Shivering is a homeostatic function that regulates body temperature. The brain detects cold through different sensory systems, prompting the body to shiver and produce more heat. Shivering can be caused by anesthesia or fever, and as we age, our ability to identify changes in temperature decreases.
The human body has many amazing systems that help us function smoothly under various conditions. Our body has homeostatic functions that automatically control, regulate, and regulate our important systems without us even knowing it. Breathing, heart rate, weight regulation and blood pressure are all regulated unconsciously. Shivering is just one such homeostatic function that our body employs to regulate our body temperature. Also called a thermoregulatory shiver, we shiver in an attempt to keep warm.
Our brain detects cold both consciously and unconsciously simultaneously through different sensory systems, which prompts the body to shiver: the sensory system that causes the shiver is not the same as our conscious detection of cold. Our body tries to maintain our core temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees C), despite the ambient temperature. In an effort to avoid hypothermia in which our body temperature drops to dangerous levels, our muscles are prompted to rapidly contract and expand, resulting in a shiver. This in turn produces more heat in the skeletal muscles to provide extra heat to our organs. Uses a lot of energy and severe shivering is a last resort in an attempt to stay warm. Along with the chills, the teeth may chatter due to the tightening of the jaw muscles.
In some cases, we shiver after anesthesia, because the drugs and medications affect the body’s ability to regulate our temperature. This can result in our core body temperature dropping, and we shiver to compensate. It is usually a transient side effect and should clear up in less than an hour.
Fever sufferers may also shiver and shiver with chills. Although they may have a temperature above 98.6 degrees, the body temperature “set point” has been raised by the brain since the onset of fever. This prompts the body to do things to make it warmer. Chills when you have a fever create more heat than cold, further raising your body temperature.
Chills are just another way our bodies work to maintain themselves — take it as a cue to get out of the cold, or add another layer. Also remember that as we age, our sensory systems have a reduced ability to identify changes in temperature and respond accordingly. Older people should rely less on our body’s automatic response systems and more on common sense in extreme cold or heat.
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