The human body reacts to external and internal changes. The body temperature rises when the external temperature increases, but also when the internal temperature increases. Experts consider normal body temperature to be around 37ºC, but it can vary by up to 0.5ºC depending on the time of day. The average body temperature also differs slightly from person to person. After intense physical activity or in hot weather, it is common to have a higher than normal body temperature. However, a body temperature above 38ºC may indicate a fever. Hot outside temperatures, strenuous physical activity, illnesses that cause fever, and certain medications can all cause high body temperature.
In this article, we cover eight tips for reducing body heat and explain the most common causes of high body temperature.
How to Reduce Body Heat
Drinking cool fluids can help reduce body heat. It is possible to reduce body heat in two different ways: externally or internally. Jumping into a cool pool is an example of external cooling, while drinking cold water helps reduce body temperature internally.
The human body is always regulating its temperature, and it can lower it in four different ways Trusted Source:
vaporization, which he does while sweating
radiation, which consists of releasing heat into the surrounding air
convection, which occurs when cooler air surrounds the body
conduction, which involves transferring body heat into adjacent cold water or ice.
Tips for reducing body temperature
A region of the brain called the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating body temperature. It compares the body’s current temperature to its normal temperature and then regulates it.
When the body is too hot, the regulation is done by perspiration to cool it. When it’s too cold, the hypothalamus triggers shivers to warm it up. cool compared to the outside temperature. Sweating lowers body temperature.
Eight tips for reducing body heat:
1. Drink cool fluids
Drinking cool fluids, such as water or iced tea, can help lower body temperature by cooling the body from the inside out. Drinking fluids regularly can also prevent dehydration, which can increase body heat.
2. Go to a place where the air is cooler
People can reduce their body temperature by going to a place where the outside temperature is cooler. The body will lose heat by convection.
3. Get in cool water
Swimming in cool water, taking a lukewarm bath, or applying cold water to the body can lower body temperature. In these cases, the body temperature will decrease by conduction.
4. Apply cold to key points on the body
Applying cold water or ice to strategic points on the body where the veins are close to the surface such as the wrists, neck, chest and temples can quickly lower the temperature of the blood flowing through these veins. This allows the body to feel cooler.
5. Move less
The body releases heat when it moves. When it’s hot, a person is likely to feel less hot if they avoid heavy exercise and limit their movement.
6. Wear lighter, more breathable clothes
Heat passes more easily through some fabrics than others. Natural fabrics, like cotton and linen, allow heat to escape from the body more easily than synthetic fabrics, like acrylic and nylon.
7. Take heat-regulating supplements
Depending on the cause of the elevated body temperature, taking a supplement can help regulate body heat. A 2018 study that compared herbal extracts found that evening primrose oil and black cohosh were both effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes in people going through perimenopause or menopause. .
Black cohosh also reduced the frequency of hot flashes.
8. Talk to a doctor about thyroid health
Sometimes high body heat can be due to an overactive thyroid. In this case, a person may also notice other symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, jaundice, and confusion. Anyone who thinks they have a thyroid problem should talk to a doctor.
Potential Causes of Feeling Hot
The cause of high body temperature can be external or internal. Below we list some of the main reasons why a person may feel hotter than usual:
Hot environment
Spending time outdoors in very hot weather can raise a person’s body temperature, as can staying in a warm indoor environment for long periods of time. In either case, wearing too many layers can also cause your body temperature to rise.
Overexposure to sun or heat
A person can get heatstroke if they spend too much time in the sun. Spending too much time in the sun can increase body heat or even lead to heatstroke, which some people call sunstroke. Children and the elderly are particularly at risk of heatstroke. Dehydration due to prolonged exposure to the sun can further increase body heat. It is therefore important to drink plenty of fluids and rest after prolonged exposure to the sun or heat.
Exercising or moving more than usual
When a person moves, they create energy. Heat is the body’s way of releasing energy. To reduce body heat, a person may try to temporarily move less or only when necessary.
Causes of increased heat production
Certain medications, hormones, and recreational drugs cause the body to produce excessive heat because they increase the metabolic rate. These include:
amphetamines
cocaine
methamphetamines
excess thyroid hormones
Body temperature also rises in response to germs such as viruses and bacteria. An increase in body temperature helps the body fight off invading diseases, which is why fever is often a sign of illness.
Thyroidism
A thyroid crisis is an excess of thyroid hormones in the body. This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. A thyroid crisis can occur after illness, surgery, infection or pregnancy.
In addition to a very high body temperature, symptoms of a thyroid attack include Trusted Source:
a rapid heartbeat
sweat
nausea or vomiting
hustle
jaundice
abdominal pain
Malignant hyperthermia
Malignant hyperthermia is a genetic disease that causes a person to have a severe reaction to certain medications and drugs. Symptoms include a fast or irregular heartbeat, very high body temperature, and severe muscle spasms. People with this disease need immediate medical attention.
Prevention
Laugh lines may be unavoidable due to aging and the natural loss of elasticity in the skin. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be delayed and made less dramatic.
Sources
Beard, R., & Day, MW (2008). Fever and hyperthermia: Learn to beat the heat.
DeGroot, LJ, et al. (2018). Thyroid storm.
Heat stress – Recommendations. (2018).
Hifumi, T., et al. (2018). Heat stroke.
Osilla, EV, & Sharma, S. (2019). Physiology, temperature regulation.
