These include bacteria, viruses, drugs or blood products. When a person shivers with a fever, according to Dr. Holtzclaw, friction from muscle contractions produces heat and drives the body temperature even higher. Shivering plays a role in both the cause and the effect of fever. The fever begins like a wave. It starts low and rises until it reaches the 'set point,' which is the point where the system says this is as warm as you are going to get, and it stays at this point until the cytokine level drops.
Cytokines cause the body s temperature to elevate by resetting the brain s thermostat.
The cytokines are making us feel miserable. Dr. Holtzclaw's early research dealt with thermal regulation and symptoms relating to the patient's thermal comfort, specifically after open-heart surgery when the body temperature drops. Shivering was her topic of interest. Most patients have a violent reaction to this drug. They shiver uncontrollably and shake with chills.