If you're always feeling cold, you may wonder why that is and what you can do to improve your comfort. While the reasons for this continual chilliness vary depending on age, lifestyle, diet habits, or even just the season outside - we are here to offer some possible explanations for persistent chills and a few tips to warm up a bit faster.

By understanding why being constantly cold isn't normal and following small changes in your routine or lifestyle choices, you’ll likely find getting rid of those chills easier.

Why Am I Cold?

Understanding why this is happening is key to improving your comfort if you're always feeling cold. There are numerous potential explanations for persistent chills, many of which may vary from person to person. The most common reasons include aging, lifestyle choices, diet, or seasonal changes.

Causes of Cold Intolerance

Poor Circulation

If you have poor circulation, your body may be unable to regulate its temperature properly. This can always lead to feeling cold, especially in the hands and feet. Poor circulation can be caused by various medical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or certain types of anemia. It may also be caused by smoking, being overweight, or leading a sedentary lifestyle.

To help improve your circulation and reduce coldness, it is important to make healthy lifestyle choices such as exercising regularly, quitting smoking if you are a smoker, and eating nutritious meals. Additionally, wearing warm clothing when necessary can help protect your skin from exposure to cold temperatures and keep you warm.

Anemia

Anemia is caused by low levels of healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. A lack of oxygen can cause one to feel cold, even in warm environments. Anemia can be caused by several things, such as a poor diet lacking in iron, chronic illnesses such as kidney disease or cancer, or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Anemia can be treated through proper nutrition and supplements to increase red blood cell counts. Eating iron, folate, and vitamin C-rich foods will help build up your reserves. Additionally, taking iron supplements prescribed by a doctor may help reduce anemic symptoms like cold all the time. If needed, blood transfusions may also be recommended for more severe cases of anemia.

Thyroid Disorder

The thyroid gland regulates hormones that affect metabolism, which controls how quickly food is converted into energy for your cells and organs. When this isn’t working correctly, it can lead to cold intolerance as the metabolism slows down too much and can't generate enough heat for warmth.

Common thyroid disorder symptoms include feeling cold all the time, weight gain, depression, dry skin, constipation, and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, it is important to get checked by your doctor. A blood test can diagnose a thyroid disorder and other conditions causing cold intolerance.

Treatment for a thyroid disorder depends on your condition, but they often involve medications such as hormone replacement therapy or lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Additionally, wearing extra layers during colder temperatures can help keep you warm while waiting for the treatment to take effect.

Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamins such as B12 and iron are known to help with the body's ability to generate heat. Having deficiencies in these vitamins can cause you to feel cold all the time, although this can be corrected by taking supplements or changing your diet.

If you are deficient in B12, your body may not be able to produce enough red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. An iron deficiency can cause anemia and reduce the amount of hemoglobin available to transport oxygen, leading to feeling cold all the time.

For those suffering from a deficiency, following a diet rich in vitamins and minerals or taking supplements is important. Combining this with proper rest and exercise can help improve overall health and gradually reverse symptoms of cold intolerance. Additionally, eating foods high in protein, such as lean meats, fish, legumes, nuts, and eggs, can help increase your intake of essential vitamins.

Aging and Hormone Changes

Hormonal fluctuations due to aging can affect one’s body temperature regulation, decreasing warmth-producing hormones that result in feeling colder more often. This is especially common in women going through menopause, as the decrease of estrogen can affect body temperature regulation. Additionally, aging, in general, can cause a decrease in metabolism, resulting in less heat produced by the body.

Elderly adults are more prone to feeling cold due to their bodies being unable to generate and maintain warmth like they used to. Wearing layers of clothing, including socks, sweaters, and coats, can help keep them warm.

Eating healthy meals with sufficient amounts of iron-rich foods and B vitamins such as fish and eggs may also be beneficial for elderly individuals since these nutrients aid the body’s ability to produce enough red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout the body - which contributes to overall warmth.

Stress

Feeling constantly stressed can lead to changes in your hormone levels, affecting body temperature control, and resulting in feeling cold even when it’s warm outside.

Medication Side Effects

Some medications may have side effects that can include feeling colder than usual. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you think this might cause your cold intolerance.

Certain medications, such as those to treat blood pressure or depression, can reduce the body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Steroid medications, like prednisone and cortisone, cause cold intolerance by decreasing the production of heat-producing hormones. Cold sensitivity may also be a side effect of certain antibiotics, birth control pills, and chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer.

Low Blood Sugar Levels

Low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, can also lead to coldness due to decreased energy production, affecting body temperature regulation. When the body lacks glucose, a sugar found in carbohydrates, it’s unable to produce enough energy for warmth.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include feeling cold all the time as well as fatigue, confusion, dizziness, and trembling. If you experience these symptoms after eating or fasting for extended periods, it is important to speak with your doctor.

A healthy diet can help prevent low blood sugar levels. Eating smaller meals more often throughout the day will give your body more consistent fuel and allow it to keep up with its energy needs. Additionally, foods rich in fiber, such as vegetables and whole grains, can help regulate blood sugar levels due to their slow release of energy over time.

Dehydration

Being dehydrated can affect how well the body can regulate its temperature. Be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day to remain warm and comfortable.

FAQs

What do I need to improve if I'm always cold?

Many things can cause you to feel cold all the time. It could be a lack of vitamins and minerals like B12 and iron, thyroid disorder, hormonal changes due to aging, medication side effects, low blood sugar levels, or dehydration.

Can a lack of vitamin D make you feel cold?

Yes, vitamin D deficiency can cause cold intolerance. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus needed to produce heat. Low vitamin D levels may result in feeling cold all the time, fatigue, joint pain, and muscle weakness.

Can cold intolerance be reversed?

Yes, cold intolerance can be reversed in many cases by making lifestyle changes or taking medications that improve the body's ability to regulate its temperature. Eating a healthy diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, and avoiding stress are all ways of improving overall health and reversing symptoms of cold intolerance.

Conclusion

Feeling cold all the time can be a sign of various health issues, such as vitamin deficiency, hormonal changes due to aging, medication side effects, low blood sugar levels, or dehydration. If you are experiencing constant chills and don’t know why, speaking with your doctor for further evaluation and advice on possible treatment options is important.