Fever helps fight infections, body temperature varies between men and women, and lying can raise temperatures in the nose and forehead area…
Surprising Facts About Body Temperature
- 1. What is a normal body temperature?
- 2. What is a fever?
- 3. Fever helps you fight infections
- 4. Older adults have lower body temperatures
- 5. Men and women have different body temperatures
- 6. A hat may not be enough to keep you warm
- 7. Lying can change your temperature
- 8. Red chili increases body temperature
- 9. A cold body can protect your brain
- 10. Body temperature can help determine the time of death
1. What is a normal body temperature?
The average body temperature of a healthy person is considered to be 37 degrees Celsius, according to MedlinePlus. However, normal body temperature can range from 36 to 37.2 degrees Celsius.
Research indicates that the body continuously adjusts its temperature in response to environmental conditions. For instance, your body temperature rises when you exercise. If you check your temperature with a thermometer, you may find that your temperature is higher in the late afternoon and evening compared to early morning, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Infants and young children tend to have higher body temperatures than older children and adults, due to their larger surface area relative to body weight and more active metabolic processes. Infants typically have an average body temperature of about 37.5 degrees Celsius.
2. What is a fever?
A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, often caused by illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, a rectal, ear, or forehead temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher typically indicates a fever. Fevers usually resolve within a few days. Along with fever, you may also experience symptoms like chills, sweating, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, irritability, and dehydration.
For adults, a body temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius or higher can be concerning and warrants a call to your doctor. Additionally, you should see a doctor if, along with the fever, you experience severe headache, unusual skin rash, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, pain when bending your head forward, mental confusion, persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, chest pain, abdominal pain, painful urination, or seizures.
Body temperature always adapts to the environment; what is “normal” for you may not be normal for someone else. (Image: iStock).
For infants and toddlers, even a slight increase in temperature can indicate a serious infection. You should call a doctor if your child is three months old or younger and has a rectal temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher; between three to six months old and has a rectal temperature close to 39 degrees Celsius along with signs of irritability, lethargy, or discomfort; or between six to 24 months old with a rectal temperature exceeding 39 degrees Celsius lasting more than one day.
Children aged six months to five years can experience seizures due to a high fever, which often includes loss of consciousness and shaking limbs on both sides of the body. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or if it is accompanied by vomiting, stiff neck, excessive drowsiness, or difficulty breathing. Always take your child to the doctor as soon as possible after the first seizure to determine the cause.
3. Fever helps you fight infections
Most people worry about fevers, but they can actually be helpful. According to the Mayo Clinic, many over-the-counter medications can reduce fever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), but sometimes it’s better not to treat it. This is because fever seems to play an important role in helping the body fight infections. However, a physician may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or strep throat.
4. Older adults have lower body temperatures
If you often feel cold even on hot summer days, the reason may be age. Research has shown that as we age, the average body temperature slightly decreases.
One study measuring the body temperature of 133 nursing home residents found below-average body temperatures in those aged 65 to 74, even lower in those aged 75 to 84, and the lowest in those aged 85 and older, with some having body temperatures as low as 34 degrees Celsius under normal conditions. This is quite significant, as older adults may have fevers at lower temperatures than younger individuals.
5. Men and women have different body temperatures
Researchers have found that the core body temperature of women is, on average, 0.2 degrees higher than that of men (36.5 degrees Celsius compared to 36.3 degrees Celsius). However, women’s hands are generally colder than men’s (30.6 degrees Celsius compared to 32.2 degrees Celsius).
6. A hat may not be enough to keep you warm
You may have been told by your mother to wear a hat when it’s cold, as a large amount of body heat is lost through the head. However, this advice may not be entirely accurate. Studies have shown that any part of your body, not just the head, loses heat if uncovered and will correspondingly decrease core body temperature.
7. Lying can change your temperature
Lying may not make your nose grow, but it can change its temperature. Researchers have used thermal imaging to demonstrate that anxiety caused by lying raises the temperature in the nose and surrounding forehead areas.
8. Red chili increases body temperature
A study required participants to add about one gram (g) of red chili to their food. The results showed that their core body temperature increased, but their skin temperature decreased. The authors of the study hypothesized that this increase in thermogenesis along with reduced appetite demonstrated the potential benefits of consuming red chili for those trying to manage their weight, especially for those who do not typically eat spicy foods.
9. A cold body can protect your brain
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, therapeutic hypothermia is a type of treatment sometimes used for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops beating). After the heart starts beating again, healthcare providers use cooling devices to lower the patient’s temperature to about 31.6-33.8 degrees Celsius. Lowering the body temperature immediately after cardiac arrest can reduce brain damage and increase the chances of recovery for the individual.
10. Body temperature can help determine the time of death
Research indicates that the human body no longer generates heat after death and gradually cools down. This process is known as algor mortis (Latin for “the coldness of death”). Algor mortis has been used as a tool in forensic investigations to estimate the time since a person died after their body is discovered. However, various factors can influence body temperature. Therefore, this is not a completely reliable or accurate technique.
