What if my temperature is below 98.6

With availability from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday and availability on Saturdays, we are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule. Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions. Body Temperature of Should I Worry? Posted: Jan 10, Concerning health conditions associated with a body temperature of 96 include: Low blood sugar or a lack of nutrients, Brain disease, Kidney disfunction, Hypothermia, Underactive hormonal glands, Side effects of certain medications, like beta-blockers or antipsychotics, An underactive metabolism, and Shock.

Any water that's colder than normal body temperature causes heat loss. The following tips may increase your survival time in cold water if you accidentally fall in:.

For people most at risk of hypothermia — infants, older adults, people who have mental or physical problems, and people who are homeless — community outreach programs and social support services can be of great help. If you are at risk or know someone at risk, contact your local public health office for available services, such as the following:.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. The most vulnerable areas of frostbite are your nose, ears, fingers and toes. So who's most at risk? Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Cold weather safety for older adults.

National Institute on Aging. Accessed March 31, Avoiding frostbite and hypothermia. National Safety Council. Corneli HM, et al.

Hypothermia in children: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis. Auerbach PS, et al. Accidental hypothermia. In: Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine.

Elsevier; Age may play a factor. Finally, you may have a health condition causing the lower body temperature. Understanding body temperature is important to making sense of your degree reading. Long ago, doctors considered That has changed in recent years. A normal temperature is now considered to be a bit lower than that, and it depends on your age and the method you use to measure your temperature.

One research review looked at 36 prior studies about body temperature and found that adults less than 60 years old had a average temperature of Adults more than 60 years old had a average temperature of The study also examined body temperatures taken with different methods.

These average temperatures by method were:. For children and infants, it can occur when their temperature is lower than a reading in the normal range. Hypothermia is a very serious medical condition that can lead to death if not treated immediately by medical professionals.

This condition can occur because of exposure to cold weather, submersion in cold water, prolonged time in cold and wet clothes, or a cold home environment. An early symptom of hypothermia is shivering. Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention, so you should call for emergency help if you suspect you have hypothermia.

If you have to wait for medical help try to warm yourself up with blankets or a hot drink. A drop in body temperature could be the symptom of sepsis. This occurs when your body starts fighting itself instead of an infection. It can damage to your tissues, shutdown your organs, and even lead to death. Other symptoms of sepsis include:.

Keeping babies in a normal temperature range is very important to avoid hypothermia or other illnesses. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and let the infant warm up if they have been brought in from the cold. Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is not functioning properly. It does not create enough of your thyroid hormone for your body. Therefore, you may experience:. You may have a lower body temperature as you age.