Time to Update: Why 37°C is no longer the norm for healthy body temperature
1 May 2024 14:39
The commonly accepted standard that the correct body temperature of a healthy person is 37 degrees Celsius is incorrect today, and we explain why.
Conclusions from research conducted by Stanford University scientists show that the current human body temperature is lower. Since the 1880s, when this norm was established, many things have changed, including our environment, which affects the lowering of the average body temperature.
The team from Stanford University analysed over 677,000 temperature measurements, comparing data from the times of the Civil War to the present. The research showed that each decade decreases the average body temperature by about 0.03 degrees Celsius.
In the past, our body temperature was higher
Dr Julie Parsonnet, who led the research, emphasizes that the traditionally accepted value of 37 degrees Celsius is incorrect. However, the researchers did not definitively determine what body temperatures should be considered too low or too high, limiting themselves to stating that current norms are outdated. Changing them would require even more research.
The history of medical thermometry dates back to the 19th century when German physician Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich established the 'normal' body temperature. However, it is important to remember that thermometers from that period and medical knowledge were significantly limited compared to today's standards. Mild inflammatory states were often underestimated in the past, but they are treated with due care today.
It is also worth noting that many factors influence the result of a body temperature measurement, such as the time of day, measurement method, last meal, or gender of the person being examined. Temperature fluctuations, depending on the menstrual cycle phase, are normal for women.
Considering all these variables, it becomes clear that using an outdated norm can lead to incorrect interpretations of health status, as highlighted by the research findings from Stanford University. The research also suggests updating the norm established in the 19th century.
