Is low body temperature a cause for concern?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 85-year-old female with an often low body temperature. I feel very warm, like I have a fever, but when I take my temperature it can be as low as 95 or 96. This has happened several times.
I’ve heard that a low temp is just the same as a high fever. I take numerous medications, including for my thyroid, which my doctor has had trouble regulating. What do you think? Could this be related? My normal body temp seems to run about 97. — D.C.
ANSWER: Normal body temperature varies, both during the day (morning temperatures are lowest), among people (normal values in young adults range from 96 F (35.6 C) to 100.8 F (38.2 C), and across ages, with older people tending to have lower body temperatures by 0.4 F (0.2 C). So, 97 F is not necessarily unusual.
However, certain medical conditions can cause the temperature to be abnormally low. Low thyroid blood levels certainly can make temperatures lower, as can other endocrine abnormalities (especially diabetes, pituitary gland problems and adrenal insufficiency). Some people with chronic kidney disease have low temperatures. Some medications can affect body temperature; the most common are anti-psychotic medicines, barbiturates (almost never used anymore) and alcohol.