Expert: Walter Hintz - 4/29/2007

Question
Hi Mr. Hintz,

First, thank you for taking the time to be a resource for those of us with burning curiosities.  My question is as follows:
When I have a fever, I shiver as though I were standing out in the cold.  But when I have an elevated body temperature due to physical exertion, I sweat as though I were in a sauna.  Why do I experience such polar opposite perceptions of the same condition, namely, elevated body temperature?
Thanks again for considering and answering my question!  

Answer
Hi John;
 Sweating is a part of thermoregulation.  When body temperature increases water is lost through the skin and evaporation takes heat from the body.  If the cooling takes place rapidly then you will feel cool enough to shiver.
The body temperature rise comes first, then evaporation and cooling and then shivering.