Why Humans Can Suffer the Effects of Overheating in Ambient Temperatures So Close to Their Own

Simon Whistler, host of the informative video series “Today I Found Out” explains why humans can can suffer from heat stroke or other overheating effects in ambient temperatures so close to their own body temperature of 98.6°F/37°C.

… too much heat, or too little, can be fatal for a variety of reasons including many necessary enzymatic functions not working properly outside of certain temperature bounds. So, to maintain the proper balance, your body uses several processes including exhaling warm air, sweating and having warm blood circulate close to the skin’s surface to cool off. …ambient temperatures that are around human body temperature are simply going to be too hot for your body’s cooling mechanisms to overcome the sweltering heat combined with the natural heat it generates while doing what’s necessary to keep you alive.