I know people can get fevers up to +100f/37c. So why can’t our body just flip a switch and turn on a fever essentially. I have plenty of “stored” energy so I don’t see how that would be a problem.
In: Biology
Your body temperature is largely regulated automatically. For the body ‘feeling cold’ isn’t reason enough to heat up intensely since its not a survival risk (typically), people can feel cold for way longer than they think.
All else being equal, having a healthy strong immune system via (semi-) regular exercise, consistent sleep, and eating more fruits in your diet will boost your average energy levels and negate some of the cold you feel, although the cold will be there you will feel it less.
Think also about the temperature difference that you are referring to. Your core body temperature is around 98 degrees F. To get to 101 is only three more degrees F.
If you are feeling cold in 30 degree whether, that 3 degree increase in heat isn’t going to change the game for you. You’ll still feel cold at 33. You’ll still feel cold at 36, 42, 45… and so on. The amount of energy you would need to spend to get up to the point where you don’t feel cold is tremendous and beyond the capacity of your caloric reserves.
Also, your body DOES try to heat itself up when you are cold. It has brown fat cells that are purposed to generate heat, specifically around your internal organs. You also have processes to make you generate heat through shivering. These systems just are not capable of generating the amount of heat that you are looking for.
your body is gonig with the path of least effort in order ot survive(read effort as: using resources)
the body doesnt know how long it has to be exposed to the cold, so it goes into survival mode.
its easier ot trap heat where its needed than to raise the temperature
the latter requires a lot of energy, energy you might not be able ot spare in order to mantain body functionality, while the 1st only requires controllnig bloodflow ot the vitals parts.
It tries to heat you up but you lose heat too fast and your body can’t compensate.
When you are sick, even at your room temperature you can feel cold. Your body conserves more energy to increase your body temperature. If it is too cold your body temperature still can’t go up.
The body can do that – we have brown adipose tissue meant specifically for that. The problem is, it doesn’t really work well in modern people, because we rarely get exposed to cold temperatures anymore.
Essentially, what Wim Hof does is comepletely normal, and more or less anybody should be able to do it with some regular cold exposure and enough food to eat.
Just wanted to throw in an interesting fact related to this. Some people have been able to actually increase their body temperature consciously.
A very commonly shown technique is the tumo meditation. Or a technique used by the infamous “ice man” Wim Hof. Who has a world record in the longest time spent in an ice bath of over 1 hour. He was able to do so because he was consciously increasing his body temperature to fight the cold.
A lot of his students have learned this too, and controlling other automatic body functions consciously, such as the immune response and whatnot.
these answers are correct but ar emissing one key point:
your body’s response to cold takes time: you feel cold because it takes time for your bodies heat mechanisms to have an effect.
also – some mechanisms we evolved are now pretty much useless e.g. raising skin hairs to trap a layer of warm air next to the skin
I’ve spent a lot of time in the cold. If you are full, hydrated, rested, and active you won’t feel cold. As others have said, your body has survival as top priority. If it is sure that you’re thriving, it won’t complain. Otherwise, it will conserve every calorie.
As far as stored energy, it takes a lot of time to access and eating sugar and carbs delays this. Eating fat makes it easier to burn fat.
I think I can explain this in ELI5 style.
Your body is trying to lose heat slower, so it reduces bloodflow to the extremities. Your body works it’s damnedest to warm your innards, like your heart, brain, etc., Focusing it’s attention in the most important organs for as long as possible to keep you alive. Your body doesn’t know how long it will be in the cold, so it goes into survival mode.
Interestingly, alcahol can make you ‘feel’ warm, because it increases bloodflow to your extremities. This feels nice for a short spurt in the cold, but it will kill you much faster.
It requires energy, the body doesn’t like to waste energy, it also is damaging to the body so it only happens when the body is seriously at risk.
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