From hormone problems to serious health concerns… the 4 reasons you’re cold ALL the time
WINTER is well and truly here which means wrapping up warm and putting the heating on full blast.
For some people the cold never really goes away and we've all got that one friend or family member who always feels a little bit chilly - even in the height of summer.
While most people just put an extra layer on or turn the heating up a few dials, there could be a more serious reason as to why you're always feeling the chill.
The average normal body temperature is 36.6C, but this can vary by as much as 0.5C from person to person.
As the day goes on, your temperature will naturally changed - peaking at around 6pm and then dropping in the early hours of the morning.
Writing in , Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University, Adam Taylor, says different parts of our body have different temperatures.
He explained that the rectum - which is part of your large intestine - is the warmest part of the body at around 37C, this is followed by the ears, urine and then the mouth.
Surprisingly, he says the armpit is the coldest part of the body that is usually measures at 35.9C.
Prof Taylor there are other factors that effect our temperature and said there are four reasons why you always feels cold.
1. You have a serious health condition
Prof Taylor said that some illnesses and conditions are associated with a reduced tolerance or an increased sense of cold.
Raynaud’s disease is a condition that causes some areas of the body to go cold and numb in response to low temperatures or stress.
This can particularly affect the fingers and toes - but can also affect the ears nose and nipples.
Prof Taylor said: “Typically, the whole body doesn’t feel cold, but the severity of the affected areas can be incredibly painful.
What is Raynaud's disease?
Raynaud's disease is a problem with your circulation that results in discoloured fingers or toes.
It is common and doesn't usually cause any severe problems — bit it can sometimes be a sign of something more serious.
You can often treat the symptoms yourself by keeping warm.
Symptoms include:
- pain
- numbness
- pins and needles
- difficulty moving the affected area
Some people also find their ears, nose, lips or nipples are affected.
The symptoms of Raynaud's may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
You should see a doctor if the problem is persistent or getting worse.
Also, numbness on one side of the body, joint pain, rashes, or if you're getting symptoms for the first time over 30 you should see a doctor.
“It’s caused by the rapid narrowing of small blood vessels in these areas.”
He said that women are more likely to suffer from Raynaud’s, as well as people who live in colder climates.
Another condition is hypothyroidism - also known as an underactive thyroid- which affects the thyroid gland in your neck and stops it producing enough of the hormones that help maintain energy levels as well as skin, weight and internal temperature.
This condition is usually treated with synthetic hormones.
2. Hormonal issues
Hormones involved in the menstrual cycle can influence a woman’s body temperature.
Prof Taylor says that before ovulation, temperatures average 35.9C, then peak at 36.7C a few days after.
He said: “A number of sex hormones interact with the system that regulates our temperature.
“For example, oestrogen increases vasodilation, a widening of blood vessels, which helps reduce body temperature – whereas progesterone tends to cause warmer body temperatures.”
He also said that synthetic progesterone, which is found in oral contraceptives causes prolonged elevation of body temperature.
“While higher testosterone levels in men don’t appear to change the temperature of the body, it appears it may cause men to feel the cold less by desensitising one of the receptors that detects cold”, he added.
3. Blood vessels
Prof Taylor said that conditions that narrow the blood vessels could be the reason you’re always cold.
He said Arteriosclerosis - which is the result of a buildup of plaque is one cause of feeling cold.
“There are different types of this condition, but the one that most commonly causes a cold feeling is peripheral artery disease, where arteries supplying blood to your limbs are narrowed.
“The blood maintains our limbs’ tissues by providing them with nutrients that enable them to continue functioning and generating heat – which is why people with the condition may constantly feel cold."
He said that if this is untreated - then it can progress to ischaemia - where the blood is cut off.
Prof Taylor added that frostbite can also cause prolonged sensitivity to the cold - even after it has healed.
“The body’s response is to reduce blood flow to these skin areas to prevent heat loss and maintain the warmth of vital internal organs.
“Damage comes from ice crystals forming in and ripping apart body tissues. In the worst-case scenario, fingers and limbs can be lost”, he said.
4. Anatomy
In order to keep warm, men and women have to create different amounts of body heat.
In general men have a higher resting rate of energy (resting basal metabolic rate) because of their high muscle mass - this means that men naturally create higher amounts of heat to keep them warm.
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Prof Taylor said that layers of fat are also distributed differently in men and women.
He said: “Women have an almost two-times thicker layer of fat underneath the skin in the arms and legs, so the heat from any underlying muscles finds it more difficult – and takes longer – to get to the temperature receptors in the skin, which may be why some women may complain of feeling cold more often.
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“It’s not clear whether, once at a comfortable temperature, this difference in fat distribution keeps women warmer for longer.”
Prof Taylor added that while it's normal to reach for an extra blanket as we get deeper into winter, any prolonged or abnormal sensation of cold should be checked by a doctor.