Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia is an umbrella term for elevated body temperature that occurs when heat production exceeds the body's ability to dissipate it.

Hyperthermia caused by excessive exposure to a hot environment is called heat exhaustion, which involves excessive sweating leading to dehydration and loss of electrolytes.

In extreme cases, when the core temperature rises above 105°F, a dangerous feedback loop is initiated, wherein increased temperature raises the metabolic rate, which in turn leads to more heat generation, which can result in multiple organ failure and brain damage, causing a heat stroke.

Fever is a controlled hyperthermic response triggered by infection, allergies, or cancer. It involves immune cells releasing pyrogenic cytokines to raise body temperature.

In contrast, hypothermia is when the body temperature becomes abnormally low due to prolonged exposure to cold.

Hypothermia decreases respiratory and heart rates and slows down metabolic activity due to reduced enzyme function.

If the body temperature drops to around 70° F, it can lead to coma, cardiac arrest, and even death.