• Question: What is the highest tempature the human body can stand until you die....?

    Asked by jabber8 to Aime, Akshat, Diana, Gemma, Judith on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Judith McCann

      Judith McCann answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Its actually not that much higher than body temperature which is why you body has so many mechanisms for keping cool, sweat, pores opening etc. Really, it depends on a lot of factors, how long, what your wearing and humidity (of the air around you, this affects how quickly you loose water)

      Bascially a lot of proteins denature at around 45’C, so i think if your core temperature reached there you would be in trouble! but i think variance of 5’C in your core is enough to make you ill!!

    • Photo: Gemma Sharp

      Gemma Sharp answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Normal body temperature is about 37 degrees Centigrade, but if your body temperature increases by just three degrees to 40 degrees Centigrade, this can be life threatening.

      A fever of 41.5 degrees or over is called Hyperpyrexia, and that happens when the body’s thermostat goes a bit wrong and sets itself too high. Basically the body starts trying to generate heat even though it’s already too hot. Hyperpyrexia can be fatal and is considered a medical emergency.

    • Photo: Akshat Rathi

      Akshat Rathi answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Judith and Gemma are right. The body really cannot deal with very much temperature increase. I’ve seen patients go in to shock when the temperature of their body goes above 40 degrees centigrade. But Gemma is right I think anything beyond 41.5 would kill the person.

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