Table of contents:
- What is thermoregulation?
- What happens if the ambient temperature changes suddenly?
- 1. Hypothyroidism
- 2. Adrenal gland disorders
- 3. Impaired insulin sensitivity
The normal temperature that the body has is around 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius. Many things affect changes in temperature in the body, one of which is the environment. An environment with extreme temperatures, such as being too cold or too hot, can have various effects on the body.
Changes in ambient temperature of just a few degrees can affect bodily functions. For example, if your body temperature drops 3 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius due to low environmental temperatures, then you will experience mild hypothermia. Severe hypothermia can even lead to heart attacks, strokes and death. Whereas at too high a temperature, it can cause brain damage. Therefore, when the body feels the temperature difference between the temperature in the environment and the temperature in the body, the body will automatically conduct thermoregulation, which is the body's adaptation process in accepting temperature changes that occur around it.
What is thermoregulation?
Thermoregulation is carried out by the body so that the body's balance is maintained. When the body feels the temperature in the surrounding room, the first stimulus is received by the skin. The skin senses whether the temperature is too cold or too hot. After that, it gives a signal to the hypothalamus which will then take action according to the environment around it. Signals will be given to muscles, organs, glands, and other nervous systems, to respond to these temperature changes. Body temperature is influenced by various factors such as season and weather and physical activity. Like when you eat or drink, this activity will make your body temperature increase due to the process of energy production and burning of calories in the body.
What happens if the ambient temperature changes suddenly?
Sudden changes in environmental temperature can cause various effects on the body, such as:
1. Hypothyroidism
When you feel cold and then feel hot because of the ambient temperature, you may have a thyroid problem. The thyroid is one of the glands in the body that functions to regulate various metabolism, regulate heart rate, and body temperature. When these glands produce too much thyroid hormone, the body temperature increases. On the other hand, this gland also produces T3 and T4 hormones, which if the hormone production decreases, the body temperature will decrease. The hormones T3 and T4 are also responsible for regulating energy use in the body and influencing the production of thyroid hormones.
Decreased levels of thyroid hormones in the body can cause body temperature to decrease and slow down metabolism in the body. If the metabolic process slows down, other symptoms will appear, such as fatigue and weakness, depression, constipation, and brittle nails. If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause swelling of the face, hands and feet, decreased sense of taste and smell, reproductive problems, joint pain, and even heart disease.
2. Adrenal gland disorders
The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and function to produce the hormone cortisol, which is the main hormone in stress management and metabolism. Disorders of the adrenal glands are often the result of decreased thyroid hormones. Changes in temperature will affect thyroid hormones which then have an impact on adrenal gland disorders.
The consequences that arise due to adrenal gland disorders are unstable emotions, difficulty waking up in the morning even after sleeping enough, always feeling tired and hungry, and a decrease in the immune system. Other symptoms that can appear are low blood sugar levels, numbness in the fingers, decreased sex drive, and weight loss.
3. Impaired insulin sensitivity
Insulin is a hormone that has the main task of regulating blood sugar levels and converting blood sugar into energy needed by the body. Therefore, this hormone is involved in the process of energy metabolism which can cause body temperature to change. Under normal circumstances, the body increases insulin production when body temperature rises and research says that injecting this hormone in a specific part of the brain can increase body temperature and speed up the body's metabolism.
