Our body gains and loses heat all the time. All these gains and losses balance out at a given temperature which is what is we call the body temperature.
“Normal” body temperature is between 35.5°C and 37.8°C.
It may vary slightly depending on:
- the time of day: lower in the morning and higher in the evening (+ 0.5°C between 6 am and 6 pm);
- the season and external temperature: a little higher in winter;
- age;
- sex: women have a slightly higher temperature (+ 0.2°C) than men. A woman’s temperature also increases by 0.5°C in the second part of her cycle;
- the position during measurement: lower by about 0.3% when seated than when standing;
- the individual metabolism;
- different factors such as alcohol, stress, physical effort, dress, etc.
(*) This balance is guaranteed by an internal “thermostat” which is found in the brain, in the hypothalamus to be more exact.
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Unit of measurement
Temperature is shown most often in degrees
Celsius (°C). It may also be shown in degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
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