Eli5: if humans run at 37.5 degrees Celsius why do temperatures lower than that feel hotter?

Question

Thinking about this while I sit in 20 degrees heat sweating my ass off. Like shouldn’t anything under 37 degrees feel cold to us?

In: 34

Answer 1

Because your body actually produces a lot more heat tham 37.5 degrees, and relies on environmental cooling to keep you from cooking in your own skin. The warmer the environment, the more work your body has to do to stay cool, so it provides that uncomfortable feeling to get you to find a more efficient spot to cool itself.