diseases that affect large areas of the skin often lead to a decrease in temperature. Such consequences include psoriasis, severe eczema, burn disease. To the affected areas skin A large amount of blood constantly flows in, which reduces the temperature of the person as a whole.

Sepsis

The active proliferation of bacteria in the blood and poisoning of the body with their waste products is called sepsis. As with any bacterial infection, at septic complications More often there is a rise in temperature, and to very high numbers. But in some cases (in weakened and elderly people) damage occurs nervous system, including the thermoregulation center.

In such a paradoxical situation, the human body responds to the invasion of bacteria by a sharp drop in temperature to 34.5°C and below. Hypothermia during sepsis is a rather unfavorable sign. It is combined with a severe general condition, depression of consciousness, and dysfunction of all organs.

Poisoning with ethanol and narcotic substances

Drinking alcohol in large quantities and some psychoactive substances may cause low human body temperature. This occurs as a result of vasodilation, suppression of shivering and an effect on glucose levels. Given that many people sleep on the street after taking large doses of ethanol, such patients are not uncommon in emergency departments. Sometimes the decrease in temperature becomes critical and leads to cardiac and respiratory arrest.

How to increase the temperature?

First of all, you need to understand whether the decrease in temperature is normal or a deviation from it.

  • If you accidentally, just like that, measured your body temperature and found a decrease in it, without experiencing any other symptoms, then calm down. Remember if you have recently had ARVI or another infection. Perhaps these are residual effects.
  • Or maybe the reason is the active ventilation of the apartment on a frosty day. In this case, you need to close the windows, dress warmly and drink hot tea.
  • If these reasons are excluded, then, most likely, such numbers on the thermometer are your individual feature.
  • If, in addition to hypothermia, you experience weakness, depression, or find many other symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.

Most likely, after additional tests, anemia or reduced thyroid function will be found. Prescribing appropriate treatment will help raise the temperature. In children, it is necessary to discontinue antipyretics and vasoconstrictors.

When is urgent medical attention needed?

Mandatory contact with a specialist is necessary in cases where:

  • Man unconscious
  • Body temperature is 35°C and continues to decrease.
  • Low body temperature in an elderly person combined with poor health
  • Availability of such serious symptoms, such as bleeding, hallucinations, uncontrollable vomiting, speech and vision disturbances, severe jaundice.

Remember that true hypothermia, which is life-threatening, occurs in people who are seriously ill or hypothermic. A slight decrease in temperature will not harm your health. Moreover, at low temperatures all metabolic processes proceed more slowly. Therefore, many experts believe that people with this feature live somewhat longer.

Measuring body temperature or thermometry is a valuable objective indicator of the condition of the human body. But the answer to the question “What is the normal human body temperature?” not so simple.

The normal body temperature of an adult is 36.6 °C. But this is only an average. In fact, physiological fluctuations in body temperature of a healthy person range from 35.5 to 37.4 °C. This is natural: during sleep, metabolic processes slow down and body temperature decreases, and while awake, especially during physical and emotional stress, body temperature rises. Therefore, morning temperatures are usually lower than afternoon or evening temperatures. Also, body temperature depends on the method and place of its measurement, gender, age and condition of the subject. And in women from or pregnancy. A child’s body temperature is more labile and depends to a greater extent on the ambient temperature and the state of the body.

Fever or hyperthermia

A person's body temperature above 37.4 °C is considered elevated. Causes of high temperature:

  1. Overheating of the body or heatstroke;
  2. Infectious diseases;
  3. Oncological diseases;
  4. Excess thyroid hormones;
  5. Disruption of the thermoregulation center of the brain

The critical temperature of the human body at which some proteins begin to denature is 42 °C. The maximum human body temperature of 46.5 °C was recorded in the United States in a man after heatstroke.

Low temperature or hypothermia

Body temperature below 35.5 °C is considered low. Causes of low temperature:

  1. Hypothermia;
  2. Hypothyroidism or lack of thyroid hormones;
  3. Asthenic conditions during exhaustion, after a serious illness, poisoning or stress.

The minimum critical temperature at which coma occurs is 25 ° C. The minimum human body temperature of 14.2 ° C was recorded in a Canadian girl after severe hypothermia. Amazing fact!

How to measure temperature?

There are 3 main ways to measure body temperature:

  1. Axillary, when the thermometer is placed in the armpit;
  2. Rectal, which measures the temperature in the rectum or basal temperature;
  3. Oral or mouth temperature measurement

It should be remembered that different areas human bodies have different temperatures. And if the temperature is axillary area 36.6 °C, then in the mouth it will be about 37 °C, and in the rectum even higher - 37.5 °C.

You can familiarize yourself with detailed thermometry methods.

When to lower the temperature

Elevated body temperature is often a sign of some illness. In this case, at high temperatures, metabolism is activated, activity increases immune system, blood flow and oxygen supply to cells increases, and the processes of restoration of damaged tissues are accelerated. Thus, high body temperature is a protective reaction of the human body, and bringing the temperature down to 38.5 °C with satisfactory general condition do not do it.

When to lower the temperature:

  1. When a rise in temperature is accompanied by a significant deterioration in condition;
  2. When an increase in body temperature is accompanied by chills or obvious coldness of the extremities;
  3. At body temperature above 39 °C;
  4. When there is a threat of seizures;
  5. In weakened or exhausted patients and in the presence of severe concomitant diseases

What to do if you have a low body temperature

If low body temperature is associated with hypothermia, you need to warm up, take a hot bath, drink hot tea, lie down and cover yourself with a warm blanket. In the case when the body temperature is constantly lowered, you first need to find out the reason. It may be associated with intoxication, overwork, starvation, prolonged stressful situation, a general decrease in vitality. If the cause of persistent hypothermia is caused by a lack of thyroid hormones, then you should contact an endocrinologist to prescribe hormone replacement therapy.

Finally

Normal human body temperature ranges from 35.5 to 37.4 °C. Elevated temperature is most often associated with infectious diseases. Low temperature - with decreased thyroid function. Heat in case of infection, it is a protective reaction of the body, and antipyretics should be taken only for direct indications.

Probably each of us knows that the normal body temperature of a healthy person is 36.6 degrees. If it increases, then this indicates pathological condition body or the development of a certain disease in it.

Everyone knows what to do when the temperature rises - try to understand its main causes, and then bring it down to normal readings with antipyretic drugs or folk methods.

But there are situations when a person’s body temperature is lowered. What to do in this case and what could be the reasons? this phenomenon? We'll talk about this in this article.

Diseases that can cause hypothermia

Low body temperature in humans (35.5 and below) can provoke certain diseases:

  • , flu;
  • depression, apathy;
  • anorexia, bulimia;
  • pathologies of the adrenal glands;
  • oncological diseases;
  • thyroid diseases;
  • pathologies in the functioning of the brain;
  • in acute or chronic forms;
  • various bases and;
  • in a situation of a sharp drop in blood sugar;
  • inflammatory, infectious diseases of various origins;
  • various variants of internal chronic diseases at the time of their exacerbation.
In addition to the above ailments, the temperature decreases with:
  • state of shock;
  • hypothermia;
  • chronic lack of sleep;
  • fasting and strict diets;
  • exhaustion internal forces body;
  • drinking a lot of alcohol;
  • prolonged stress and nervous overstrain.

To know how to eliminate low temperature, you need to find out the reason for its decrease. If during the day the temperature fluctuates between 35.8°C and 37.1°C, this is considered normal. For example, in the morning the indicators are lower than in the evening.

Causes of low human body temperature

If we talk about the reasons for such feeling unwell, at which there is a reduced human body temperature, they are presented below:

  1. A fairly common occurrence is a low temperature during pregnancy, but usually this condition goes away quite quickly as the body adapts to a different sleep pattern and replenishes the substances that were spent on feeding the fetus.
  2. Diet. Lack of fats and carbohydrates weakens our body. The temperature begins to drop when the body's reserves are running low and there are no longer enough for normal life. To maintain normal body temperature, you need to eat well.
  3. Uncontrolled reception of various medical supplies , including those that depress the functioning of the central nervous system ( sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, drugs based on barbiturates);
  4. Loss of strength, lack of iron in your body, that is, anemia. In order to check this, you need to immediately do general analysis blood and check the hemoglobin level.
    Often a decrease in body temperature is accompanied by a disease such as hypothyroidism, which is characterized by functional disorders thyroid gland, as well as insufficient production of thyroid hormones.
  5. Severe hypothermia. The most dangerous temperature for the body is considered to be an ambient temperature ranging from +10 to -12 degrees. If you stay in such conditions for a long time, hypothermia is possible, which will lead to a decrease in body temperature.
  6. A decrease in temperature is typical for people suffering adrenal diseases. Especially often this symptom occurs in Addison's disease, also called adrenal insufficiency.
  7. Dehydration- another one possible reason decrease in body temperature. Everyone knows about the importance of water for human life, but not everyone makes sure that water enters the body in the quantities necessary for quality life.
  8. The reasons for this phenomenon may be x chronic diseases, precisely the moment when they progress. This includes vegetative-vascular dystonia.
  9. Colds (acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections), flu. Oddly enough, these diseases can provoke both an increase and a decrease in temperature.
  10. A brain tumor, which occurs in the hypothalamus, which is responsible for heat exchange in the body, also causes chills and, as a consequence, a decrease in temperature.

IN Lately indicators from 36.4 °C to 36.7 °C are considered normal, but normal for everyone individual person indicators may vary, and different doctors have different points of view. And it is very important that when determining the “normality of temperature”, not some average statistical figures are taken into account, but indicators that are characteristic of each individual person.

Symptoms

Symptoms that may indicate a low temperature include:

  • loss of appetite;
  • irritability.
  • increased drowsiness;
  • apathetic state, general malaise;
  • slowness of thought processes;

In a small percentage of people, a decrease in body temperature is the norm, but the person feels well and is completely healthy. But, in most cases, low body temperature indicates possible problems or diseases.

Prevention

To prevent your body temperature from dropping below normal, you need to exercise more often, take more vitamins, and also take care of your body.

Has a very beneficial effect on your body proper nutrition, as well as daily routine. Try to arrange moments of rest for yourself during the working day, and do not overwork yourself.

If you feel that your body is on the verge, then experts advise to put aside everything and just relax, drink hot tea and get some sleep. During sleep, our body normalizes its work, and the body temperature rises to normal values.

What to do if a person has a low body temperature?

First of all, you need to understand whether a decrease in a person’s temperature is normal or a deviation from it. From the resulting picture it will be more clear what to do in each specific case, as well as what treatment will be needed.

  1. If you just take your body temperature and find it has dropped without experiencing any other symptoms, then calm down. Remember if you have recently had ARVI or another infection. Perhaps these are residual effects.
  2. Hot tea with the addition of honey or currant leaves helps. If this is not available, you can replace it with raspberry jam.
  3. Maybe the reason is the abundant ventilation of the apartment on a frosty day. In this case, you need to close the windows, dress warmly and drink a hot drink.
  4. Safe means that allow you to normalize the condition at a low body temperature of 35.5 (and below) degrees are decoctions and tinctures of ginseng, St. John's wort, and echinacea.
  5. If, in addition to a low temperature, you feel weak, depressed, or find many other symptoms, then it is better to consult a specialist.

Most likely, after additional tests, anemia or reduced thyroid function will be found. Prescribing appropriate treatment will help raise the temperature.

If at low body temperature a person does not experience any unpleasant symptoms, is alert and efficient, examinations did not reveal any pathology, and the temperature throughout life remains lower than usual for a healthy person, this can be regarded as a variant of the norm.

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