Wilderness Medicine Updates Ep. 27 - Thermoregulation: The Physics and Physiology of Body Temperature Regulation
Nov 4, 2025
Discover how your body regulates temperature through fascinating methods like conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation. Learn the importance of measuring core temperature and the physiological responses such as shivering and sweating. Delve into how age and pregnancy affect thermoregulation, and why understanding these principles is crucial for treating hypothermia and heat illnesses. Explore the brain's role in thermoregulation and the surprising effectiveness of behavioral responses.
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Use Reflective Blankets For Radiation Control
- Use reflective surfaces to reduce radiative heat gain or loss.
- Carry a Mylar space blanket to reflect ~98% of radiative heat and conserve core temperature overnight.
Evaporation Is A High-Yield Cooler
- Evaporation cools by converting liquid sweat into vapor, removing large amounts of heat.
- Evaporating 100 mL of water can lower core temperature by ~0.6°C in a 70 kg person.
Change Environment First
- Use behavioral changes first: alter environment or posture to control temperature.
- Seek shelter, change position, or move to a different microclimate before relying on physiological responses.