The human body temperature is regulated throughout the day. The body temperature at any given time of the day would largely depend on the state of the individual’s health and the amount of physical activity being performed at that time. High body temperatures at the time of exercise may linger for a few minutes as the body gradually cools down. When one measures body temperature from a clinical point of view, it is supposed to be the temperature at rest. This means that the individual should be resting for at least ten minutes before the temperature is measured.
When one measures the body temperature throughout the day, one will notice that the temperature is lowest around 2 or 3 am. This is, of course, assuming that the individual has slept at a normal time. Low body temperature at night is therefore a normal phenomenon. During the middle part of the day, body temperature may rise as a result of the physical and mental strain that takes place during a normal day. However, all things considered, the body temperature of an individual usually fluctuates by up to 1 degree around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Any variation above this or below this is considered to be abnormal unless the circumstances around the individual warrant this change.
Medically speaking, low body temperature during sleep refers to temperature that falls below 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This can cause an individual to experience shivering, coldness and even cold sweats. Low body temperature at night must therefore be properly investigated. Metabolism issues could be a problem but these should cause low body temperature day and night, and not specifically at night only. Low body temperature at night may be linked to blood sugar problems. Individuals suffering from diabetes may experience high blood sugar and low absorption of sugar. This limits the available fuel for energy production which, therefore, slows down the rate of metabolism. This is a possible cause for low body temperature at night, especially amongst individuals who consume their last meal of the day in the evening. One should visit a doctor for a checkup to see if there is some problem with sugar control.
Metabolism issues are often linked with low thyroid function. In such a situation, the individual will experience low body temperature day and night. Low body temperature at night is usually associated with some different condition. Low body temperature during sleep can be diagnosed by a partner or family member measuring the individual’s temperature at night.
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