Having the right body temperature is an essential feature of good health. A low body temperature indicates that you may be unwell and have some health problem.
Low body temperature can cause you a number of problems such as fatigue, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, cold intolerance, insomnia, constipation, and more.
98.6 °F or 37 °C is considered to be normal body temperature. It could however vary between 97.5 °F to 98.8 °F (36.4 °C to 37.1 °C) for most individuals. Depending on what task you are doing, your temperature could fluctuate by as much as 1 °F or 0.6 °C. Some people may naturally have a lower body temperature and it is no cause for concern. However, if you find that your body temperature is dropping then there is cause for worry.
So why is it important to have the right body temperature? The chemical reactions that take place in our body are catalyzed by enzymes. It is important that we have the right body temperature as it is linked to proper enzyme function. If these enzymes do not function properly, the chemical reactions take place at a very languid pace. For these enzymes to function properly it is important that they are of the right shape. This shape in turn depends on the temperature.
One of the reasons for the body temperature to drop is because of cold surroundings. There are other medical conditions that may cause your body temperature to drop. Some common causes include diabetes, drug or alcohol abuse, and side effects of certain medications
You may find that your body temperature is low in situations of stress such as death of a loved one, surgery, divorce, childbirth, and job stress. As a result of all this stress, the body slows down and the body temperature in turn drops. When your body temperature goes down due to stress factors, you may feel frustrated and want to give up hope. You may also feel like you are at the end of your tether and get overwhelmed by small situations. There can be further stress situations where you may not be able to function normally.
However, this situation is only temporary. Once you have managed to cope with the situation, the body temperature generally gets back to normal when the stressful situation is resolved. Some people may also experience a drop in body temperature due to panic attacks. These can stem from psychological and physiological factors. You should seek medical assistance if you experience such attacks frequently.
Submitted by M T on March 25, 2010 at 12:40