A failure of homeostasis – the balance of essential physiological states – can mean disaster for an organism. If your body temperature falls too low or goes too high, you might experience hypothermia or heatstroke, which can both be life-threatening.

What happens to the body when homeostasis breaks down?

What happens to the body when homeostasis breaks down? When homeostasis fails, organ systems function less efficiently or even malfunction. The result is the state that we call disease. If the situation is not corrected, death can result.

What is an example of disrupted homeostasis?

Diseases that result from a homeostatic imbalance include heart failure and diabetes, but many more examples exist. Diabetes occurs when the control mechanism for insulin becomes imbalanced, either because there is a deficiency of insulin or because cells have become resistant to insulin.