Human Body Temperature

How is our body temperature maintained?

            Man is a homoeothermic or warm blooded creature. His normal body temperature remains almost constant in all the seasons. The temperature of the surroundings affects it very little. The normal temperature of a healthy person remains at 37⁰ F or 98.4⁰ F. as a result of this, the body remains warm.

Human Body normal temperature remains at 37 centigrade degrees

            Our body receives heat energy from the food we eat. The food substances produced heat by the process known as oxidation. Oxidation is a kind of combustion that takes place in our body. We know that the burning of fuels produces heat. The oxidation of food produces heat in the similar manner. The only difference is that burning of fuels produces both heat and light, while combustion of food produces only heat.

            The body uses the heat produced by food for doing different kinds of work. Food such as flour, rice, sugar and potatoes contain sufficient quantity of carbohydrates. To consume foods containing carbohydrates is very important and necessary to the body because they keep body warm and provide it energy. Normally 2500 calories of heat energy is produced every day in the body of a human being. This energy keeps the body warm and enables its various organs to do different kinds of works.

            The temperature center of the brain maintains the temperature of the body. This center consists of three parts- control center that regulates the temperature of the blood; heating center that raises the temperature of the blood when it drops; and the cooling center that cools the blood when the temperature rises.

            Whenever a disturbance occurs in the temperature center of the brain, the body starts shivering and these results in fever. If the disturbance occurs in the beating center it causes shivering whereas the abnormality in the cooling center causes fever in the body. The body always radiates heat to the surroundings. Whenever we sleep or sit on something, it becomes warm due to the heat coming out from our body.

            Many diseases cause a rise in body temperature. This happens because the body produces more heat than it can give off. Much disease causing bacteria are killed by even a small increase in the person’s body temperature. But if the body temperature rises above 44⁰ C, it often results in death because some important enzymes are destroyed.

Why does Man Grow Old?

            Everyone grows older with each passing year. Every man in this world wishes to live long and nobody wants to grow old. But this desire of man is never fulfilled. Growing old is a natural process that begins with birth itself and continues throughout the life.

An Old Man

            As man grows older, biological changes take place in the body. These changes can neither be prevented nor be reversed. Old age is the culminating of these biological changes. Do you know which are the biological changes brought about by old age?

            The biological processes in child’s body are much faster than those taking place in the body of an older person. As the biological processes slow down, the strength and sensitivity of man also diminish. This is because of the fact that the rate production of proteins in the body decreases. Changes in the enzymes are also responsible for aging process. With reduced physical activity man starts losing weight; his eyesight becomes weak ad his hair grays, thins out and he often becomes completely bald. All these are signs of old age.

            In old age, changes occur in all the cells and tissues of the body. The cells of the kidney, liver and intestines become weak. Blood vessels become old and consequently they are not able to carry blood and other nutritionist adequately to all parts of the body. As a result, the process of aging is accelerated. As age advances, the eyes, ears, skin, teeth and digestion, all become weaker. Blood circulation becomes irregular. Various organs start malfunctioning. Finally, life comes to an end.

            The rate of growing old may be different people but old age spares none. This is a definite biological change, which cannot be prevented. However, with the help of nutritious food, clean environment and proper exercises, the deleterious effects of old age can be mitigated to some extent.