Paul O’Rourke, assistant professor of internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and Kitty O’Hara, pediatrician at Duke University (USA), said Live Science says that for every degree Celsius increase in body temperature, the human body burns 10% more calories.
A person’s body temperature varies slightly throughout the day, but generally stays around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). This creates ideal conditions for the body’s cells to work efficiently. The part of the brain called the hypothalamus acts as a thermostat that constantly monitors and maintains body temperature.
When immune cells detect foreign agents such as bacteria or viruses, they release fever-causing chemicals called pyrogens. These chemicals rush to the brain, where they affect temperature-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus, causing the temperature to rise, O’Rourke said. The hypothalamus can increase body temperature in several ways. For example, it causes blood vessels to constrict, which reduces the amount of heat radiated across the skin surface. This area of the brain has the ability to trigger cooling mechanisms to produce heat through muscle tremors.
According to O’Rourke, heat helps the body’s immune system eliminate pathogens more effectively. When body temperature rises, cells produce heat shock proteins (HSPs), which activate immune pathways to fight infection.
Although fever is a natural reaction of the body, its severity is important. If the temperature increase is accompanied by very poor health, it is recommended to consult a doctor. The doctor also noted that a one-degree increase in temperature in children and adults causes the body to spend 10% more calories. It is recommended to remain calm to prevent body fatigue.
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