Why does a person have low body temperature? Low body temperature

Probably each of us knows that the normal human body temperature is 36.6 degrees. If it increases, then this indicates a pathological state of the body or the development of a particular disease in it. But it happens when it suddenly decreases. What to do in this case and what could be the reasons for this?

When there is cause for concern

First you need to determine what temperature is really low. After all, for example, a thermometer reading between 35.8 and 37 degrees is normal and does not indicate any health problems. If it drops below the specified first limit, then there is reason to worry about your health.

Causes of low human body temperature

The reasons may be different:

And, in addition, pressure surges, serious blood loss, exhaustion, lack of vitamin C, radiation sickness and many other reasons can also lead to a decrease.

Symptoms

If the low temperature is caused by a specific disease, then the patient will feel exactly its symptoms. Using them, the doctor will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis.

At sharp decline a person experiences the following symptoms:

general weakness of the body and malaise;
drowsiness and constant fatigue;
irritability;
problems with thought processes - in particular, their inhibition.

Enough common reason- hypothermia. In this case, there will be tremors in the body, and perhaps even slight numbness in the limbs. To get rid of it, just dress warmly and drink warm tea.

Cold: chills, sweating

In most cases, a cold indicates that the immune system is reduced, the body is exhausted and does not have the strength to fight the infection. It is very important not to start treatment using traditional usual methods, but first to consult with an experienced doctor who will advise how to help the body. For example, in addition to receiving medicines and attending necessary medical procedures, it is important to also take vitamin complexes.

During pregnancy

There may be several reasons for the decrease. For example, this problem may indicate the development of an endocrinological disease. In this case to the expectant mother Urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary and, if necessary, appropriate treatment.

If, in addition to the decrease, cold symptoms are also observed, then most likely the issue is a weakened immune system. You need to strengthen your immune system and cope with the symptoms of a cold using folk remedies.

In some cases, pregnant women notice that the phenomenon arose as a result of malnutrition. Sometimes this is not conscious fasting, but a reluctance to eat food due to toxicosis, changes in the perception of smells, and a complete lack of appetite. It is important to adjust your diet.

The main thing is to react to such changes in time and consult a doctor. Otherwise, you may miss the onset of a serious illness.

In a child

As for the youngest patients, most of the reasons for the decrease in temperature are similar to adults, but most often this happens with a cold, especially in children under three years of age. There is no need to be afraid of this. If the doctor said that there are no serious reasons, then the child can be treated traditionally. More detailed instructions your attending physician can give you.

Rubbing the baby's condition can only worsen. It is better to limit yourself to a warm drink, a heating pad and a blanket.

What to do to normalize

If the temperature drops below 29.5 degrees, it will lead to fainting, and below 27 it will cause a coma with impaired cardiac function and breathing. This may pose a threat to the patient fatal. Therefore, if the symptoms described above appear, it is very important to immediately seek help from medical center. Only a competent specialist will be able to determine the exact cause of the disease and identify possible hidden diseases, as well as draw up a correct, competent treatment plan.

It is very important to treat all detected diseases strictly under the supervision of a doctor. He will be able to notice the deterioration in time, and also adjust the prescribed therapy if it turns out to be ineffective.

If no reasons are found at all, then, most likely, the doctor will suggest using non-drug methods. This is primarily the normalization of work and rest schedules, daily routine, as well as some physiotherapy and balneotherapy procedures.

It is very important to exercise regularly and try in every way to strengthen your immune system. The menu should have fresh vegetables, fruits, berries and other healthy foods and dishes.

When body temperature drops due to stress, it is best to consume unprepared sedatives, but try to normalize your nervous system with the help of natural natural remedies, for example, tinctures of valerian or eleutherococcus.

It is important to remember that for some people, low temperature is an individual feature of the body. If at the same time a person feels active and healthy, then nothing should be done.

For vigor and tone, you can take extra vitamins, do exercises in the morning and take a cool shower.

Body temperature– this is a dynamic value that, within normal limits, can fluctuate during the day, changing by several degrees. IN morning time days, when the body just wakes up, the body temperature is significantly reduced and approximately equal to 35.5 degrees. During the day, the values increase, and in the evening, due to fatigue and decreased activity, the values tend to decrease again. Based on this, it can be noted that the temperature, which is not considered a pathological phenomenon, ranges from 35 to 37 degrees.

The term low temperature- this value of the thermometer is 0.5-1.5 degrees below the accepted norm in the current situation, but not less than 35 degrees.

Low temperature or hypothermia– this is a drop in temperature below the limit of 35 degrees.

Symptoms of hypothermia

When it comes to symptoms, it should be noted that a change in thermoregulation values is a sign of the presence of some kind of disorder in the body. Low temperature in medical practice is considered not as an independent illness, but as a symptom that describes specific phenomenon. However, if you consider low temperature in isolation from other biological processes occurring in the human body, then you can identify a number of criteria that suggest a decrease in body temperature.

Quite often, along with hypothermia, the following is observed:

headache;
circulatory disorders and, as a consequence, arrhythmia;
the appearance of dizziness;
numbness in fingers and toes;
chills;
feeling cold;
trembling throughout the body, accompanied by weakness and loss of appetite;
nausea and vomiting, but these symptoms do not always occur.

In addition to everything described above, the main criteria that characterize low temperature as a pathological phenomenon should be indicated. First of all, the temperature should drop below 35 degrees and remain static throughout the day. If the situation remains unchanged for several days, it can be argued that there is a serious disruption in the functioning of the body.

Main causes of low body temperature

There can be a lot of causes of hypothermia, and therefore they are divided into a decrease in temperature due to exacerbation of chronic or development acute illness, as well as as a result of local organismal changes. About diseases as a cause of development pathological process we'll talk in the next paragraph, first of all, we will reveal the essence of less complex reasons, causing the development of the described problem.

Wrong lifestyle, including daily routine and diet, is the main reason for the decrease in body temperature below 35 degrees. In situations when the body is resting insufficient quantity time, while constantly facing physical and mental overload, the internal energy reserve is exhausted. In this case, low temperature is the least that can arise as a result of working without proper rest.
Lack of vitamins. According to statistics, 80 percent of all cases of long-term hypothermia, both in adults and children, are associated with improper diet and nutrition. If the body does not receive all the necessary vitamins, acids and other components with food, then a significant loss may begin. energy potential, characterized by the impossibility biological systems warm the body to normal levels.
Severe stress. In fact, all the diseases that people suffer from are the result of suffering from neuropsychic tension and stress. It is stress that forces the body to function differently, accelerating biological processes and directing all available resources to maintain a state of rest, blocking irritating factors. Low temperature in this situation is a fairly common occurrence and means that the body is very weakened.
Pregnancy. Temperature during pregnancy tends to rise or fall from time to time and depending on the situation. There is nothing particularly terrible about this, but only as long as the indicators do not go beyond the permissible limits. In such a situation, risks arise both for the health of the mother and for the unborn baby. To prevent all undesirable consequences, it is necessary to monitor your own condition extremely carefully throughout pregnancy. Sometimes hypothermia during the period of bearing a child can be evidence of early toxicosis or be a sign of overwork. More are possible serious reasons the phenomenon being described, such as endocrine system disruption. Often a specific reaction of the body is accompanied by nausea and dizziness, which can go away on their own without additional influences.
Medicines lower the temperature. Some medications can have an effect on the body negative impact, inhibiting the activity of systems, as well as disrupting the natural processes of thermoregulation. There are common cases in which the body temperature dropped below normal after taking antibiotics. This happens mainly due to individual characteristics the body and its reaction to a particular drug. Similar phenomenon similar to an allergic process in which the immune system, due to genetic disorder blocks safe elements, recognizing them as a threat. To minimize the risks of hypothermia, you should take all pharmacological agents only after a doctor's prescription.

Possible diseases at temperatures below 36 degrees

If there are no obvious signs strong decline There is no body temperature, then this is a serious reason to think about your own health. In such a situation, most likely, there is the presence of some chronic illness who is in a state of relapse. Therefore, it is necessary to go through the full medical examination by contacting a specialist for a diagnosis. The situation described may be the profile of a large number of specialists, including a neurologist, oncologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist or immunologist.

Oncological diseases. As part of the description of hypothermia as a result of the progression of the disease process, it should be noted that the lion's share of all cases is occupied by oncological diseases. It is the growth of a tumor, for example the brain, that can lead to functional disorders of the central nervous system, which will cause a change in the thermoregulation process. Quite often there is a decrease in temperature due to pathologies of the endocrine system, anorexia, poisoning, and HIV.
Flu. Temperatures can fluctuate greatly with the flu, as the immune system strives to create a disease that is as unfavorable as possible for infection. With this disease, auxiliary symptoms often occur in the form of a runny nose and sore throat. In the described situation, the manifestations of the disease cannot be ignored; it is necessary to immediately begin adequate therapy.
Cold. Despite the fact that a completely natural state for a cold is a temperature above 37 degrees, which is designed to destroy the source of the disease, hypothermia also occurs. This can happen in some cases, for example, if a cold occurs on the basis of an existing, untreated disease. In this case, the fragile body will send all remaining resources to fight the source of inflammation, which under certain circumstances can deplete the immune system. It is for this reason that symptoms such as chills, sweating and cough most often appear against a background of low temperature. Considering such a phenomenon as acute respiratory disease, it should be noted that with this disease local intoxication of the body occurs. Often, toxins penetrate the brain and affect the hypothalamus, which is responsible for thermoregulation. As a result, the body reacts to the virus in a similar way, temporarily reducing the temperature to a minimum. In this case, you need to very carefully monitor the dynamics of the disease, being under constant medical supervision.
Arterial hypotension. Reduced blood pressure by more than 20 percent of normal is quite common in combination with low body temperature. This happens due to the fact that blood flow slows down significantly, as a result of which cellular respiration and biochemical processes within the body begin to proceed more slowly. The whole point is that the body goes into an energy-saving mode, saving energy. Often a similar process is observed in people in hot weather, as a result of which the blood vessels expand, therefore, their area increases, which is one of the tools for reducing body temperature naturally.

Is it dangerous?

Reduced temperature is dangerous only when it crosses the 35 degree mark on the thermometer. In this case, the phenomenon is already regarded as pathological, and additional measures are required to normalize the readings. In most cases, in order to restore the temperature you need to start eating right and healthy image life, enough rest and sleep.

What to do at low temperatures

Low temperature is a polyetiological condition, so before taking any measures you need to consult a doctor and make sure that this is not a pathological phenomenon accompanying the disease. You can eliminate the decrease in temperature using the following methods:

take a few days off. The problem is caused by overwork and a busy schedule, and proper rest is important for recovery;
regular consumption of liver, red meat, fresh juices, spices (cinnamon, cloves and peppers). Fatty chicken broths, peanuts and chocolate help cope with low temperatures;
adherence to diet;
in case of hypothermia, emphasis should be placed on hot drinks in large volumes, taking a bath and resting under a warm blanket;
the doctor may prescribe immunostimulating drugs to combat the problem (Pantocrine, Normoxan, vitamin E);
reception recommended herbal decoctions from St. John's wort, mint, echinacea, lemon balm.

How to increase the temperature at home

For moderate and mild hypothermia, when the temperature does not cross the lower limit of 31 degrees, medications are not required. There are ways to urgently raise the temperature, but they do not eliminate the problem, but only temporarily relieve it:

lubricate the nostrils with domestic stationery glue;
eat a couple of tablespoons of instant coffee in dry form;
rub your armpits with garlic or salt;
eat the stylus a simple pencil and wash it down with water;
a few drops of iodine are dropped onto a spoon with sugar or a piece of bread and eaten;
activate blood circulation through exercise;
procedures are used to increase body heat:

Everyone has long known that normal body temperature is one of the indispensable signs that a person is truly healthy. The average statistical norm for human body temperature has long been considered 36.6 °C, and everyone knows this too. However, then continuous “misunderstandings” begin.

For example, why does a doctor, to whom you complain about a temperature of 36.9 °C, which stubbornly persists for a month, almost joyfully inform you that this is the norm, and does not prescribe any examinations? Or here’s another: why, when complaining about a constant temperature of 35.6 ° C (a whole degree less than the average statistical norm), does a certified “specialist” advise drinking?

It seems that this is why people go to the clinic only as a last resort, although this may not be the most correct decision. And for better or worse, most people have learned to deal with elevated temperature, especially when they understand that such an increase is caused colds. But what to do with a temperature that is clearly “not up to par”? And what should you think about in this case?

Problems of the norm

The usual value of 36.6 °C, as it turns out upon closer examination, is a very conditional norm, because after a thorough study of this issue it turns out that normal temperature body temperature can be considered to range from 35.5 to 37 °C, but this is also an average.

IN lately Indicators from 36.4 °C to 36.7 °C are considered normal, but normal indicators for each individual person may differ, 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.

There are opinions that normal temperature indicators should be considered those at which a person remains able to work without complaining of any discomfort, including weakness. If the results of all studies indicate normal values, then a decrease in body temperature to 35.5 ° C and even more so will be considered a variant of the norm.

Very few doctors listen to complaints of a decrease in temperature and begin to seriously look for the cause, unless the values become truly critical.

Attention! A drop in body temperature can lead to a state of hypothermia, when the temperature becomes insufficient for normal metabolism (metabolism) and, accordingly, for normal operation organs and systems of the body.

Critical indicators

The presence of serious health problems is absolutely clearly confirmed by a body temperature that constantly does not exceed 35.0 ° C (most likely, we are talking about some kind of chronic disease).

If the body temperature drops to 29.5 °C, then the person loses consciousness, a decrease in temperature to 27.0 °C leads to a coma, and if the temperature drops further (to 25.0 °C), this may indicate the onset of a condition that is incompatible with life.

There is no doubt that some indicators will seriously alarm anyone, but any disease develops in most cases gradually, and by promptly responding to a drop in temperature, one can prevent quite serious problems with health.

Therefore, you should not wait until the thermometer shows critical numbers, especially if the individual norm is known and differs from such indicators.

Possible causes of decreased body temperature

The reasons for a decrease in body temperature can be very different, and the consequences will be accordingly different. You can fight some causes of hypothermia on your own (in any case, you can take some independent steps), but in some cases, the help of a doctor is required.

The first reason for a decrease in body temperature is considered to be a decrease in temperature external environment, that is, a decrease in temperature indicators of air and water.

Attention! According to world medical statistics, the majority of hypothermia, including hypothermia with a fatal outcome, occurs between +10 °C and -12 °C.

It would seem that the temperatures are not so low, but people most often lose their vigilance in the face of apparent safety. And, of course, it is in this case that a lot depends on the person himself.

Sometimes a decrease in body temperature can be caused by a significant increase in air humidity, since high humidity, among other things, contributes to heat loss. As experience shows and research results confirm, a short-term increase in humidity extremely rarely leads to harmful consequences.
An unbalanced diet can cause a decrease in body temperature, especially if we're talking about about a long-term unbalanced diet in which the necessary balance of all nutrients, vitamins, micro- and macroelements, without which the full functioning of the body is impossible. It is absolutely clear that in the overwhelming majority of cases, nutrition can (and should!) be regulated, if necessary, seeking advice from a specialist.
Provokes a decrease in body temperature and, especially, prolonged fasting. That is why all fans of therapeutic fasting should remember that you can only fast for medical indications, only certain time and only under the supervision of a doctor.
Dehydration is another possible cause of low body temperature. Everyone knows the importance of water for human life, but not everyone makes sure that water enters the body in the quantities necessary for quality life (the average statistical norm for drinking water consumption is two liters per day, but this amount may differ slightly for each individual person).
A decrease in body temperature can be caused by severe fatigue, both physical fatigue and mental fatigue. Do not neglect the advice to rationally organize your work schedule, because overload great benefit there is no need to wait, neither for work nor for health.
It can cause a decrease in body temperature, both one-time and chronic; in addition, both alarming and depressive states can negatively affect the general condition of all organs and systems of the body, including body temperature.
One of the possible reasons for a decrease in body temperature is alcohol intoxication. Moreover, the danger increases many times over with chronic alcoholism. High doses Alcohol has a detrimental effect on the entire body and on the functioning of all organs and systems. Of course, the cardiovascular system, nervous system, endocrine system, which may lead to violations heart rate, and violations blood pressure(decrease or increase), and violation of temperature parameters. Chronic alcohol consumption has the most detrimental consequences. If alcohol addiction is too strong and cannot be overcome on its own, professional help from a narcologist is absolutely necessary.
A variety of diseases and conditions of the body can cause a decrease in body temperature, including constant low blood pressure (blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal) and heart rhythm disturbances. Therefore, in case of any temperature disturbances in the direction of decreasing temperature, it is necessary to check the functioning of the cardiovascular vascular system. In this case, you must contact your general practitioner or family doctor, who will prescribe the necessary examinations and refer you for consultation to a cardiologist.
Body temperature can be affected by a constant calcium deficiency in the body. Calcium deficiency can be caused by various reasons, including pathological conditions thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, surgical interventions, severe liver diseases. To diagnose such a deficiency, a special blood test is necessary, and further treatment should be carried out by an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist (depending on the established diagnosis).
Some medications can cause a decrease in body temperature, for example, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, sleeping pills. That is why taking any medications is possible only after a thorough examination and only as prescribed by the attending physician. At the slightest danger, any adverse reaction the prescription of such a drug is possible only if the expected benefit from taking it exceeds the potential danger to the body.

Attention! Self-prescription of any medications is unacceptable!

The reason for the decrease in body temperature may be a significant decrease muscle mass. Such a decrease is possible when a person is forced long time remain motionless, for example when paralyzed. When caring for such patients, it is necessary special events that can prevent or at least slow down the onset of negative consequences. Such special measures include rubbing, turning over, massages, and other measures that are determined by the attending physician.
A decrease in body temperature for no apparent reason may be a symptom of the appearance of neoplasms in the brain (brain tumors) that have appeared in the hypothalamus region. But it is the hypothalamus that regulates heat exchange in the body, blocks the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates and blocks chills, thereby changing the body’s response to a decrease in body temperature.
One of the most serious reasons for a decrease in body temperature is damage spinal cord or damage to the nerve trunks responsible for the work skeletal muscles. Such severe injuries cause many disruptions in the functioning of all organs and systems of the body. Treatment in such cases is very complicated, and prognosis is practically meaningless. This is one of those cases when everything is in God's hands.
Another reason for low body temperature is brain injury. It should be noted that the injury does not have to be critical for life - it may not be very extensive (almost a bruise), but if the thermoregulation centers are affected, then it will be very difficult to influence it. Since the functioning of the brain remains a mystery in the vast majority of cases, it is very difficult to make a prognosis for most of these injuries.
A decrease in body temperature may be caused by a change in hormonal levels, and changes in hormonal levels can be caused by various reasons, including menstruation, pregnancy, decreased thyroid function, and adrenal insufficiency. It is clear that hormonal changes during menstruation or during pregnancy are more or less temporary, therefore the temperature changes caused by them are also temporary. However, any of the mentioned hormonal problems requires the most careful diagnosis and treatment under the supervision of a qualified specialist.
Body temperature may drop in children and adolescents during periods of particularly intensive growth.

Attention! When the body's thermoregulation system is disrupted, not only the body temperature decreases, but also the temperature of all internal organs, including temperature of the brain and spinal cord.

What to do if your body temperature is low?

There is not the slightest doubt that if the body temperature is low for a long time, then it is simply necessary to consult a doctor. And even if the doctor insists that 35.8 °C is still not critical, but the person is frankly unwell, then he should insist on prescribing all the necessary laboratory tests clinical tests and examinations.

However, until it comes to the test results, you can take some steps to normalize your body temperature on your own.

Firstly , it’s no secret that hypothermia can be caused by stress or overwork. That is why first you should give your body a good rest. This does not mean at all that you need to hide from everything that happens in life - it is enough to regulate your sleep schedule and establish proper nutrition.
Regarding correct mode sleep, then you should understand that you need to sleep for at least eight hours, and you need to go to bed no later than eleven in the evening (preferably no later than ten). And about proper nutrition necessary knowledge They probably have absolutely everything, but for some reason they are in no hurry to put their knowledge into practice.
We are talking about the necessity of breakfast, about the dangers of snacking on the go, about the dangers of eating fast food, about the need to take into account all the necessary nutritional components in the menu, about the dangers of fasting or overeating, about moderation - that is, we are talking about healthy eating.
If the body is provided healthy sleep And healthy eating, then all reactions can normalize on their own.
Secondly , Very useful procedure may become morning. Its undeniable advantages are that metabolism is activated and thermoregulatory processes are activated.
Thirdly , massage can be very useful, including the most common classic one. If there are no contraindications, then a course of massage will certainly help invigorate you and help establish thermoregulation processes.
Fourth , in the absence of contraindications, you can take small amounts of sedatives natural remedies(20 drops of valerian tincture or 20 drops of motherwort).
Fifthly , you can contact your doctor with a request to consider taking vitamin E - such a course can strengthen blood vessels and improve cellular nutrition.
Sixth , you need to reconsider your sedentary image life and perform at least the minimum and simplest exercises during the day.
Seventh , do not neglect hot coffee or tea. Chocolate (black) is very healthy.

Attention! In case of hypothermia, it is necessary to abandon any dietary restrictions, but overeating or abuse of fatty or fatty foods should also be excluded. sweet food and provide a healthy diet.

Conclusions

When considering the issue of low body temperature, of course, one can recall Sleeping Beauty, and the fact that the lower the body temperature, the slower any organism ages...

But the truth is completely different - only a healthy body ages more slowly!

Therefore, you should not console yourself with the fact that a temperature lowered by a degree is not as dangerous as an elevated temperature, but even a way to preserve youth. After all, we may be talking about banal fatigue (and then all that’s left to do is get some sleep and rest), but the problem may lie in very serious diseases, including cancerous brain tumors.

So jokes are inappropriate here, as, indeed, always when it comes to health, which cannot be bought for any money. But everyone knows very well that very often health depends on ourselves: all we need is a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy sleep, healthy eating, regular physical activity, positive emotions and lack stressful situations, refusal bad habits(actually, it would be better not to start) can provide healthy life for many years.

Many people are accustomed to paying attention only to an increase in temperature, but most often they simply do not pay much attention to its decrease. And this phenomenon, in turn, can signal the development pathological conditions and some diseases, including serious ones.

First, it must be said that the norm is considered to be a fluctuation in body temperature from 35.8°C to 37°C. Other indicators will be a deviation. For example, a body temperature that has dropped to 29.5°C can lead to loss of consciousness, and up to 27°C - the onset of coma, when a malfunction of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems organs.

To identify the cause of low body temperature, it is necessary to understand how thermoregulation processes occur in the body, which maintain a person’s body temperature at the desired level (about 36°C). It is also important to know what types of thermoregulation exist.
Types of thermoregulation and causes of their violations

1. Behavioral
When behavioral thermoregulation is disrupted, a person ceases to adequately perceive temperature environment. The reason for such a violation may be:

effects of alcohol on the body;
mental disorder;
effects of narcotic substances on the body.

For example, under the influence of drugs or alcoholic drinks a person may not feel cold. As a result, he will become hypothermic and simply freeze, which often leads to a significant drop in body temperature (up to 25°C). This condition is dangerous not only for health, but also for life.

2. Physical
As a result of functional failures of physical thermoregulation, the human body loses heat due to excessive expansion blood vessels which have been in this state for a long time. This condition often affects hypotensive people - people with low blood pressure.
Also, the cause of disturbances in physical thermoregulation can be endocrinological diseases, which are accompanied by such symptoms as increased sweating. Minor violations This type of thermoregulation is observed in people during emotional stress. But this condition is easily cured.

3. Chemical
The reasons for violation of chemical thermoregulation include:

intoxication of the body;
pregnancy period;
weakening of the immune system;
chronic asthenia of the body;
endocrine diseases;
decrease in hemoglobin level in the blood;
overvoltage.

Temperature 36°C: what does it mean?

This temperature indicator can also be present in completely healthy people. The reason for this condition may be:

recent illness;
morning time, when all processes in the body proceed more slowly than usual;
pregnancy;
uncontrolled use of medications;
insufficient supply of vitamin C to the body;
overwork, fatigue.

Also, a body temperature of 36°C may indicate the development of certain diseases and be observed in such conditions as:

disorders of the adrenal glands:
decreased thyroid function;
prolonged fasting, as a result of which the body is depleted (often observed with improper dieting);
brain pathologies;
significant blood loss;
chronic bronchitis.

Primary signs of a decrease in temperature

Symptoms that may indicate a decrease in temperature include:

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

If a decrease in body temperature is observed in a small child, it should definitely be shown to a doctor. If an adult maintains a temperature of about 36°C for a long time, but during the examination no pathologies were identified, the person is alert and feels great, his condition can be regarded as normal.

Reduced human body temperature: causes depending on diseases and other pathological conditions

1. Exacerbation of chronic diseases

Often body temperature decreases if chronic diseases are in active stage. This is directly related to a decrease in the body’s defenses (immunity), which are directly involved in the thermoregulation of the body. After some time, symptoms of the underlying disease begin to appear. chronic disease and the temperature may, on the contrary, rise. This happens due to development inflammatory processes in the body. That is, a drop in temperature is the primary signal of exacerbation of a chronic disease.

2. Brain pathologies

A decrease in temperature may be one of the symptoms of tumor growths in the brain. The fact is that these tumors put pressure on the brain, disrupting blood circulation in it, which leads to a disorder in the body’s thermoregulation.

In addition to a decrease in temperature, brain tumors can manifest themselves by the presence of other symptoms, namely a violation of:

speech abilities;
sensitivity;
levels of certain hormones;
work of the autonomic system;
intracranial pressure (increasing). This is accompanied by attacks of nausea, vomiting, dizziness;
memory;
cerebral circulation, accompanied by severe headaches that are difficult to eliminate by taking analgesics;
coordination of movements;
hearing;
psyche (auditory and visual hallucinations, etc.).

3. Thyroid diseases

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. These hormones support the normal functioning of the entire body, including the functioning of the nervous system.

The most common manifestations of hypothyroidism are:

brittle nails;
weight gain;
fatigue;
chilliness;
memory problems;
dry skin;
frequent constipation.

4. Past infections

A frequent companion to conditions that occur after viral and bacterial infections is low temperature. As a result of the disease, the body's resources are depleted. First of all, this applies to the nervous and immune systems. And the thermoregulation center, located in the hypothalamus, is known to belong specifically to the nervous system.

5. Pathologies of the adrenal glands

Often a symptom in the form of a decrease in temperature occurs in the presence of adrenal diseases. First of all, this concerns adrenal insufficiency, in other words, Addison's disease. It develops asymptomatically for quite a long time and makes itself felt when it enters the chronic stage.
This condition is characterized by the following manifestations:

weak potency;
depressive states;
frequent urination;
irritability and short temper;
muscle aches;
loss of appetite;
weight loss;
tingling and numbness in the limbs;
increased thirst.

6. Vegetative-vascular dystonia

People suffering from this pathology experience disturbances in thermoregulation due to fluctuations in blood pressure, which leads to heat loss. With vegetative-vascular dystonia, both a persistent slight increase in temperature and a decrease in temperature can be observed.

To the most common symptoms of this disease can be considered:

disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system;
pain in the heart area;
tachycardia;
sleep disorders;
chilliness of the limbs;
dizziness;
fainting.

An immunodeficiency state, in addition to low temperature, is accompanied by:

chills;
an increase in the size of lymph nodes;
frequent colds;
loose stools;
disorders of the nervous system;
disruptions in the digestive system;
development of tumor neoplasms;
increased sweating (especially at night);
weight loss;
weakness throughout the body.

8. Intoxication

As you know, during intoxication the temperature usually rises. But in some cases it can decrease significantly. This is due to inhibition of the nervous system, which takes part in the processes of thermoregulation of the body.

Severe intoxication, in addition to low temperature, can manifest itself in the form of the following symptoms:

loss of consciousness;
neurological disorders. For example, when a person falls into a “deep” sleep, which is replaced by periods of extreme excitement;
liver and kidney damage;
vomiting, nausea, diarrhea;
weakness;
hemorrhages varying degrees severity (from single small spots to extensive bruises);
lowering blood pressure;
rapid heartbeat;
impaired blood flow in the extremities;
marbling of the skin.

9. Neurocirculatory dystonia

A disease such as neurocirculatory dystonia is characterized by disorders of the vascular system, which entails the development of hypotension - low blood pressure. In this condition, expansion of the vascular beds is observed, which is followed by heat loss and a decrease in body temperature.
In addition to hypotension, this disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:

shortness of breath;
tachycardia;
tremor in the limbs;
panic attacks;
hyperhidrosis;
dizziness.

10. Exhaustion of the body (cachexia)

With this condition, a significant weight loss is observed (sometimes up to 50% of the total body weight). The layer of subcutaneous fat virtually disappears, causing the skin to become wrinkled and take on a gray, “earthy” tint. There are also symptoms of vitamin deficiency.
In addition, when the body is exhausted, nails become brittle and hair becomes thinner and dull. Frequent constipation often occurs with cachexia. In women, the volume of circulating blood decreases, which causes the absence of menstruation.

Also, with exhaustion, there may be mental disorders. At the very beginning, asthenia occurs - tearfulness, resentment, irritability, weakness and depression. If the pathology is successfully cured, asthenia will still be present for some time, and will also be accompanied by a decreased body temperature.

11. Anemia

These conditions usually result from incorrect balanced diet nutrition. For example, insufficient consumption of foods containing iron.

Symptoms that appear in iron deficiency:

difficulty swallowing. It seems to a person that there is a foreign body in his larynx;
addiction to pickles, smoked meats, spices and spicy dishes;
atrophy of the papillae located on the surface of the tongue;
deterioration of hair, nails and skin;
tachycardia;
dry mouth;
decreased performance, rapid fatigue.

12. Radiation sickness
At chronic course radiation sickness When the body is exposed to ionizing radiation for a long time, a decreased body temperature is also often noted. Regarding acute course of this disease, this condition, on the contrary, is characterized by an increase in temperature.

Symptoms accompanying low temperature during radiation sickness:

dry skin;
development of dermatological diseases;
the presence of compactions in the area of the irradiated areas;
cataract;
the appearance of malignant neoplasms;
depressed genital area;
decrease in the body's defenses.

13. Significant blood loss
As a result of injuries, large arteries can become damaged, which leads to a decrease in the volume of circulating blood. This entails a violation of thermoregulation and, accordingly, a decrease in body temperature.

The most dangerous are considered internal bleeding. For example, in the ventricles of the brain, in the pleural and abdominal cavities. Such bleeding is quite difficult to diagnose and, as a rule, surgical intervention is required to stop it.

14. Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar also leads to a decrease in body temperature. This condition can occur with physical exhaustion of the body and with an unbalanced diet, where there is large number flour products and sweets. Often this condition becomes a harbinger of developing diabetes mellitus.
Other symptomatic manifestations of a hypoglycemic state:

headache;
dilated pupils;
attacks of nausea and vomiting;
hyperhidrosis;
inappropriate behavior;
tachycardia;
slow blood circulation;
muscle tremors;
motor dysfunction;
confusion (the consequence may be fainting and/or coma);
tachycardia;
loss of sensitivity.

15. Overwork

Chronic fatigue, which may be associated, for example, with constant emotional stress or lack of sleep, can cause a decrease in body temperature. If, after prolonged overload, the body does not receive compensatory recovery, a failure may occur in any of the organ systems. This also entails the development of exhaustion.

16. Shock conditions

All shock states are usually accompanied by a decrease in body temperature. In medicine, there is a classification of such conditions depending on the nature, severity and location of the damage. The following shock states are distinguished:

neurogenic (central nervous system disorder);
cardiogenic (impaired cardiovascular activity);
infectious-toxic (acute intoxication);
combined (a combination of different types of shock conditions);
septic (mass blood poisoning);
traumatic (pain syndrome);
anaphylactic (allergic reactions).

With almost any type of shock, the victim experiences the following symptoms:

disruption of the respiratory system;
tachycardia;
moist skin that becomes pale or bluish;
low blood pressure;
confusion (lethargy or, conversely, agitation);
reduction in the volume of urine excreted.

Pregnancy and low body temperature

Sometimes when pregnancy occurs, women experience a decrease in body temperature. You can find out whether pregnancy is the cause of the drop in temperature by objectively assessing the woman’s condition. In this case, she will have the following symptoms:

attacks of nausea;
loss of appetite;
vomit;
chilliness of the lower extremities;
fainting;
long-term headaches.

What to do at low temperatures?

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.

If your temperature measured three times a day remains low for several days, consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe the necessary examinations and, after determining the reasons that caused the drop in temperature, prescribe competent treatment. The doctor may order the following tests:

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland and internal organs;
fluorography;
general clinical and biochemical tests blood;
chest x-ray.

If tests show that you have serious illnesses, you will definitely be referred to the appropriate specialists.
If reduced immunity is detected, you will be given an appointment vitamin complexes, immunomodulators, and also adjust the diet.
At a low temperature, which is the result of hypothermia, it is necessary to give the victim hot, sweet tea and cover with a warm blanket. You can also warm up by taking a warm bath.

For representatives of the fair sex, the temperature may decrease or increase depending on menstrual cycle.
To prevent the development of conditions accompanied by a decrease in body temperature, follow preventive measures. Visit more often fresh air, avoid stress, eat right, exercise and strengthen your body.

A drop in body temperature below average is quite common. It can occur for a variety of reasons, in people of all ages, and have varying consequences.

Is low temperature dangerous?

It is generally accepted that normal values on a thermometer are 36.6°C. In fact, readings can fluctuate throughout the day, depending on meals, menstrual cycle and even mood. Therefore, temperatures from 35.5 to 37.0 are considered absolute norm for each specific 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 complex process, captivating brain, nerve pathways, hormonal system and even adipose tissue. The main goal of the mechanism is to maintain a constant temperature of the “core,” that is, the internal environment of a 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 old low-grade fever considered the norm.
Thermometry in 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— to correctly measure the temperature in the armpit, the mercury thermometer must be held for at least 5 minutes.

Electronic 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: no need to measure temperature 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 if very mild, forces the body to mobilize everything protective forces. 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 prescribing iron-containing drugs (Ferretab, Sorbifer and others, see) the above symptoms usually disappear within 2-3 months, 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 an insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland, a deficiency of its hormones. A similar failure occurs during autoimmune inflammation of the gland, surgery 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 TSH level (thyroid-stimulating hormone). 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 to normal health 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 violations of 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 general action in 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 amount 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 have psoriasis, severe eczema, burn disease. A large amount of blood constantly flows to the affected areas of the skin, 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, with septic complications, a rise in temperature is more often observed, and to very high numbers. But in some cases (in weakened and elderly people), damage to the nervous system occurs, 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. Considering that after adoption large doses ethanol, many people sleep on the street; 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, then it is better to consult a doctor.

Most likely after additional tests Anemia or decreased 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
The presence of 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 go slower. Therefore, many experts believe that people with this feature live somewhat longer.