Is it okay to bundle up too warm and turn the heat up so high in winter or are we messing with our natural thermostat?

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Temperatures drop and we urbanites bundle up as if we were going to climb Everest (from the layers of clothing that we put on our children, we better not even talk anymore). In our houses, the

is so high that it is hotter than in June because, when summer arrives, we give so much power to the

that there is no year that we escape without catching a sore throat.

Has this warming up got out of hand? Dr. Sonia Montilla, from the Neurology Service of the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital (Madrid), helps us try to shed some light on the subject: "The hair of mammals is essential for

. However, humans do not have this thermal insulator. For this reason, we must

If we wrap ourselves up a little, although the body can generate heat, the body temperature can drop and we will be more exposed to infectious diseases. On the other hand,

, the sweat glands will secrete more sweat to cool our body, just like if we turn the heat on too high."

So how much wind chill can we 'tolerate'? "Our average body temperature is

. We can tolerate low temperatures, for example, by decreasing the peripheral circulation to exchange less heat with the environment. If they are too low,

. However, these mechanisms

at a temperature that is too low and for a long enough time", explains Montilla.

And of heat? In summer, do we pull too much on the air conditioning? "We probably

. We have cooling mechanisms such as increasing peripheral circulation or sweating to exchange more heat with the environment. However, we must protect ourselves from temperatures that are too high because they could be harmful. For example, heat stroke is relatively common in older people.

But, then, does each person have

or is it 'built' with our lifestyle? "We all share the vast majority of

, but each one of us has

. For example, adipose tissue under the skin is a reserve of lipids that also functions as a thermal insulator and people can be fatter or heavier. thin. We can also be colder or hotter."

How does this first world 'mania' of 'overprotecting' ourselves from temperatures affect our natural thermostat? "There is no doubt that

in more developed countries. This can lead us to put the heating too high or abuse the air conditioning. However, if necessary, the body would use its innate mechanisms of thermoregulation.

How does that natural thermostat work? "

is an advantage of the most evolved animals because

at all times. Humans have systems for heating, cooling and regulating heat exchange with the body.

When we detect

, we generate more heat and decrease heat exchange by decreasing peripheral circulation, we even shiver to force the muscles to generate more work. On the contrary, when we detect

, we increase peripheral circulation and secrete sweat, which captures body heat to evaporate.

Conclusion?

You know, common sense and moderation.

The question is, are we also born with that as standard?

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