Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 85-year-old female with an often low body temperature. I feel very warm, like I have a fever, but when I take my temperature it can be as low as 95 or 96. This has happened several times.

I’ve heard that a low temp is just the same as a high fever. I take numerous medications, including for my thyroid, which my doctor has had trouble regulating. What do you think? Could this be related? My normal body temp seems to run about 97. — D.C.

Answer: Normal body temperature varies, both during the day (morning temperatures are lowest), among people (normal values in young adults range from 96 F to 100.8 F, and across ages, with older people tending to have lower body temperatures by 0.4 F. So, 97 F is not necessarily unusual.

However, certain medical conditions can cause the temperature to be abnormally low. Low thyroid blood levels certainly can make temperatures lower, as can other endocrine abnormalities (especially diabetes, pituitary gland problems and adrenal insufficiency). Some people with chronic kidney disease have low temperatures. Some medications can affect body temperature; the most common are anti-psychotic medicines, barbiturates (almost never used anymore) and alcohol.

There are very worrisome causes of low body temperature. Sepsis, a state of abnormal body equilibrium related to serious infection, can present with either fever or low body temperature, which probably is where you got the idea that low temperature is as bad as a fever. Of course, exposure to cold can cause low temperature (hypothermia), but that’s not what we are concerned about here.

Hopefully your doctor will get your thyroid regulated, but if your kidney function is OK, you’re not taking any of the medications listed and you are feeling fine, it’s much more likely that this body temperature is normal for you rather than being a sign of a serious condition.