Body temperature is one of the main indicators of health. Any deviation from the generally accepted norm (36.6) is a sign of a malfunction in the body. The fact that an increase in body temperature is a characteristic sign of the development of the inflammatory process and is the reason for going to the doctor is known to everyone. But not everyone knows what low body temperature 35.5 means, how it is felt. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out what causes a decrease in temperature, how to react to this and what to do in this case.
What does this mean body temperature of 35.5?
Despite the fact that the temperature is considered to be 36.6, in fact, this range is much wider, and varies from 35.5 to 36.9. But at the same time, both the lower and the upper indicators are borderline states, and indicate that it is necessary to pay attention to it.
Body temperature is formed under the influence of certain factors:
- time of day (morning and evening, the indicator decreases slightly);
- the level of stress on internal organs and systems (during the working day the temperature is higher);
- environmental temperature (during the hot period it rises, in the cold it decreases);
- concomitant diseases affecting thermoregulation;
- individual features.
The human body works in accordance with the individual characteristics of each. Therefore, small deviations of the temperature in a smaller direction for some may be the norm, and for others, a feeling of serious discomfort. Therefore, if the body temperature of 35 and 5 does not cause unpleasant sensations in a person, weakness, irritability and depression, as well as the studies performed, do not reveal any pathologies, then this condition is considered to be quite normal for this particular case.
In other cases, a short-term decrease in temperature to the level of 35 and 5 is not a dangerous phenomenon. But if the body temperature of 35.5 is fixed for a long time and causes unpleasant sensations, this indicates a malfunction in the body, which cannot be ignored. Therefore, initially, the main reason for the decrease in the indicator should be identified.
Why body temperature is 35.5: reasons
A decrease in the indicator to the level of 35 and 5 can be caused by a negligent attitude to your health. Therefore, before you panic and come up with different diagnoses for yourself, you should analyze the situation and exclude the most likely causes of this condition.
The main provoking factors:
- Hypothermia of the body. The temperature range from +12 to -10 degrees is the most dangerous to health. A prolonged stay or mismatch of clothing for such a temperature can cause hypothermia, which will lead to a decrease in temperature.
- Long diet. Deficiency of essential proteins and minerals, as well as iron, can lead to the development of anemia. As a result, the metabolism in cells and tissues is disturbed, which causes a violation of the thermoregulation process. With a long stay on a strict diet, it is necessary to control the main blood counts, a sharp decrease in hemoglobin should be the reason for the restoration of the diet.
- Prostration. This condition may be due to a recent cold, flu, or rubella. Since the body spent a lot of energy to fight the infection and did not have time to recover. Also, exhaustion can provoke stress, excessive physical and mental stress. Therefore, the body temperature of 35 and 5 in an adult, in this case, is a natural reaction of the body.
- Excessive fascination with antipyretic drugs. A decrease in temperature can cause medication with paracetamol for prophylactic purposes against influenza, when there is nasal congestion and cough, and there is no fever.
- Chronic fatigue. The lack of proper rest, irregular working hours, hard physical labor leads to the fact that the body is intensively spending its forces, not having the opportunity to restore them in full. All this accumulates and leads to a decrease in temperature, and if you do not pay attention to it, the indicator will continue to decline, which threatens with serious consequences for health.
- Pregnancy. During the period of gestation, the female body undergoes hormonal changes, which, in combination with an increased load on the body, can cause a body temperature of 35 and 5 degrees.
- Deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Spring vitamin deficiency is also able to cause a slight decrease in temperature.
- Intoxication of the body. Food or alcohol poisoning negatively affects overall well-being, since a high concentration of toxic substances and decay products in the blood slows down metabolic processes, which reduces the temperature index.
What is the reason for lowering the temperature in a child?
For newborns, a decrease in body temperature is a natural phenomenon, since when a baby is born, it adapts to external conditions.
In other cases, the body temperature of 35.5 in a child can be triggered by the following factors:
- lack of vitamins in active periods of growth;
- hormonal changes in adolescence;
- a recent cold;
- reduced immunity;
- long stay in water;
- sunstroke;
- excessive intellectual or emotional stress;
- taking antipyretic drugs for 3 days;
- hypothermia of the body.
Often, a decrease in temperature in children under the age of 3 years is recorded at the initial stage of acute respiratory infections. This is due to the fact that the thermoregulatory system for which the hypothalamus is responsible is not fully formed. In this case, it is recommended to give the child a hot drink and wrap it in a warm blanket, since rubbing in this case is useless.
Characteristic signs
It is possible to identify body temperature of 35.5 in an adult and a child by the characteristic signs of this condition. Since the thermometer is not always at hand at the right time.
The main signs of body temperature of 35 and 5 degrees:
- apathy;
- irritability;
- chilliness;
- lack of interest in work;
- headache;
- lethargy;
- causeless fatigue;
- general weakness;
- drowsiness.
In some people, a decrease in temperature may be accompanied by dizziness and nausea.
When is a decrease in temperature a sign of illness?
Asymptomatic decrease in body temperature, which is fixed over a long time, is a dangerous harbinger. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to your health and, in the absence of improvement, consult a doctor.
Anxiety symptoms that appear at a person's body temperature of 35 and 5:
- constant chills;
- memory impairment;
- decreased visual acuity;
- numbness of the limbs;
- tremor of hands and feet;
- low heart rate;
- inhibited reaction.
The presence of at least some of the signs listed above indicates the development of the disease, so do not postpone the visit to the doctor,
Diseases that provoke a decrease in temperature
The cause of body temperature 35 and 5 may be a disease at the initial stage of development or recently transferred. Moreover, this indicator is not constant and with a deterioration in well-being is able to gradually decrease further.
The main diseases characterized by a decrease in temperature:
- internal bleeding;
- hormonal disbalance;
- dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
- parasitic infection;
- diabetes;
- hypoglycemia;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- depression;
- liver pathology;
- sepsis;
- pneumonia;
- oncological diseases;
- blood pressure differences;
- CNS disorders.
In this case, it is impossible to determine independently why the body temperature is 35, 5 and which disease provokes a decrease. For this, it is necessary to conduct additional studies, such as x-rays, diuresis, analysis of feces, blood, urine, measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. And only by comparing the data obtained can the cause of this condition.
Reduced levels of hemoglobin, red blood cells indicate that the development of anemia contributed to a decrease in temperature. Discolored feces in combination with weight loss, lack of appetite, yellowness of the sclera and skin confirms that the root cause is impaired liver function.
With diseases of the thyroid gland, the balance of hormones in the body is disturbed. This feature leads to metabolic disorders, which provokes the failure of the thermoregulatory process.
The combination of a lowered temperature indicator with constant thirst, a feeling of dryness in the oral cavity and frequent urination is the basis to assume that diabetes is the cause of adult body temperature of 35.5.
How to fix a deviation from the norm
Most often, mercury and electronic thermometers are used to measure body temperature. But both devices work with an error, which should be taken into account when measuring. Using an electronic thermometer, you should measure the temperature three times with a frequency of 15 minutes. Mercury also show errors within 0.2-0.3 degrees, so they should be kept for at least 10 minutes.
At the first measurement of temperature, one should take into account the general state of health, stress, fatigue, the likelihood of hypothermia, the use of antipyretic drugs.
If, after a good rest and the applied warm-up measures, the temperature indicators have not returned to their normal level, then several additional measurements should be carried out to identify the presence of a deviation.
The correct implementation of the measurement procedure implies the observance of some recommendations, which will help to obtain the most accurate information.
- Measurement should be carried out at the same time for 3-5 days.
- The measuring procedure is recommended to be carried out by the same thermometer.
- Install the thermometer in the same place during these days.
If for the whole period the same indicator of body temperature is set - 35.5, then we can judge about problems in the body. Based on this, you should consult a doctor to identify the root cause of the temperature deviation.
What to do first
If the decrease in temperature is caused by stress, overwork and other factors unrelated to a serious illness, then certain measures must be taken to stabilize the condition.
- Take a warm bath or warm your legs in a basin.
- Dry them, put on woolen socks.
- Drink hot tea with herbs and eat well.
- Lie in bed, take cover with a warm blanket.
- Sleep well so that the body can fully relax.
What to do, the body temperature of 35.5 is fixed for a long period, despite the measures taken to stabilize? Violation of the process of thermoregulation leads to a slowdown in the metabolism of the body. As a result of this, internal organs and systems work in conditions that are not comfortable for them, since they do not receive food in the required amount.
This threatens with serious health complications, therefore it is impossible to ignore the low temperature indicator. You should visit a doctor and identify the cause of this deviation.
How to normalize the condition in the future?
If a diet, an unbalanced diet, low hemoglobin, and weakened immunity are a provoking factor in lowering the temperature index, then it is necessary to enrich your diet with useful products.
First of all, you should make up for the lack of vitamin C in the body. To do this, you can use ascorbic acid, which can be found in a pharmacy or increase the consumption of citrus, sauerkraut, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries.
Dried apricots, nuts, raisins, as well as infusions of medicinal herbs: hawthorn, echinacea, ginseng, motherwort and ginger root will also help regulate heat transfer in the body.
In the case of anemia, which provokes a body temperature of 35 and 5, emphasis should be placed on iron-containing products: spinach, apples, beef liver, lentils, white beans.
The list of products that allow you to quickly return the level of body temperature to normal indicators:
- Dark chocolate. The body spends a lot of energy on the processing of this product, which helps to strengthen the digestive processes. This product is especially relevant for hypothermia.
- Hot chicken stock. Nutrient fluid helps to replenish the spent body strength, and thereby normalizes thermoregulatory processes.
- Potatoes. The high content of starch in the product allows you to quickly stabilize your body temperature.
- Cayenne pepper. This spice can cause burning, which is beneficial for metabolic processes. In addition, for its processing, the body activates additional energy, which helps return the body temperature to normal levels.
- Peanuts and brown rice. Both of these components are characterized by a high content of carbohydrates, for the processing of which the body should spend a lot of energy, which favorably affects the stabilization of the temperature.
Prevention
To exclude a similar situation in the future, certain preventive measures must be observed:
- Enrich your diet with healthy foods and reduce the consumption of junk food.
- Stop smoking, alcohol.
- Lie down in the evening until midnight.
- The duration of night sleep should not be less than 8 hours.
- Alternate physical and mental stress with full rest periods.
- Ventilate the premises regularly.
- Temper the body by pouring cold water.
- Wear clothing seasonally, avoiding hypothermia.
- Arrange daily walks in the fresh air for 20-30 minutes.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Get used to a positive attitude.
Body temperature of 35.5 is the main sign that the body is not able to independently resist the internal and external negative effects. Ignoring this symptom leads to a further worsening of the situation. Therefore, only careful attention to your health will help to avoid serious complications afterwards.