Is my body temperature normal?

98.6°F is wrong

The 98.6°F (37°C) standard comes from Carl Wunderlich in 1851. Modern research shows average body temperature has dropped.

Modern normal ranges

• Normal: 36.1–37.2°C (97.0–99.0°F)
• Low-grade fever: 37.3–38.0°C (99.1–100.4°F)
• Fever: 38.0°C+ (100.4°F+)
• Modern average: 36.6°C (97.9°F) — dropped ~0.4°C since 1851

Why has temperature dropped?

• Lower rates of chronic infection (TB, dental infections)
• Better climate control — less metabolic energy for thermoregulation
• Lower metabolic rate in modern populations
• Temperature is lowest at 4am and highest at 6pm

Sources: Protsiv et al. (2020, eLife), Mackowiak et al. (1992, JAMA), Stanford Medicine.