Hypothermia is the result of what physiological process?

Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops to levels that are dangerously low, typically below 95°F (35°C). The primary physiological process involved in hypothermia is the imbalance between heat production and heat loss. In a state of hypothermia, the body is losing more heat than it can generate through metabolic processes. This can happen due to prolonged exposure to cold environments, wet clothing, wind, or immersion in cold water, all of which can accelerate heat loss.

While the body attempts to compensate through mechanisms such as shivering (which generates heat) and conserving core heat by reducing blood flow to the skin and extremities, severe hypothermia can overwhelm these compensatory measures. Ultimately, the defining factor is that the heat loss exceeds heat production, leading to a drop in core body temperature and various physiological disruptions, manifesting as hypothermia.