Is a Low Body Temperature Bad?

The temperature of the body can be measured orally or by placing the thermometer in the armpit. Like heart rate and blood pressure, body temperature is one of the vital signs which help assess the health of an individual. 98.2 ± 1.3ºF or 36.8 ± 0.7ºC is the range of normal body temperature, measured orally. Measurement of the temperature helps assess the most basic body functions. High body temperature is referred to as fever while the condition wherein the temperature drops down below normal is referred to as 'hypothermia'. Why is it bad to have a lower than normal body temperature? Let us find the answer to this question.

Hypothermia

Temporary or Persistent
Our brain, skin (through sweat glands), blood vessels, hormones help maintain the body temperature at normal level. The temperature is not constant throughout the day. It varies according to your activity, stress, age, overall health, time, weather, etc. Our body attains lowest temperature during sleep. This is known as basal body temperature. A rise in the temperature often indicates infection. Our body can maintain its temperature within the normal range despite severe fluctuations in the environmental temperature. Sometimes, when low body temperature is experienced temporarily; the condition improves on its own, after elimination of the cause.

There exist acute as well as chronic hypothermia. Persistently having a low temperature can lead to a life-threatening situation. During metabolism, a number of chemical reactions take place in the body which help generate heat and energy. Low temperature can slow down the enzymatic processes. These processes can slow down by about 10%-20% for every degree of temperature fall below the desired levels. Even the brain starts receiving less blood if the body temperature falls below the optimal levels. The supply to the brain decreases by 6-7% for every 1.8ºF drop below normal temperature.

Lower Limit
A body temperature below 95ºF is considered as life-threatening. Rewarming needs to be done under medical supervision. The lower limit may vary from person to person. Children and elderly cannot withstand a temperature drop which a healthy adult might be able to withstand. So a temperature of 96º or lower can be bad for children and the elderly.

Symptoms
Shaking is the body's natural way of warming up the muscles. As overworking the muscles helps generate heat, shivering is experienced as you feel freezing cold. Over exposure to cold results in frostbite, wherein fingers and toes turn purple. One of the early warning signs of hypothermia is change in the level of consciousness.

Adverse Effects
The hormones and enzymes in the body can work perfectly when the temperature of the body is normal. So, a low body temperature can affect the enzymatic processes and hormonal reactions in the body. It can severely affect body metabolism, heat and energy production leading to excess fatigue, headaches, migraines, depression, increased irritability, anxiety and panic attacks. In women, it can lead to PMS and irregular or no menstrual periods. It can affect the functions of the kidneys resulting in edema (swelling due to fluid retention). The person may experience easy weight gain. Due to impaired brain function, the person may experience poor memory, poor concentration, increased cold intolerance, heat intolerance, significantly low motivation, low ambition, low sex drive, dizziness, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, etc. Slowed down metabolism results in weak muscles, excessive tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting (depending upon the cause).

Abnormal temperature of the body can lead to low blood sugar levels, constant headache, sweating, abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure levels, slurred speech, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, confusion, lack of coordination, loss of ability to take quick decisions, unhealthy nails, hair loss, dull, dry skin and hair, etc. A low body temperature can cause allergies and asthma. One may even have to face outburst of acne, carpal tunnel syndrome, indigestion, constipation, bad breath, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle and joint pain, difficulty swallowing, easy bruising, slow healing of wounds, itchiness of skin, ringing in the ears, flushing, dry eyes and other vision problems like blurred vision due to lower than normal temperature.

Causes
Over exposure to cold weather is the most obvious cause of a drop in the normal body temperature. Hypothyroidism or an under-active thyroid, deficiency of adrenal gland hormones, Wilson's temperature syndrome are some of the main causes of lower than normal temperature. Administration of cold intravenous fluids, excessive intake of alcohol and drugs, administration of anesthesia, over consumption of sedatives or diuretics or certain other medicines, blood loss, shock during surgery or accidents can result in a lower than normal body temperature. People do experience low temperature as a side effect of certain medications. The temperature of the body may drop down if the person is diagnosed with diseases and disorders like diabetes, dysfunction of the hypothalamus, kidney failure, liver failure, sepsis, anemia, hepatitis C, cancer, etc. Even excessive stress or shock can result in decreased body temperature.

Having abnormally low temperature is a sign of poor health. Neglecting the symptoms can prove to be fatal. Regular exercises are essential to generate internal heat. Exercise and a healthy diet help maintain hormonal balance as they promote enzymatic processes. In cold weather, warm clothing, hot beverages or soups help maintain the temperature at normal level. Iodine, selenium, copper rich diet helps improve the body temperature. The treatment may vary according to the cause.

I hope you have got an answer to the question 'is a low body temperature bad?'. Abnormally low or persistently low temperature of the body can seriously affect the health of an individual. You should immediately consult your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.