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Body Heat

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Introduction to Body Heat

MVSAT 2024

Body heat is a usual thing for every living being. The temperature of the internal body may get affected and varies by physical and metabolic activities. It is also known as animal heat. To understand more about the heat generated in our body, we have various processes and specific terms in science to describe it.


Thermoregulation is a term that has meaning in itself. Thermo means heat and regulation means to control. Thermoregulation is a process of controlling the heat present in the body due to some external and internal activities. The demo regulation has various mechanisms and each mechanism strives for getting back the body into an equilibrium state. This state of equilibrium or stabilization of heat is nothing but homeostasis.


On the other hand, if the body's general temperature may rise, then it can be termed hyperthermia. Usually, the temperature of the body will be between 95.9°F and 99.5°F. If this range gets increased then the condition will be termed hyperthermia. In a colloquial language, we call it fever or high fever based on the temperature.


The temperature of the body should be in an equilibrium state. Both the rising temperature and fallen temperature lead to health issues. Some severe conditions may lead to cardiac arrest or Brain attack etc.

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Factors Affecting the Temperature of the Body

The body heat may get affected by various factors. But these factors are different for an increase in temperature and the decrease in temperature.

Increase in Temperature -  the factors which show the impact of the bodies in heat are- 

  • Digestion of food

  • Regular exercise

  • Fever and its symptoms

Decrease in Temperature - the factors which affected reducing the temperature of the body are- 

  • Usage of excess drugs

  • Addiction of alcohol

  • Imbalanced metabolic conditions etc.

The thermoregulation process can be done by a part of the human brain called the hypothalamus. It sends signals to other body parts based on the condition of the body heat. If the body heat increases, it shows some symptoms. If there is a reduction of temperature in body heat, new symptoms were found.

Mechanisms to Stabilize the Body Heat

The central nervous system looks after these conditions of the body. If the body's heat is increased, the central nervous system sends signals to the hypothalamus. It sends signals to various body parts and tries to reduce or cool down the body heat. 

The Necessary Actions to be Taken to Bring Down the Temperature of the Body are- 

Sweating is one of the mechanisms used to reduce the temperature of the body. The signals are sent to sweat glands. They release sweat and help to reduce the internal temperature by cooling down the body heat.


Vasodilatation is another mechanism to reduce the temperature of bodies in heat. Need to produce this heat radiation with which the blood vessels can move wider and increase the flow of blood this increase in speed helps to cool the body.

Mechanisms to Increase the Body Heat

If the morning needs more temperature, then the controversy mechanisms are available. They are - 

  • Vasoconstriction is completely opposed to vasodilation. In this process, the distance between blood vessels becomes narrower and it results in the flow of blood is very slow. An external force is applied to the blood flow which helps to generate heat in the body.

  • Thermogenesis is a  process of generating or producing heat by various organs of the body for example muscles can produce heat through shivering.

  • Hormonal thermogenesis is a process of producing heat exclusively by a thyroid gland. The thyroid gland starts producing heat which increases the energy and internal temperature of the body.

Conclusion

Body heat is the amount of temperature present in the internal body and understanding the temperature of the body. We also learned the Factors impacting the bodies in heat and the mechanisms available to increase and decrease the temperature of the body based on the requirement.

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FAQs on Body Heat

1. What are the Symptoms of Hyperthermia? 

Ans: Hyperthermia is a condition where the temperature of the body increases to higher than that of the normal range. This leads to several health issues. The severity of these issues depends on the increasing temperature. Dehydration is the basic and foremost symptom caused due to increase in temperature. The sweat glands release sweat and the skin evaporates and salts will come out of the body and the body needs water to get hydrated. It may show results in various types. Some of the symptoms found for hyperthermia health issues are as follows- 


Heat Fatigue and Cramps

  • exhaustion

  • flushed or red skin or rashes

  • Extreme sweating

  • muscle cramps and pain

  • headache or mild light-headedness which makes discomfort

  • nausea

Heat Exhaustion

  • cold, pale, wet skin

  • excess sweating

  • fast but weak pulse

  • nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, headache, etc.

  • muscle cramps

  • exhaustion

  • intense thirst

  • dizziness or weakness

  • less frequent urination and dark yellowish urine are observed.

  • mild swelling of hands, legs, fingers, and toes.

  • temporarily fainting or losing consciousness due to heatstroke etc.

2. Give Some Home Remedies to Treat Mild Hypothermia.

Ans: Hypothermia is a state of increase in body temperature. It results in various health disorders based on the part of an increase in temperature. If the temperature may increase slightly, some general home remedies help to suit the condition and stabilize the temperature of the body. They are- 

  • Consuming cold water or electrolyte or glucose or coconut water etc.

  • Trying to wear loose and cotton clothes which are free and comfortable to the body.

  • Instead of working hard, it is always good to take some rest and get relaxed.

  • Taking a cool shower is also good if the cold is not there.

  • Placing a wet cloth or a cooling bag on the forehead or under the arms to reduce the heat quickly.

  • Keeping both the wrists under the cool water at least for 60 seconds. 

  • Drinking juices barely helps to boost immunity along with the reduction in the heat of the body.


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