Low Body Temperature: Hypothermia, Sickness, and Other Causes
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6 Possible Causes of Low Body Temperature and What They Mean

6 Possible Causes of Low Body Temperature and What They Mean
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Updated on January 16, 2026
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Common knowledge says that your body temperature should be 98.6 degrees F and that a high or low body temperature signals something is wrong. But that's not quite true. You can have a low body temperature whether you're sick or healthy.

In general, normal body temperature differs among individuals and ranges from about 97 to 99 degrees F when taken with an oral thermometer.

 Your average body temperature will increase or decrease depending on factors like your age, sex, and time of day — it can even be an effect of exercise.

What Does a Low Body Temperature Mean?

In general, a slightly lower than normal temperature is usually nothing to worry about.

In fact, research suggests that average human body temperature may be decreasing slightly, and that 97.5 degrees F may be a “new normal” temperature.

This may be due to the extended stretch of time people spend in temperature-controlled settings, or a population-wide drop in metabolic rate or inflammation.

What temperature is too low for a person, then?

A consistently or very low body temperature that's lower than 95 degrees F often signals accidental hypothermia or an underlying medical issue. That's because a body temperature below 95 degrees F doesn't provide enough heat for your heart, nervous system, and other organs to function.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency, so if your temperature is lower than 95 degrees F, you should seek care immediately.

Here’s a list of possible causes of low body temperature, along with when to see your doctor.

1. Hypothermia

Your body temperature reflects the balance between the heat your body generates and how much it loses. Prolonged exposure to a cold environment can lead to hypothermia because of excessive heat loss.

Infants and older adults are particularly susceptible to this condition, as their bodies don't regulate body temperature as well as those in other age groups.

Severe hypothermia is more likely to occur in extreme conditions — say, if your car breaks down in a blizzard and you can’t find a nearby heat source — rather than spending a few hours bundled up at a football game on a cold day.

Still, if you plan to spend time outside in cool or cold weather, dress in warm clothing and avoid drinking alcohol, as it dilates your superficial blood vessels and increases loss of body heat.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you're concerned hypothermia is setting in. In the meantime, here's how to increase core body temperature:

  • Get out of the cold.
  • Remove any wet clothing.
  • Bundle up in blankets.
  • Sip warm beverages.
  • Avoid applying direct heat, like hot water.

2. Hypothyroidism

Hormones regulate many bodily functions, including body temperature maintenance.

Hormonal disorders, such as hypothyroidism, which reduces the production of thyroid hormones, can lead to a lower than normal body temperature or intolerance to cold. In fact, a low body temperature sometimes serves as a vital clue to a hormonal problem like hypothyroidism.

3. Nervous System Disorders

Nervous system disorders can disrupt temperature regulation or your response to external sources of cold, leading to a low body temperature. Examples of these conditions include:

An area of your brain called the hypothalamus serves as the primary site of body temperature regulation by sending messages to the rest of your body that result in either overall heat conservation or loss.

4. Infection or Illness

Most people think a fever and infection go hand in hand — and they often do.

But you can also have a low body temperature when you’re sick. For instance, a serious infection like pneumonia sometimes triggers a low body temperature, especially among older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Hypothermia associated with a serious infection often indicates a complication called sepsis, which refers to an out-of-control inflammatory response to the infection leading to malfunction of body organs or systems.

Having a low body temperature but feeling hot may also be a sign of this condition if accompanied by other signs of sepsis (like rapid breathing, fast pulse, or disorientation).

Seek medical treatment immediately if you have signs of sepsis, as developing a low body temperature when you have sepsis typically signals a potentially life-threatening situation.

5. Certain Medications

A slight decrease or subnormal temperature is a potential side effect of some medications, including antipsychotic medications. Doctors prescribe these to manage depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

6. Other Health Conditions

Less common causes of low body temperature include:

  • Anorexia nervosa

  • Chronic vitamin B1 deficiency, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

  • Certain skin conditions, such as erythrodermic psoriasis

Another factor to keep in mind is that blood pressure is higher when you're in cold temperatures and lower in warm temperatures. That's because cold prompts your blood vessels to narrow, so more pressure is needed to keep your blood pumping.

Research has suggested that lower skin temperatures, a proxy for core body temperature used in some research settings, may have links to high blood pressure.

How to Take Your Temperature Correctly

Sometimes your body temperature can read lower on a thermometer because you took your temperature incorrectly. To get a proper reading, follow these steps:

  1. Always use a digital thermometer: The different types include rectal, oral, temporal artery (which scans the outside of your forehead), and armpit or ear thermometers. Oral and rectal thermometers tend to be more accurate than the other types, which can be affected by the temperature of the environment you're in.
  2. Make sure the thermometer is touching skin.
  3. Hold the thermometer still while it's reading.
  4. Don't remove the thermometer until it has beeped or indicated that it's done reading.
  5. Take your temperature a few times to ensure the reading is correct.

When to See a Doctor

You don't need to run to the doctor every time your body temperature rises or dips a degree or two. A temperature as low as 97 degrees F can be perfectly normal if you otherwise feel well.

But you should see your doctor if your body temperature is regularly less than 97 degrees F, especially if you experience other symptoms.

Call 911 if you or anyone you know experiences any warning signs or symptoms of hypothermia or sepsis, including:

  • Shivering
  • Slurred speech or mumbling
  • Slow, shallow, or rapid breathing
  • Weak and/or fast pulse
  • Lack of coordination
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Bright red, cold skin (in babies)

The Takeaway

  • Most people consider a normal body temperature to be 98.6 degrees F, but in fact, there is a range of normal body temperatures.
  • When body temperature is too low, however, it can be a sign of illness, hypothermia, or a thyroid disorder. Hypothermia is an emergency.
  • You can check your body temperature at home using a digital thermometer, with oral and rectal thermometers giving the most accurate results.
  • If you have low body temperature along with symptoms like dizziness, a weak pulse, shivering, or confusion, you need immediate medical treatment.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Body Temperature Norms. MedlinePlus. January 1, 2025.
  2. Shmerling RH. Time to Redefine Normal Body Temperature? Harvard Health Publishing. September 12, 2023.
  3. Protsiv M et al. Decreasing Human Body Temperature in the United States Since the Industrial Revolution. eLife. January 7, 2020.
  4. Hypothermia. Mayo Clinic. April 16, 2024.
  5. How the Body Regulates Heat. Rush University Medical Center.
  6. Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid). Cleveland Clinic. September 24, 2024.
  7. Pneumonia. Mayo Clinic. June 13, 2020.
  8. Sepsis. MedlinePlus. November 13, 2023.
  9. Varışlı B. Hypothermia as a Medication Side Effect. Eurasian Journal of Emergency Medicine. December 14, 2023.
  10. Smith LL. The Central Role of Hypothermia and Hyperactivity in Anorexia Nervosa: A Hypothesis. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. August 6, 2021.
  11. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. MedlinePlus. March 31, 2024.
  12. Erythrodermic Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation. March 27, 2025.
  13. Blood Pressure: Is It Affected by Cold Weather? Mayo Clinic. February 28, 2024.
  14. Tai Y et al. Inverse Association of Skin Temperature With Ambulatory Blood Pressure and the Mediation of Skin Temperature in Blood Pressure Responses to Ambient Temperature. Hypertension. May 16, 2022.
  15. Fever: First Aid. Mayo Clinic. June 25, 2024.
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