Jeffery W. Walker, a physiology professor at the University of Arizona, has a cool explanation:. The human body is like an engine that continuously generates large quantities of heat, and its radiator, so to speak, disperses heat least effectively in hotter climes. Heat is an unavoidable by-product of the work being done by the tissues of the body.
Contracting muscles of the heart, diaphragm and limbs; ion pumps that maintain the electrical properties of nerves; and biochemical reactions that break down food and synthesize new tissues to name a few generate body heat continuously. With this gurgling volcano of active internal organs, the body has a critical need to dissipate heat to the surroundings. It does so by circulating blood near the surface of the skin, by exhaling warm, humidified air, and by evaporating sweat.
These processes function best when ambient temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, where we feel most comfortable, and they serve to maintain core body temperature around 98 degrees F. But when the surroundings match core body temperature, the dispersal mechanisms are not optimal, so we feel hot, especially when humidity is high. Learn more about how anxiety affects the body. Thyroid hormones affect how the body uses energy.
People with hyperthyroidism often experience heat intolerance, along with other symptoms such as:. Sweating is how the body keeps cool. Anhidrosis describes the inability to sweat. This symptom can affect a small or large area of the body. It may be due to an underlying condition, a medication, or blocked or injured sweat glands. If someone cannot sweat at all, or cannot sweat across a large area of their body, this could be dangerous. A person with this symptom should speak to a doctor.
According to the International Diabetes Federation , people with diabetes may feel more sensitive to the heat than others. This happens for several reasons:. According to the CDC , symptoms of diabetes include:. According to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, it is relatively common for pregnant women to feel hotter than usual.
Pregnant women may also sweat more. It is common for temperature to rise during the ovulation stage of the menstrual cycle. Females may experience hot flashes during, before, and after the menopause. Hot flashes may last anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
Other symptoms of a hot flash include:. Learn more about recognizing the signs of menopause. The International Hyperhidrosis Society list a wide range of medications that can cause heat or sweating as a side effect. Medications that might cause a person to feel hot include:.
If a person thinks that their medication might be causing side effects, they can speak to their doctor to discuss their options. People who feel hot due to environmental or lifestyle factors, such as sun exposure, may feel better if they adjust their daily routines. The CDC recommend:. People who feel hot due to anxiety or stress may also benefit from relaxation techniques that calm the nervous system.
These include deep breathing, yoga, and tai chi. Stress can exacerbate hot flashes, so these techniques may also help people in perimenopause or menopause, according to the NIA. A person experiencing frequent anxious thoughts may find a form of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy CBT , helpful for reducing the physical symptoms of anxiety.
However, if these strategies do not help, they may have a condition that requires medical treatment. If someone frequently or continuously feels hot with no fever, they should see their doctor. A doctor may need to perform tests, such as blood or urine tests, to diagnose the underlying cause. If someone has symptoms of heat exhaustion that do not improve within an hour or the symptoms of heatstroke, they should seek emergency help.
Recent changes. A weekly show where we endeavor to answer one of your big questions. This week, Grace F. Hi, I'm Craig. My average body temperate is 99 degrees Fahrenheit 'cause I'm hot! And this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today I'm going to be answer Grace F. Let's get started. Intro First, let's talk a little about what body temperature is. So, as Grace mentioned, the average internal temperature of a human body is 98 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius, though it fluctuates.
And our bodies stay around 98 degrees, or in sync, thanks to thermoregulation. Even if you're out in the cold like a Backstreet Boy heading down the street in One Direction. To the lake.
The Timberlake. Basically, we're able to maintain that body temperature even when we're in an environment that has a very different temperature. Interestingly, some other organisms are thermoconforming which means they just take on the temperature of their environment.
A big part of why thermoregulation works is that our bodies are constantly producing heat from our organs, like the liver, brain, and heart.
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