Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Decreased Body Temperature

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:

Increased Body Temperature

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...

Methods of reducing fever

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:

Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation

The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Analysis and Accuracy Improvement of UWB-TDoA-Based Indoor Positioning System.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

Same author

Glomerular filtration rate: A prognostic marker in atrial fibrillation-A subanalysis of the AntiThrombotic Agents Atrial Fibrillation.

Clinical cardiology·2018

Same author

Incidence, predictors, and impact on outcome of increased left ventricular latency in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology : an international journal of arrhythmias and pacing·2018

Same author

Transvenous recovery of a foreign body inside the lumen of the segmental branches of the right pulmonary artery tree.

International journal of cardiology·2016

Same author

The safety and effectiveness of closure access leading venous advanced gain new ability.

International journal of cardiology·2016

Same author

Hemodynamic Surveillance of Ventricular Pacing Effectiveness with the Transvalvular Impedance Sensor.

Advances in medicine·2015

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Published on: March 3, 2021

[Hypothermia in the elderly: a shivering case].

Aldo Merlino¹, Mario Soccorso Iudicello, Ludovico Vasquez

¹Divisione di Cardiologia-UTIC, ASL 5 Messina, Presidio Ospedaliero "G. Fogliani", Milazzo (ME). meral@tiscali.it

Giornale Italiano Di Cardiologia (2006)

|May 18, 2007

Summary

Hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, poses a significant risk to the elderly. This case highlights how specific ECG findings can aid in diagnosing severe hypothermia, even with subtle symptoms.

More Related Videos

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Published on: March 3, 2021

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

Area of Science:

Geriatric Medicine
Cardiology
Emergency Medicine

Background:

Hypothermia is a critical medical emergency defined by a core body temperature below 35°C (95°F).
Elderly individuals face a substantially increased mortality risk (5-fold) from hypothermia due to prolonged cold exposure.
Typical symptoms include lethargy, confusion, and reduced heart rate, often delaying diagnosis.

Observation:

A 76-year-old woman presented with symptomatic sinus bradycardia.
Electrocardiographic abnormalities, specifically the Osborn wave, were noted.
These clinical and electrocardiographic findings strongly suggested severe hypothermia.

Findings:

The Osborn wave on an electrocardiogram is a key indicator of severe hypothermia.
Symptomatic bradycardia can be a manifestation of hypothermia in older adults.
Early recognition of hypothermia is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.

Implications:

This case underscores the importance of considering hypothermia in elderly patients presenting with bradycardia and ECG changes.
The Osborn wave serves as a critical diagnostic clue for severe hypothermia.
Prompt diagnosis and management of hypothermia can prevent mortality and morbidity in vulnerable populations.