It is normal to feel cold in the winter. It is also normal to feel cold when the air-conditioning system is at full blast. However, it is abnormal to feel cold all the time. Some people actually do so. There may be many reasons for feeling cold. We shall examine about twelve reasons why you feel cold all the time. If you fall under this category, you should be seeing a doctor immediately. There should be proper investigation and curative processes.
1. Abnormally thin people feel cold
The human body has a natural way of protecting you from the cold. The body has a layer of fat responsible for keeping the cold at bay. Abnormally thin people lack the optimum percentage of body fat. This affects the natural insulation process. Usually, a low body mass index of 18.5 or under is low body weight. Such people should have a wholesome diet of adequate calories to build up the right amount of fat in the right places.
2. Thyroid malfunction
A working thyroid gland is responsible for the well-being of any person. It should secrete the right amount of hormones. However, many people suffer from hypothyroidism. This results in the secretion of lesser amounts of hormones. This slows down the metabolism of the body. This prevents the body from producing the optimum quantity of heat. It is seen more in pregnant women or women over sixty years of age.
3. Iron Deficiency
The body should have an adequate level of iron. Iron helps the red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. This brings heat to every part of the body. A deficiency of iron affects the functioning of the red blood cells and hence we feel cold. You can take iron supplements to improve the levels of iron in your body. However, eating foods rich in iron such as spinach, meat, and eggs is the best option.
4. Poor blood circulation
Some people have warm bodies. However, their hands and feet remain cold throughout. This is a blood circulation deficiency. This can be a cardiovascular problem too. You heart may not be pumping the requisite amount of blood. There could be a blockage in one of your arteries. You could be suffering from Raynaud’s disease. This prompts the blood vessels to narrow down as they sense cold.
5. Sleep Deprivation
A healthy body should get enough sleep to rejuvenate itself. Sleep deprivation can have a negative effect on the nervous system. This can affect the regulatory systems in the brain resulting in lowering the body temperature. Sleep deprivation slows down the heart and results in a sluggish blood circulation thereby adding to the cold.
6. Dehydration
You should be aware that more than 70% of our body is water. Water is a natural regulator of body temperature. Water traps the heat and releases it slowly making the body feel comfortable. In case you have low levels of water in your body, the body becomes sensitive to extreme temperatures. You should have a minimum of at least eight glasses of water in a day. This helps your body’s metabolism.
7. Less consumption of vitamin B12
The body requires an adequate amount of vitamin B12 to make the red blood cells. The red blood cells are the carriers of oxygen to every part of the body. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a low red blood cell count thereby resulting in severe chillness. Your diet should have a regular proportion of vitamin B12 rich foods such as lean meat, fish, eggs, and milk. In case the deficiency persists, you have to consult your doctor.
8. Women feel cold more than men
It is a scientific truth that women feel colder than men do. In actuality, women tend to conserve more heat. Their bodies are designed to maintain the optimum flow of blood to vital organs such as heart. This reduces the flow towards other areas such as fingers and feet. Thus, these areas feel colder as compared to the other parts of the body.
9. Diabetes
Diabetes is the cause of many physical problems in a human being. Unchecked diabetes could result in peripheral nephropathy. This affects the nerves providing sensation to your hands and feet. Once affected, you can experience a sense of numbness and pain in your fingers and feet. The fingers and the feet house the nerves that send information about body temperature to the brain. This makes your hands and feet feel colder than the other parts of the body.
10. Low muscle mass
The body should have the right proportion of muscles. Muscles aid in maintaining body temperature. They produce heat. Thus, a lower muscle mass could be the reason for feeling cold. Muscles increase the metabolism rate of the body. Hence, one should do regular exercise and build up the muscles in the right places.
11. Blood vessel problems
You can attribute the chillness to the constriction of the blood vessels. This could be because of many reasons. You might be having a clotting disorder. You might be suffering from arteriosclerosis. The symptoms of such problems can range from pale skin coloration to tingling in the arms or legs. This could result in cold skin. Such a medical condition requires medical intervention at the earliest lest it could cause dangerous complications.
12. Anorexia
This is an eating disorder usually prevalent among young women. In their eagerness to attain the “Size Zero” figure, they start eating lesser quantities of food. This makes them become very thin. This affects the body’s metabolism too and can cause a whole lot of other problems such as irregular periods. One noticeable symptom of anorexia is feeling a sense of chillness throughout the body. Such women eat less food. This results in the burning of greater quantities of body fat.
Conclusion:
One should take proper care of one’s health. Eating the right quantity of food at the right time can cause you to remain healthy.
