What happens to core body temperature during intoxication?

Study for the Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Test. Learn about effects on body systems, associated risks, and prevention. Take multiple-choice questions, explore hints and explanations. Prepare effectively to ensure success!

Multiple Choice

What happens to core body temperature during intoxication?

Explanation:
When someone is intoxicated, alcohol disrupts the body’s thermostat in the brain (the hypothalamus) and causes blood vessels near the skin to dilate (vasodilation). This increases heat loss from the core to the environment and also reduces the body's ability to generate and conserve heat (shivering diminishes, metabolism may be lowered). The combination of more heat loss and less heat production typically lowers the core body temperature, especially in cooler surroundings. That’s why the core temperature tends to decrease during intoxication, and in cold settings there’s a higher risk of hypothermia. This is why decreasing is the best answer.

When someone is intoxicated, alcohol disrupts the body’s thermostat in the brain (the hypothalamus) and causes blood vessels near the skin to dilate (vasodilation). This increases heat loss from the core to the environment and also reduces the body's ability to generate and conserve heat (shivering diminishes, metabolism may be lowered). The combination of more heat loss and less heat production typically lowers the core body temperature, especially in cooler surroundings. That’s why the core temperature tends to decrease during intoxication, and in cold settings there’s a higher risk of hypothermia. This is why decreasing is the best answer.

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