What Is A Low Body Temperature?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Overview.

Hypothermia

is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low . Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).

Is it normal to have a temperature of 96?

Call a healthcare professional if your temperature is 96°F (

35.55°C

) and you feel sick. You can describe your symptoms over the phone. They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit. You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature is dropping because of hypothermia or sepsis.

What temperature is too low for a person?

Body temperature

below 95°F (35°C)

is considered abnormally low, and the condition is known as hypothermia. This happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. Hypothermia is a medical emergency, which if left untreated can lead to brain damage and cardiac failure.

Is low body temperature concerning?


Hypothermia

is a dangerously low body temperature, below 95° F (35° C). For context, normal body temperature is 98.6° F (37° C). Aside from creating serious discomfort, low body temperature—specifically, hypothermia—is considered a medical emergency.

What does a low body temperature indicate?

Why is my body temperature low? Studies show that

core body temperature decreases with age

. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can also slow down metabolism, which can lead to a drop in body temperature. If your core body temperature dips down to 95 F (35 C) or lower, that's considered hypothermia.

Can you have a low temp with Covid?


Yes

, you can be infected with the coronavirus and have a cough or other symptoms with no fever, or a very low-grade one, especially in the first few days. Keep in mind that it is also possible to have COVID-19 with minimal or even no symptoms at all.

What does it mean if your temperature is 34?


Hypothermia

is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).

Is a temperature of 96.4 normal?

The Average Human Body Temperature

When in good health, the human body's normal temperature is typically

between 97 to 99 degrees

. If your body temperature is above 100, you may have a fever caused by a virus or bacterial infection. If your body temperature is below 97 to 99 degrees, there are a few explanations.

Is 96.4 a low grade fever?

Some experts define a low-grade fever as a temperature that falls between

99.5°F

(37.5°C) and 100.3°F (38.3°C). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person with temperature at or above 100.4°F (38°C) is considered to have a fever.

Is 96.5 a normal temperature for adults?

A

normal

adult body temperature, when taken orally, can range from 97.6–99.6°F, though different sources may give slightly different figures. In adults, the following temperatures suggest that someone has a fever: at least 100.4°F (38°C) is a fever. above 103.1°F (39.5°C) is a high fever.

What should I do if my body temperature is low?

If you have symptoms of

hypothermia

and a low body temperature (under 95° F), you should contact your doctor right away, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Hypothermia is a medical emergency.

What infection causes a low body temperature?

When you have an infection, your body's temperature usually rises as it tries to fight off the bug causing the infection. Interestingly, some people see their body temperature go down (hypothermia) instead of up. This is why any change, high or low, can be a sign of

sepsis

.

When should you go to the hospital for low body temperature?

For cases where there is moderate to severe hypothermia (where the core temp can get down as low as 85o F), seek medical attention quickly. When the

core of the body is cold to the touch

, the pulse has slowed severely, weak breathing, or a loss of consciousness has occurred – call 911 and get to a hospital.

Can dehydration cause low body temperature?

Hypothermia is “a decrease in the core body temperature to a level at which normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired.” There are several things that can lead up to hypothermia such as cold temperatures, improper clothing, getting wet, exhaustion, dehydration, lack of food, and drinking alcohol.

Can heart problems cause low body temperature?

This happens because the body is circulating most of the available blood to the brain and other vital organs to compensate for the failing heart's inability to pump enough blood to the entire body. As a result, the extremities get

less blood

, and without blood to warm them, these parts of your body feel cold.

What happens if the body temperature is fall into 90 86 F?

The victim may not even know it is happening or be aware that they need help, and they often won't do anything about it. A body temperature below 90 degrees is life threatening, and when it drops to 86 degrees or lower,

a person may slip into a coma and appear dead

, with no signs of breathing or a pulse.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.