What is the core temperature at which shivering stops in a hypothermic patient?

Shivering is a primary thermoregulatory response aimed at generating heat in hypothermic patients. As the core temperature decreases, shivering helps maintain body heat by increasing muscle activity. However, this process eventually becomes ineffective and ceases at a certain temperature threshold.

In a hypothermic patient, shivering typically stops at a core temperature of approximately 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit). At this temperature, the body’s mechanisms for generating heat through muscle activity are overwhelmed by the effects of hypothermia. Beyond this point, further drops in body temperature can lead to more significant physiological disturbances and a higher risk of serious complications, such as cardiac dysrhythmias.

Understanding the cessation of shivering at this temperature is crucial for critical care paramedics. It indicates a shift in the body’s ability to respond to cold and signals that further intervention, such as rewarming, is urgently needed to prevent progression of hypothermia and related complications.