# Body temperature fluctuations while sleeping

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-temperature-fluctuations-while-sleeping/252534>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-temperature-fluctuations-while-sleeping/252534 "2004-06-28T13:01:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-temperature-fluctuations-while-sleeping/252534/1 "2004-06-28T13:01:19Z")

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Does the human body temperature normally fluctuate at night when you’re sleeping?

I ask because on several occasions I’ve woken up in the middle of the night (normally 2-3 hours after I’ve gone to sleep) feeling really crappy and feverish - body aches, slightly nauseous. Then, when I take my temperature, it’s around 96.5. If I get out from under the covers, I get very chilled and have uncontrollable shivvering. I pile on the covers and maybe put on some fleece underwear to try to warm up. Eventually, I will warm up, my body temp gets back to around 98.6, and I have to start shedding layers of clothing. If I manage to get back to sleep, I’ll be very sweaty when I wake up normally.

Do I need to replace my thermostat?

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**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-temperature-fluctuations-while-sleeping/252534/2 "2004-06-28T13:26:02Z")

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From what I’ve gathered, a two-degree-Fahrenheit change in your body temperature is not at all abnormal. From [this page](http://www.roundtheclocksystems.com/methods4_circadian_rhythms.html):

> [@](#):
>
> Healthy humans experience rhythmic variations in their body temperature throughout the course of each day. For most people, the difference between high and low values is about two degrees Fahrenheit (97° to 99°), with the lowest value typically occurring in the early morning hours (2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.) and the highest values commonly occurring in the evening (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.).

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**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-temperature-fluctuations-while-sleeping/252534/3 "2004-06-29T12:43:44Z")

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I guess that begs the question: do I normally drop down to that temperature, and I just happened to notice it because I woke up?