Other names: Hypothermia

Physiologically, the body temperature should be between 36 and 37 ° C, but many people have a temperature slightly higher, and are health and, conversely, especially the elderly and young children may have a lower temperature. This is a result of failed or immature thermoregulatory mechanisms – small children and old people more quickly from cold when it’s cold outside. Prone to chills are also people consuming alcohol, which causes the apparent feeling of warmth, while the body cools.Reduced temperature of the body is in this context also occurs in alcohol intoxication.

The temperature is reduced also in cold water, where one does not last longer than 20 minutes (depending of course on the temperature of water). Occur abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and failing hearts. At temperatures below 28 ° C stops the ability of thermoregulation.

Reduced body temperature is used for certain operations (especially cardiac surgery).