It’s okay to feel cold during the winter or if your office has an aggressive AC. However, if you are cold all the time for an unknown reason, it might be due to some problems in your body. Here are seven common reasons why you might be feeling cold all the time.
1. Hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is a disorder that is characterized by insufficient thyroid function. This means that the thyroid can’t produce normal levels of the hormones that regulate your organs and metabolism. Hypothyroidism can be caused by different factors and the most common one is Hashimoto’s disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), this is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid.
Since improper thyroid function impacts many systems in the body, it can provoke many symptoms including inability to lose weight, fatigue, unexplained weight gain, constipation, skin dryness, thinning hair, depression, irregular periods in women, and high sensitivity to cold.
Hypothyroidism treatment usually includes taking a synthetic replacement for thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. It’s also important to run some blood tests to check your hormone levels to find the correct dose for you.
2. Anxiety or panic attacks.
Anxiety is usually linked to feeling sweaty, however it can make you feel cold all the time. Feeling anxious can cause cold and clammy hands. Panic attacks can lead to full-body chills, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). These sensations happen because of stress-related fight-or-flight responses that affect your body’s functioning.
Like in the case of other conditions listed in this article, feeling cold all the time is just one of the signs. Other symptoms of panic attacks include an insurmountable feeling of worry or fear, a rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing.
3. Rapid weight loss.
Your body needs fat to conserve heat, therefore it makes sense that if you have lost a significant amount of weight, you might be feeling cold. Plus, if your weight loss is linked to consuming too few calories, this can slow down your metabolism and your temperature regulation might not be as efficient as usual. Therefore, feeling cold all the time can be one of many signs of an eating disorder called anorexia.
4. Cold intolerance.
There are some people who can simply have cold intolerance for no reason. it’s not a sign of a serious condition or any disease. Of course, some disorders can lead to cold intolerance but in these cases, you experience a wide range of other noticeable signs that you will notice first.
If you’re concerned about your state of health, visit your health care provider. They will likely look at your medical records and ask about how often you’re cold, about your concerns, and unusual symptoms. This can help determine the type of testing that might be necessary to make a proper diagnosis.
5. Anemia.
According to the American Society of Hematology (ASH), anemia is a condition in which blood lacks healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. This can be due to the fact that the body produces too few red blood cells, destroys too many red blood cells, or loses too much blood for some reason. This results in insufficient blood circulation in your limbs making you feel cold. Anemia is also accompanied by weakness, severe fatigue, irregular heartbeat, pale and dry skin, chest pain, and frequent headaches.
Anemia can occur for various reasons but the most common cause of it is an iron deficiency, according to the Mayo Clinic. Inadequate iron intake can lead to insufficient hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is a protein that allows your red blood cells to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. Other types of anemia are linked to deficiencies in folate and vitamin B-12, which are essential for producing red blood cells, and to genetics like the chronic illness sickle cell anemia
6. Raynaud’s disease.
Raynaud’s disease is a disorder that makes your extremities cold, discolored, numb, and even painful when you’re in cold temperatures or stressed out. It occurs because your blood vessels are constricting. The condition can also affect the nose, lips, ears, and nipples.
Usually, people with Raynaud’s disease only develop the symptoms if they go outside and it’s cold. In fact, it’s a normal response for your blood vessels to constrict in the cold, but in the case of Raynaud’s, this is an excessive response. Stress can provoke episodes as well since it might set off your sympathetic nervous system’s evolved physiological response to a perceived threat.
7. Lack of sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep is necessary for managing your body temperature. If you lack sleep, you may start to feel cold all the time. In fact, sleep deprivation can negatively affect your circadian rhythm leading to changes in your metabolism, hormone levels, and body temperature, according to the National Institute of General Medical Science.
Normally, your body temperature drops as you sleep but when your circadian rhythm is out of whack, your body starts to think you should be asleep when you’re awake, making you feel colder than usual.