Final answer:
Several factors can cause decreased body temperature, including exposure to cold, impaired thermoregulation, depressant substances, and malnutrition. The body regulates its temperature through a negative feedback loop, using shivering and energy breakdown to produce warmth. Other temperature regulating mechanisms include sweating and blood vessel dilation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that can cause a decreased body temperature include exposure to cold environments, decreased blood flow to extremities, such as in cases of hypothermia where blood is shunted to maintain core temperature, certain medical conditions that interfere with the body’s thermoregulatory processes, ingestion of substances that depress the central nervous system (e.g., alcohol or sedatives), and severe malnutrition that depletes the body’s energy reserves and impairs metabolism.
the body's internal thermostat works through a negative feedback loop similar to a house's heating system. When external temperatures drop, our bodies can generate heat through mechanisms such as shivering, which is involuntary muscle movement generating heat, and the breakdown of stored energy to produce warmth. However, when individuals are unable to keep up with the cold, such as in a blizzard, the body may conserve energy by becoming lethargic.
Other mechanisms the body uses to regulate temperature include sweating, dilation of blood vessels, and behavioral responses such as seeking shade or warmer surroundings. In the case of a fever, the body can also experience chills to help cool down. However, prolonged exposure to severe cold can cause tissues to freeze, leading to frostbite, which can have permanent consequences if not treated promptly.
Qn : What five things can cause a decrease in someone's temperature?