Your body is like a small kamado. It always gives off heat. It comes from your body doing the work that keeps you alive. If it's producing much more or much less heat than normal, it's trying to tell you there's a problem.

 Normal area

 'Normal' body temperature is not the same for everyone. Yours may be completely different from someone else's. 19th-century German doctors set the standard at 98.6 F, but recent research shows that the baseline is closer to 98.2 F for most people, but for children, the range is slightly higher: 97.9 F to 100, on the 4th floor.

 Your body temperature is not like that, it stays the same all day and changes throughout your life. Here are some things that can cause your body temperature to fluctuate all day:

•  How active are you?
•  What time is it
•  your age
•  your gender
•  What did you eat or drink
•  where are you in your menstrual cycle

 Body temperature depends on where you bring it into your body. Underarm readings may be of a lower grade than what you see by mouth. The rectal temperature is usually one degree higher than the value measured in the mouth.

 Body temperature above the normal range is fever. If your body temperature drops too low, you have hypothermia. You must watch both.

 Fever

 How high is your body temperature? Anything above 100.4 F is considered a fever. You may feel bad, but in general, fever is not bad for you. When bacteria enter, it's a sign that your body is doing what it's supposed to. It drives them away.

 However, if your fever is above 103 degrees Fahrenheit or if you have had a fever for more than 3 days, please consult your doctor. Also call us if you have a fever with symptoms such as severe throat swelling, vomiting, headache, chest pain, shoulder stiffness, and skin rash.

 For children, fever is a little more complicated. If your child is less than 3 months old and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher, contact your pediatrician.

 Between 3 months and 3 years, rectal temperature exceeds 102 degrees Fahrenheit

 Over 3 years old, mouth temperature over 103 degrees Fahrenheit

 feeling more jittery or irritable or less alert with fever for 3-6 months

 I'm so sick I worry no matter what the thermometer says

 Hypothermia

 If your body loses too much heat, it can be very serious and even fatal. Hypothermia is when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Hypothermia may be thought to occur only after prolonged exposure to extreme cold. But it also happens indoors.

Hypothermia is especially problematic for newborns and the elderly.

 Babies may not be able to regulate their body temperature well. You can lose heat quickly. It is important to keep them warm. Temperatures below 97 F are considered too low for babies.

 Elderly people may have trouble keeping their body temperature within normal limits when they are in an air-conditioned area or do not have enough heat.

 For both the elderly and young children, substandard body temperatures may indicate that they are sick.

 Others may also increase the risk of hypothermia. These include:

•  Alcohol or drug use
•  hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism)
•  anorexia
•  paralysis
•  Sepsis (overwhelming infectious disease)
•  Parkinson's disease
•  nerve injury
•  not enough feeding
•  Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and tranquilizers
•  anesthesia