Factors affecting body temperature

Factors affecting body temperature

1) Age, 2) Exercise, 3) Hormone level, circadian rhythm 5) Stress, 6) Environment, 7) Temperature attraction, ever, 9) Hyperpyrexia, 10) Heat stroke, Hypothermia

1.        Age: Temperature regulation is unstable until children reach puberty. Older adults are sensitive to temperature extremes because of deterioration in control mechanisms, reduced sweat gland activity, reduced amounts of subcutaneous fat and reduced metabolism

2.        Exercise: Muscle activity causes increased metabolism by increasing carbohydrate and fat breakdown. Any form of exercise can increase heat production and the body temperature because of increased metabolism.

3.        Hormone level: Women generally experience greater fluctuations in body temperature than men. Hormonal variations during menstrual cycles cause body temperature fluctuation.

Temperature changes occur in women during menopause (cessation of menstruation).

4.        Circadianrhythm:Bodytemperature normally changes from 0.5º to 1ºC during 24 hours period. The temperature is usually lowest between 1.00 AM and 4.00 AM

5.        Stress: Physical and emotional stress increases body temperature through hormonal and neural stimulation. Those physiological changes increase metabolism, which increases heat production.

6.        Environment:Environmentinfluences body temperature because of extensive radiant and conductive heat loss.

7.        Temperature attraction: Changes in body temperature can be related to excess heat loss, minimal heat production, minimal heat loss or any combination of these.

8.        Fever: Hyperpyrexia or fever occurs because heat loss mechanisms are unable to keep pace with excess heat. Production, resulting in an abnormal rise in body temperature.

9.        Hyperpyrexia:  An  elevated  body temperature related to the body’s inability to promote heat loss or reduce heat production is hyperthermia. Any disease or trauma to the hypothalamus can impair heat loss mechanisms.

10.   Heat stroke: Prolonged exposure to the sum or high environmental temperature can overwhelm the body’s heat loss mechanisms. Heat also depresses hypothalamic function. These conditions cause heat stroke, a dangerous emergency condition with a high mortality rate. Patients at risk for heat stroke are the very young, very old, cardio vascular condition, diabetes and alcoholics.

11.   Hypothermia: Heat loss during prolonged exposure to cold overwhelms the body ability to produce heat causing hypothermia. Hypothermia is classified as follows: