Low body temperature and headache: causes, treatment

Causes of symptoms

Low body temperature (hypothermia) is a decrease in thermometer readings of less than 35 degrees

The clinical picture occurs in many acute and chronic diseases. This may be a dysfunction of the liver, stomach, or adrenal glands.

A common cause is vegetative-vascular dystonia. This term is often found in modern medicine, but does not refer to officially recognized concepts in medicine. The diagnosis is most often given to those who experience panic attacks, uncontrolled increases in blood pressure, and shortness of breath for no apparent reason.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia has other symptoms:

weakness;
short-term decrease in body temperature;
redness or vice versa – blanching of the skin;
dizziness, sometimes headache.

At the initial stage of development of the infectious process, a decrease in body temperature is observed. The mechanism of symptom development is associated with the body’s specific reaction to the action of the virus.

Another cause of headaches and decreased body temperature is general hypothermia of the body. In this case, it is enough to drink hot tea and relax, wrapped in a warm blanket.

The cause of low body temperature and headache may lie in emotional stress, for example, due to exposure to a stressful situation. You need to calm down, take the appropriate medication or drink lemon balm tea for the symptoms to disappear.

Low fever and headache in adults often accompany pregnancy. During this period, hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body, which enhance the work of all endocrine cells.

Failure to eat a balanced diet may also result in headaches and decreased body temperature. In this case, you need to normalize your food intake, include sufficient quantities of vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, and dairy products in your diet.

Other conditions that occur with a decrease in body temperature and headache:

diabetes;
inflammatory and tumor-like processes in the cerebral region;
alcohol and drug intoxication of the body;
chronic fatigue;
anemia.

Fluctuations in body temperature depend on many factors: time of day, age, the presence of chronic inflammatory foci in the body, and characteristics of the body.

Low body temperature and headache

Headache in case of low temperature is a fairly typical combination.

For some (few) people, low body temperature is not a painful condition, but just an unusual feature of a normally functioning body.

At the same time, low body temperature is observed much less frequently than high body temperature. That is why the occurrence of such a combination requires quite serious attention and examination.

The reasons why a headache occurs in combination with low body temperature may be as follows:

significant overwork or severe stress;
inflammation of the brain against the background of a pronounced decrease in immunity;
tumor processes of certain brain structures;
severe anemia;
decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism);
pregnancy status;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
extreme degree of exhaustion;
consequences of extensive frostbite or general freezing.

It is necessary to understand that a single drop in body temperature is not a reason to panic, even in combination with a headache. If these symptoms recur regularly or practically do not disappear, you should seek medical advice.

Overwork and stress

Excessive stress (physical and emotional) occurs almost regularly in the life chain of almost every modern person.

The consequence of such excessive stress is an increase in energy costs and a deterioration in the blood supply to all internal organs. Only the human brain is deprived of any nutrient reserves.

Therefore, symptoms of damage to the central nervous system occur first.

A person feels a fairly intense headache, often experiencing nausea and even repeated vomiting, dizziness, memory and attention disorders.

If the impact of a stress factor does not stop, or, on the contrary, increases, the brain in a unique way “turns off” those areas that are least needed in a given specific situation in order to provide more important areas with what is needed.

That is why the thermoregulatory center plunges into a dormant state - a decrease in body temperature is noted.

You should not push an exhausted body and continue to act in a stressful mode. The body requires urgent and long-term rest. It is advisable to include in the complex of rehabilitation measures the intake of multivitamin complexes and walks in the fresh air.

Brain diseases

Numerous diseases of the central nervous system of an inflammatory or destructive (tumor) nature are accompanied by headaches. In some situations, it is the only sign of a change in condition.

In most cases, body temperature rises, less often it drops. The latter option indicates the rapid progression of the disease and the absence of the necessary protective reaction of the body.

Changes in the thermoregulatory center itself (hypothalamus) are possible, then the most bizarre temperature fluctuations are possible.

In inflammatory processes of the brain, symptoms such as nausea and repeated vomiting, which does not bring the desired relief to the sick person, photophobia, and an increase in headaches with sharp sounds or smells, often dominate. Urgent hospitalization and intensive treatment are required.

Tumor and other degenerative processes (multiple sclerosis) usually increase gradually, the headache will be less intense, and nausea may be absent.

The symptoms of a focal lesion come to the fore, that is, the destruction of a certain area is manifested by the loss or change of certain functions.

This may be loss of motor or sensory functions, memory impairment, attention, speech, perception of sounds or surrounding objects.

In any doubtful cases, consultation with a neurologist and instrumental examination (computed tomography and other techniques) are required.

Vegetovascular dystonia

This disease is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms and causes a lot of inconvenience to a person, but no morphological changes are found in all organs. At the same time, the symptoms (subjective sensations) can be quite intense and force a person to endlessly consult doctors. The most common signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia are as follows:

headache that has a constant aching character;
decreased or slightly increased body temperature;
nausea and repeated vomiting, combined with poor appetite or even aversion to food, quite severe diffuse abdominal pain;
palpitations and pain in the chest area, fluctuations in blood pressure.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia consists of general strengthening measures (vitamins, hardening), combined use (if necessary) of medications that reduce or increase the overall tone of the body.

Decreased thyroid function

Hypothyroidism can be either acquired or congenital; accordingly, it can manifest itself in both a very young child and an adult. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the function of this organ, since thyroid hormones take part in all parts of the metabolism of the human body.

Hypothyroidism in general is characterized by symptoms of depression of all vital functions, namely:

slowing down of all aspects of higher nervous activity (inattention, slow thinking) in combination with periodic or constant headaches;
low body temperature, constant lethargy and drowsiness;
dry skin and mucous membranes;
palpitations and severe pain in the chest, dizziness to the point of fainting;
constipation, flatulence and diffuse abdominal pain.

To establish the cause of hypothyroidism, careful instrumental and laboratory diagnostics are necessary. Treatment usually consists of hormone replacement therapy with synthetic analogues of thyroid compounds.

Exhaustion of the body

In rare cases, when the human body is exhausted and exhausted by a long-term illness (chronic or acute), increasing organ failure is observed. The brain is the first to suffer.

This situation can occur with a progressive oncological process, gram-positive or gram-negative sepsis, in the terminal stage of HIV infection, and also after massive blood loss.

All reserves of the human body are exhausted, and all vital functions gradually fade away. In this case, low temperature is an extremely unfavorable sign, indicating the approach of biological death.

Frostbite or general freezing

Exposure to low ambient temperatures cannot but affect the temperature of the human body. At the same time, not only short-term exposure to very low temperatures on individual parts of the body is dangerous (for example, when wearing clothes that are not appropriate for the season), but also long-term exposure of a person to low ambient temperatures.

In the first case, frostbite occurs - damage to individual parts of the human body with a possible general reaction of the body.

In the second - general freezing, that is, spasm of all peripheral vessels to reduce heat consumption. In all cases, the body reacts by lowering body temperature.

With general freezing, a sharp dilation of all blood vessels develops after a long spasm - a fairly severe headache is noted.

General freezing should be eliminated by exposure to warm clothing or a bath (not hot), and warm, generous drinking of non-alcoholic beverages. In case of frostbite, you should carefully warm the affected areas of the body.

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Source: https://tutbolinet.ru/golova/bol-pri-ponizhennoj-temperature.html

Clinical picture

Dizziness may occur at low temperatures

Low body temperature and headache are complemented by other clinical manifestations:

weakness, decreased ability to work;
paleness of the skin;
trembling;
dizziness;
increased drowsiness;
decrease or increase in heart rate.

If the body temperature is below 34 degrees Celsius, a person’s speech becomes slurred, motor activity is impaired, the nasolabial triangle turns blue, and hallucinations may occur.

Brain diseases

Numerous diseases of the central nervous system of an inflammatory or destructive (tumor) nature are accompanied by headaches. In some situations it is the only sign of a change in condition. In most cases, body temperature increases, less often decreases. The latter option indicates the rapid course of the disease and the absence of the necessary protective reaction of the body. Changes in the thermoregulatory center itself (hypothalamus) are possible, then the most bizarre temperature fluctuations are possible.

In inflammatory processes of the brain, symptoms such as nausea and repeated vomiting, which does not bring the desired relief to the sick person, photophobia, and an increase in headaches with sharp sounds or smells, often dominate. Urgent hospitalization and intensive treatment are required.

Tumor and other degenerative processes (multiple sclerosis) usually increase gradually, the headache will be less intense, and nausea may be absent. The symptoms of a focal lesion come to the fore, that is, the destruction of a certain area is manifested by the loss or change of certain functions. This may be loss of motor or sensory functions, memory impairment, attention, speech, perception of sounds or surrounding objects.

In any doubtful cases, consultation with a neurologist and instrumental examination (computed tomography and other techniques) are required.

Diagnosis of the cause

If symptoms occur, you should consult a physician.

If you have a headache and a decrease in body temperature, you should consult a therapist. The scope of diagnostic measures is determined depending on the general condition of the patient. If there is a pronounced decrease in indicators, hardware and laboratory diagnostics are prescribed:

Blood tests. Biological material is examined for the level of glucose, hemoglobin and red blood cells. Based on the results of a biochemical blood test, signs of dysfunction of internal organs and the inflammatory process can be determined.
Hormonal studies. To identify diseases of the thyroid gland, thyroxine, free T3, and thyroid-stimulating hormones of the pituitary gland are determined for quantitative indicators.
X-ray analysis, computer and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Based on the results of diagnostic measures, pathological formations in the cerebral region can be identified.

If necessary, the patient is referred for consultation with a specialized specialist: neurologist, oncologist, endocrinologist, etc.

Overwork and stress

Excessive stress (physical and emotional) occurs almost regularly in the life chain of almost every modern person. The consequence of such excessive stress is an increase in energy costs and a deterioration in the blood supply to all internal organs. Only the human brain is deprived of any nutrient reserves. Therefore, symptoms of damage to the central nervous system occur first.

A person feels a fairly intense headache, often experiencing nausea and even repeated vomiting, dizziness, memory and attention disorders. If the impact of a stress factor does not stop, or, on the contrary, increases, the brain in a unique way “turns off” those areas that are least needed in a given specific situation in order to provide more important areas with what is needed. That is why the thermoregulatory center plunges into a dormant state - a decrease in body temperature is noted.

Features of treatment

Warming - first aid for low temperatures

If the thermometer reaches more than 32-34 degrees Celsius, as a first aid measure you can limit yourself to warming up, for example, by wrapping yourself in a warm blanket and drinking warm tea. You can take a hot bath.

If hypothermia persists for a long time, but the patient's condition remains satisfactory, no specific therapy is performed. It is enough to correct your lifestyle: proper rest, sleep for at least 8 hours, and maintaining a balanced diet.

In case of a critical decrease in body temperature and headache, inhalation of warm humidified oxygen and intravenous administration of a special heated solution are prescribed. In some cases, extracorporeal blood purification is indicated.

With a slight decrease in body temperature, depending on the etiology of the symptom, the following methods are used:

Taking antibacterial drugs. Prescribed if the patient has a bacterial infection, which at the initial stage of development can occur with a low temperature. Broad-spectrum agents are used by intravenous infusion.
Taking hormonal drugs. Prescribed to accelerate metabolic processes in the body and restore normal body temperature.
Drugs from the group of antidepressants. Designed to improve neural connections between different parts of the brain. The restoration of normal temperature is due to stimulation of the hypothalamus and an increase in contractile thermogenesis.
Products from the group of vitamins. Prescribed drugs containing group B, which improve the transmission of impulses along nerves and muscle fibers, as well as restore trophic processes in tissues.
Means for suppressing intoxication of the body. These contribute to the binding and destruction of toxic substances.

If a headache and low temperature are symptoms of the development of an oncological process or the presence of a formation of a different etiology in the body, surgical intervention is performed.

The danger of low temperature in children

Hypothermia, which occurs at a young age, is observed during periods of quiet activity, sleep, and prolonged exposure to cold. For many babies, a low temperature is normal. If the temperature does not even reach 35 °C for several days, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician. Constant temperature fluctuations indicate improper metabolism and malfunctions of organs and systems, so the lack of medical care is fraught with speech defects, dizziness, fainting and coma.

In children, the temperature decreases for the following reasons:

hypothermia, frostbite;
acceleration of growth and development;
treatment of colds and infectious diseases (low temperature lasts for several hours after taking antipyretic drugs);
deficiency of microelements necessary for growth (in this case, the child’s body does not have enough nutrients to maintain a stable temperature);
stress, fatigue , which manifest themselves in adolescence due to mental instability, but constant stay in a state of emotional tension should be a signal to contact a specialist;
decreased immunity, post-vaccination period.

Preventive measures

For prevention, it is necessary to observe a work and rest schedule

To prevent diseases and conditions that cause a similar clinical picture, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

lead an active lifestyle;
maintain a balanced diet;
carry out hardening procedures (contrast shower, etc.);
adhere to the work and rest schedule;
avoid overwork;
be less nervous.

If you cannot avoid the appearance of a headache and a decrease in body temperature, it is better to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body and begin treatment immediately. Any disease is easier to treat at the initial stage of development.

ARVI

Seasonal viral infections are commonly associated with elevated body temperature, but this is not always the case.
The fever usually persists in the first days of the disease, but during the recovery period, many patients suffer from weakness and hypothermia (in the morning the temperature does not rise above 36 ° C), associated with recent stress and a temporary decrease in the body's defenses. Are you sick? No problem! Oscillococcinum will help your immune system cope with ARVI and influenza.

If you take Oscillococcinum as soon as you notice a deterioration in your health, the drug will be able to stop the development of the disease. There will be no exhausting days with high fever, no sleepless nights due to a stuffy nose, and no forced diet due to a sore throat!

Vegetovascular dystonia

headache that has a constant aching character;
decreased or slightly increased body temperature;
nausea and repeated vomiting, combined with poor appetite or even aversion to food, quite severe diffuse abdominal pain;
palpitations and pain in the chest area, fluctuations in blood pressure.

Exhaustion of the body

In rare cases, when the human body is exhausted and exhausted by a long-term illness (chronic or acute), increasing organ failure is observed. The brain is the first to suffer. This situation can occur with a progressive oncological process, gram-positive or gram-negative sepsis, in the terminal stage of HIV infection, and also after massive blood loss.

All reserves of the human body are exhausted, and all vital functions gradually fade away. In this case, low temperature is an extremely unfavorable sign, indicating the approach of biological death.