Body temperature provides information about the physical state of the body. Constantly fluctuating temperature readings may indicate the development of serious pathologies. Most often, a temperature of 36 to 37°C in an adult is considered normal; it drops to a minimum value at dawn, and rises to a maximum value in the evening.
Daily fluctuations in the heat of the human body depend on the activity of the functioning of organs and systems: the body cools slightly when it is at rest, but warms up a little when it performs intense physical activities.
What factors influence changes in body temperature?
Most often, slight temperature changes are recorded in the evening when going to bed and in the morning when waking up. But sometimes temperature fluctuations are noticed during the day, and this phenomenon is caused by the following reasons:
- too intense physical activity;
- prolonged exposure to heat or direct sunlight;
- digesting food after a hearty and satisfying lunch;
- emotional excitement or nervous shock.
In the above conditions, even in an absolutely healthy and resilient person, the body temperature rises to 37°C, that is, to the low-grade stage. And in this case, there is no need to worry: to cool down a little, just lie quietly in a shaded place, step away from stress and worries, and relax.
It is necessary to sound the alarm only when hyperthermia occurs - a violation of the thermoregulation mechanism, accompanied by chest discomfort, headaches, and dyspepsia. In this situation, you should definitely go to the doctor, since the provocateurs of the disease are often disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine glands, allergic reactions, and muscular dystonia.
Dangerous consequences
But five days have passed, and the child’s temperature still fluctuates due to ARVI. In such a situation, we may be talking about the presence of a bacterial infection, or the beginning of the development of other viral diseases.
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In what cases can temperature surges occur:
- An influenza infection has also occurred: with influenza, fever can last for a week.
- Adenoiditis began. The thermometer stays at 39 degrees and in this case lasts from 5 to 8 days.
- Parainfluenza develops (damage to the mucous membrane of the nose and larynx) - it “holds” the fever for a week to two.
- The disease went down and a respiratory-sentential disease began (shortness of breath, barking cough in the form of attacks). Here the heat can also last up to 14 days.
- Pneumonia—inflammation of the lungs—set in.
Any of the above pathologies requires consultation with a doctor - parents will not be able to diagnose the disease, much less cure them at home.
Temperature changes may indicate complications
Causes of temperature fluctuations in women
Most often, sudden changes in temperature are recorded in pregnant women. This phenomenon is caused by the transformation of hormonal levels, a significant increase in the concentration of the hormone progesterone in the blood. Typically, during pregnancy, body temperature rises and falls from 36.0 to 37.3°C.
Moreover, temperature fluctuations do not in any way affect the well-being of expectant mothers. They are observed mainly during the first two or three months of gestation, when the mother’s body gets used to its interesting position. But for some women, the temperature fluctuates until the very birth.
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Sharp temperature fluctuations pose a danger to the health of young mothers only if they are accompanied by a profuse rash on the skin, painful sensations in the abdomen, disruption of the urination process and other symptoms. Not only the pregnant woman herself, but also the baby in the womb can be seriously harmed. Therefore, if you experience the slightest discomfort due to temperature fluctuations during pregnancy, you should immediately go to the doctor.
Sharp jumps in body temperature are often noticed at the beginning of ovulation. At this time, temperatures jump from 36.0 to 37.3°C. In addition to temperature fluctuations, signs of ovulation include the following symptoms that appear in a woman:
- weakness, powerlessness;
- nervousness, irritability;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- improved appetite;
- swelling.
By the time menstruation arrives, the above symptoms disappear and body temperature stops jumping. Deterioration in the condition of a woman’s body during ovulation is not considered a pathology; in this case, there is no need to consult a doctor.
For the vast majority of older women, the temperature fluctuates during the initial stages of menopause. This phenomenon occurs due to a sharp decrease in the concentration of sex hormones in the blood. Almost all representatives of the fairer sex, when entering menopause, in addition to temperature fluctuations, experience the following symptoms:
- hot flashes;
- excessive sweating;
- increased blood pressure;
- minor disturbance of heart function.
Fluctuations in body temperature during menopause are not harmful to health. But if a woman feels very bad, then it is better for her to consult her doctor. The healthcare professional may need to prescribe hormone therapy for the patient.
Thermoneurosis - the cause of temperature fluctuations
Often the provocateur of jumps in body temperature is thermoneurosis. In this situation, the body can heat up to 38°C. Typically, pathology occurs after experiencing stress and emotional shocks. Determining thermoneurosis in a patient is quite problematic. Most often, to diagnose a disease, doctors perform a so-called aspirin test - they give a sick person an antipyretic medicine and watch how the frequency and intensity of temperature fluctuations changes.
If after taking aspirin the temperature drops to normal and does not rise within 40 minutes, then we can say with one hundred percent certainty about thermoneurosis. In this case, the sick person requires restorative therapy.
We recommend what to do if the temperature is 37 degrees, but there are no other symptoms.
The most common causes of temperature changes
In adults, body temperature sometimes jumps due to serious illnesses. Sudden temperature changes are provoked by the following pathologies:
- tumors;
- heart attack;
- spread of infection;
- purulent formations;
- inflammatory reactions;
- injuries to bones or joints;
- allergies;
- disorders of the endocrine glands;
- autoimmune diseases;
- dysfunction of the hypothalamus.
Also, body temperature jumps from 36 to 38°C with tuberculosis. Medical specialists cannot yet explain what causes this phenomenon, but they believe that the body reacts to pathogenic bacteria as if they were dangerous foreign elements.
In a person suffering from tuberculosis, the body temperature during the day either rises or falls by several degrees. Sometimes temperature fluctuations are so pronounced that you can build a rather sweeping graph based on them. Similar temperature jumps are observed during the formation of purulent abscesses.
An increase in temperature in the evening is sometimes observed in the presence of chronic diseases:
- sinusitis,
- pharyngitis,
- pyelonephritis,
- salpingo-oophoritis.
These pathologies are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, so their treatment should not be delayed. A sick person needs to undergo a medical examination, based on the results of which the doctor prescribes the most appropriate antibacterial medications.
If temperature fluctuations are caused by a growing tumor, then the method of treatment depends on the location, as well as on the malignancy or benignity of the tumor. Most often, the tumor formation is removed surgically, after which temperature fluctuations stop. If the temperature jumps due to a malfunction of the endocrine glands, then the sick person will experience the following symptoms:
- weight loss;
- sudden mood changes;
- nervousness, irritability;
- increased heart rate;
- disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle.
If the above symptoms appear, you should definitely go to the doctor. To confirm the dysfunction of the endocrine glands, a sick person must undergo a medical examination, including the following procedures:
- clinical and biochemical blood test;
- general urine analysis;
- blood test for hormone concentrations;
- ultrasonic monitoring;
- electrocardiography.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes optimal therapy for the patient.
I HAVE 36.5 AGAIN
There is no such person who would not measure his body temperature at least once in his life. And it is right. After all, temperature is a complex indicator of the thermal state of the entire human body.
There is an opinion that a normal temperature for a person is 36.6. However, this is not an entirely true statement. Indeed, this temperature is most optimal for the biochemical processes occurring in the body. But each person is individual, so it is possible to consider a normal temperature from 36 to 37.4 °C.
One person's body temperature can vary throughout the day. The lowest temperature is observed around 6 o'clock in the morning, and the maximum value is reached in the evening. The difference between body temperature early in the morning and in the evening reaches 0.5 - 1.0 °C. However, this does not depend on human activity; the temperature follows the daily cycle of the Sun. Thus, people who work at night and sleep during the day exhibit the same temperature cycle as others.
Temperature is also affected by gender and age. In girls, body temperature stabilizes by the age of 13-14, and in boys by the age of 18. The average body temperature of men is approximately 0.5 - 0.7 °C lower than that of women. Temperature readings in women are influenced by the phases of the menstrual cycle.
Temperature differences between internal organs were revealed. The highest temperature is the liver (39 °C), slightly lower is the temperature of the stomach, kidneys and other internal organs.
Why is the temperature rising?
As a rule, the temperature rises when the disease begins, as indicated by other symptoms of the presence of the disease. A temperature between 37.5 °C and 42 °C is considered elevated. With an increase in body temperature for each degree Celsius above 37 ° C, the respiratory rate increases by 4 breaths, and the pulse also increases. If your body temperature rises, you should call a doctor to determine the possible cause of hyperthermia. A temperature rise above 41 °C is a reason for immediate hospitalization. The critical body temperature is considered to be 42 °C, at which metabolic disorders occur in the brain tissue.
Why is the temperature dropping?
Sometimes body temperature drops. This may indicate an existing or developing disease within the body. Reduced body temperature is considered to be a temperature of 35.5 °C or lower. The main cause of low temperature is hypothermia. However, if such a temperature persists for a long time, this may indicate various diseases or a period of their exacerbation. Only a doctor can identify the true cause and prescribe treatment. A drop in body temperature to 32°C causes chills, but does not pose a very serious danger. Temperatures below 25 °C are critical, but some people manage to survive at such temperatures.
Constantly elevated temperature
Sometimes a person has a constant or periodic increase in temperature up to 37.5 ° C without any other symptoms of the disease. This temperature is called subfebrile. Due to the fact that very often low-grade fever is within the physiological norm and there are no other symptoms besides “elevated” temperature, determining the causes of this condition seems extremely difficult and time-consuming.
Usually, a number of examinations are required to determine the causes of low-grade fever. A patient with a low-grade fever should contact a physician, who will draw up an individual examination plan.
How to measure temperature correctly
The temperature is measured 2 times a day - in the morning, on an empty stomach and in the evening, before the last meal, in some cases every 2-3 hours.
There are several ways to measure temperature:
In the armpit. To get the most accurate result, the armpit should be dry. Measurements are taken in a calm state 1 hour after any physical activity. It is not recommended to drink hot drinks before taking measurements. This method is considered the least accurate because there are many sweat glands in the armpit, which can affect the final result.
In the oral cavity. When measuring temperature in the oral cavity, you must refrain from eating and drinking, as well as from smoking 1 hour before measurement. With this method of measuring temperature, the results may be affected by breathing rate, recent intake of hot or cold liquid, breathing through the mouth, etc.
In the rectum. As a rule, the rectal temperature is 0.3-0.6 °C higher than the temperature in the oral cavity, that is, a temperature of 37 °C should be considered the norm. After intense physical activity or after a hot bath, the rectal temperature may increase by 2 degrees or more.
In the ear canal. This method is considered the most accurate (provided that a special thermometer is used). However, failure to properly measure ear canal temperature (which is common when measuring at home) can lead to erroneous results.
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If your temperature is constantly elevated or, conversely, too low, if you suffer from frequent illnesses accompanied by high fever, you need to consult a doctor. Qualified Dialine specialists will examine you, conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment. Be always healthy with Dialine!
Author of the article Natalya Gorshkova
Expert commentary
Physician-therapist, chief physician of the Dialine Medical Center of the Dzerzhinsky region Anna Tsybulina:
“It is necessary to consult a doctor if your body temperature is above 37 °C or below 35.5 °C. Temperature can occur against the background of disruption of the nervous, endocrine or cardiovascular systems, and is also caused by chronic infections, parasite infestations, incl. worms, cancer. Only a doctor can determine the cause of this temperature. At the appointment, the doctor may prescribe blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, cultures, if necessary, ECG, ultrasound, X-ray examinations, and, if indicated, endoscopic examination of the stomach and intestines, tomography and other studies.
However, when the body temperature is above 39.5 or below 32, as well as at any temperature, if the patient’s condition is serious, there is a danger of complications or a danger to life, you should urgently call an ambulance.”
How to get rid of temperature fluctuations?
Temperature changes in an adult are most often a normal phenomenon, but sometimes they warn of the development of pathological processes in the body. In order not to aggravate the situation, you should not self-medicate, but should go to a doctor. Only a medical specialist identifies the exact cause of temperature fluctuations and prescribes the most appropriate medications. Therapy may include the following medications:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antiallergic drugs;
- hormonal agents;
- antibiotics;
- antiviral medications;
- antipyretic drugs.
Temperature fluctuations can be considered a protective reaction of the body. However, with a sluggish inflammatory process, the temperature usually does not rise above 37°C. A person simply does not notice such a slight increase; for a long time he may not even suspect that he is suffering from inflammation. Antipyretic medications can be used when the temperature rises above 38°C. With a slight increase in temperature, the body can easily overcome the disease on its own.
You will be wondering what temperature is considered normal for children and adults.
How is the examination carried out?
If the thermometer persistently registers hyperthermia, although the child is cheerful, healthy and active, sharp changes are observed, the doctor will definitely prescribe laboratory tests, which will likely include:
- General blood analysis.
- Analysis of urine.
- Sputum examination.
- Allergen identification.
Sometimes it is necessary to conduct a stool examination to make sure that there is no intestinal infection in the body. An ultrasound of internal organs and an ECG may also be required.
Prevention of temperature surges
To reduce daily fluctuations in body temperature, you need to strengthen your immune system. To do this you need to do the following:
- lead a correct lifestyle;
- devote time to physical exercise;
- eat a full and balanced diet, exclude harmful foods;
- stop drinking alcoholic beverages;
- Drink enough water during the day, at least two liters;
- harden the body;
- take vitamin and mineral complexes;
- Eat fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods rich in vitamins and nutrients every day.
