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Let me ask you a common-sense question: What do you think is the normal body temperature of a person? Some might say 37°C, because this has always been the standard body temperature of the human body; Some people may say that it is 36-37°C, after all, during the epidemic in the first two years, everyone's daily body temperature was measured in this range.
So, what exactly is the standard body temperature for humans? In 2020, a study by United States Stanford University revealed that human normothermia has dropped by about 0.32-0.58°C compared to the 19th century, and the standard of 37°C is no longer applicable. So, what is causing this change?
What is normal body temperature?
Do you know? In fact, in medicine, there is no fixed number for normal body temperature, but a range. In general, normal body temperature is between 36.3 and 37.2°C in the mouth and between 36.0°C and 37.0°C in the armpit. The rectal temperature will be slightly warmer, between 36.5 and 37.7°C.
At the same time, body temperature is also affected by a variety of factors, such as gender, age, mood, environment, and even the food you have just eaten. For example, it is normal for women to have a slightly higher body temperature during menstruation or early pregnancy, while older people may have a relatively low body temperature.
So, why has 37°C become the "standard body temperature" in most people's common sense? This standard originated in the 19th century German physician Wilhelm · Osler, who took up to a million body temperature measurements of 25,000 people and wrote a paper based on these research data, which is also the earliest standard for human body temperature.
This criterion helped early modern medicine establish a more systematic health assessment mechanism. However, with the development of the times, doctors have gradually realized the deeper mechanism of human body temperature, and 37°C is only an approximate standard, not an "absolute value" for everyone.
The mechanism by which the human body maintains a constant body temperature is complex and involves multiple physiological systems, such as sweat glands, skin, and internal organs, all of which are controlled by a regulatory "command" – the hypothalamus. When there are changes in the external environment or in our body, the hypothalamus senses and sends instructions to the body in time to regulate body temperature.
For example, when we exercise, the muscles produce heat, which is transferred to the bloodstream. When the hypothalamus senses a change in body temperature, it directs the body to increase the evaporation of sweat to help cool down.
Conversely, in a cold environment, the hypothalamus instructs the body to contract blood vessels in the skin, stop the secretion of sweat glands, and even maintain body heat by shivering. This regulatory mechanism allows us to maintain a relatively constant core temperature in different environments, ensuring the proper functioning of the body.
Changes in body temperature in modern humans
In recent years, scientific studies have shown that the average body temperature of humans is decreasing. In the 200 years since the 19th century, it has fallen by about 0.4 degrees. And since 2000, human body temperature has dropped by an average of 0.03°C every 10 years.
The reason for this phenomenon is not complicated, that is, modern people live too well! Before the completion of human modernization, people living in both cities and villages had to cope with heavy work every day, whether it was to maintain their lives or cope with household chores, and the amount of exercise was certainly not less.
As for modern people, there are comfortable sofas to rest at home, various machines to do housework, you can take a taxi when you go out, and you can have a courier to buy something. This convenience has made modern people lazy and lacking enough exercise, which is essential for improving blood circulation, increasing basal metabolic rate, and maintaining normal body temperature.
Compared with ancient times, modern people's eating habits have also changed, often eating high-calorie, low-nutritional value food, this lack of balanced diet will affect the body's metabolic function, so that the body can not produce enough calories, and then affect the stability of body temperature.
In addition, today's people have heating in winter and air conditioning in summer, and live in an environment lacking temperature stimulation for a long time, which leads to the lack of external stimulation of the human hypothalamus, and over time it is no longer sensitive to temperature changes, and the body temperature drops.
In addition, the advancement of modern medicine is also an important factor in the reduction of human body temperature. In ancient times, people had poor hygiene conditions and were prone to various diseases, especially inflammatory diseases. Infection pathogens in the human body cause the body to heat up, which is a natural immune response.
However, with the popularization of vaccines and antibiotics, the chance of people contracting inflammation is greatly reduced, and there are various drugs to solve the problem when they are sick, and the body lacks the opportunity to experience a febrile state, and the body temperature has also dropped.
Body temperature and health
Is it better to have a high or low body temperature? The first thing to be clear about is that a moderate high body temperature is good for health. Many experts point out that the higher the body temperature within the normal range, the stronger the body's immunity is likely to be. If the body temperature remains low for a long time, it may lead to a decrease in immunity and the body is more likely to get sick.
This is because a higher body temperature activates more immune cells, helping us to fight off foreign pathogens more effectively and maintain good health. Of course, hyperthermia also poses risks, especially when the body temperature exceeds 37.7°C, which often means that the body is battling an infection.
However, experts also remind that some people have a long-term low body temperature, which is a normal physiological condition and will not have much impact on the body. Therefore, understanding how your body temperature changes and why they are essential is essential for maintaining good health.
So, how can you maintain a high body temperature within your healthy range? First of all, moderate exercise is very important. Young people can choose from intense exercises, such as gym irons, push-ups or playing ball; Older people can consider doing tai chi or health exercises.
If you are usually busy and don't have time to go to the gym, you can also find time for some simple activities such as walking, dancing or doing yoga, which are all great options.
Secondly, maintaining a balanced diet is also crucial. Increasing your intake of vegetables and fruits can help increase your basal metabolic rate and thus maintain proper body temperature. In addition, developing a good work and rest habit, avoiding staying up late and excessive stress, soaking your feet every day, and adding or removing clothing according to seasonal changes are all important ways to maintain a healthy body temperature.
end
Body temperature can be seen as a barometer of our physical health, which is closely related to our lifestyle, eating habits and social environment. Understanding changes in body temperature not only allows us to detect health risks in time, but also helps us adjust our lifestyles more effectively and pursue a better quality of life.
Developing a good lifestyle habit, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep are all important factors in maintaining a healthy body temperature. Remember, body temperature isn't just about changing numbers, it's the foundation of a healthy life. So, don't wait until you have a cold and fever to remember the existence of body temperature, and pay more attention to this small indicator to make our lives better and happier!
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