How does your body regulate its own temperature?

Your body regulates temperature through a process called thermoregulation, controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain, which acts as a thermostat set around 98.6°F (37°C). When you're too hot, your body responds by sweating, which cools the skin through evaporation, and by dilating blood vessels near the skin surface to release heat. When you're too cold, you shiver, which generates heat through rapid muscle contractions, and blood vessels near the skin constrict to keep warm blood closer to vital organs. The body also adjusts metabolic rate to produce more or less heat as needed. Behavioral responses like seeking shade or putting on clothing also play an important role in maintaining a stable core temperature.