Why am I always cold?

It's normal to want to add an extra layer and wrap it when the temperature drops. But are you on the cold side all the time? Are you constantly fighting with your partner over the thermostat? Do you wear a jacket when your friends wear t-shirts? And continually plastered with goosebumps?

Some specific factors can help explain why you are always so cold. Here are some explanations supported by experts, as well as what you can do about them:

Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid disease, could be to blame, according to Chirag Shah, a certified emergency medicine specialist and co-founder of Accesa Labs, a laboratory analysis service for the thyroid. Although the gland is responsible for a number of metabolic processes, it is also involved in the regulation of body temperature.

"People with hypothyroidism are often cold because they do not make enough thyroid hormones. The result is that the metabolism slows down, causing the feeling of cold, "said Shah.

"Older people may be more prone to cold weather because their metabolism is slower and they produce less heat," said Marcelo Campos, internal medicine physician at Atrius Health, an independent non-profit medical group. based in Newton, Massachusetts.

Your normal bodily functions may also decrease as you get older.

"Studies have shown that at around age 60, our body's ability to conserve heat decreases, resulting in more of a cold sensation," said Dawne Kort, a physician and partner at CityMD, a healthcare provider. urgent care based in New York. And as you get older, you can experience a decrease in muscle mass, which can also play a role in this situation.

Josh Ax, clinical nutritionist and founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com, said some foods may be to blame.

"People who consume a lot of cold, water-rich foods will feel colder," he said. Smoothies, frozen drinks and salads are examples. To combat this, try switching to dishes such as soups rather than smoothies and stir-fries instead of salads.

Shah said that iron deficiency anemia can definitely cause a person to feel colder than usual, noting that iron is a mineral that is a key component of red blood cells.

"Red blood cells are important for carrying oxygen around the body. Without enough iron, red blood cells can not function properly and can result in a cold sensation, in addition to other symptoms, "said Shah.

Additional signs of anemia include: feeling tired, dizziness, fast heart rate or shortness of breath.

Jacqueline Jacques, vice president of medical affairs at Thorne Research, a brand of nutritional supplements and home health tests, said that anemia can also be caused by low levels of B12. This can be a problem for vegetarians or vegans because vitamin-rich foods include eggs, poultry, meat and dairy products.

Generally, body temperature increases during pregnancy. Jacques said normal heart temperature increases from 98.6 to about 100 when a woman carries a child.

"That said, pregnant women are both more likely to suffer from anemia and poor circulation, especially in the legs," she said. Thus, pregnant women can sometimes complain about getting cold, especially in the hands and feet.

Carol Aguirre of Nutrition Connections, a nutrition consulting center located in South Florida, said the water was fueling the metabolism by helping to break down food, which created energy and energy. heat.

"Running out of water slows down your metabolism and prevents your body from producing enough energy to keep you warm," she said.

According to experts, different hormones produced by men and women can affect body temperature.

For example, "estrogen usually promotes dilation of blood vessels, heat dissipation and lowering of body temperature," said Kort. "Progesterone, or progestins, usually has the opposite effect."

As a result, depending on the menstrual cycle and hormone levels in women, changes in body temperature and sensitivity to cold may occur. "In men, higher testosterone levels can reduce cold sensitivity by desensitizing one of the major cold-skin receptors," Kort added.

A study from the University of Utah found that women's hands tend to be consistently colder than men's. And according to Jacques, women are more prone to anemia and hypothyroidism, both related to the cold.

If your hands and feet seem icy but the rest of your body is comfortable, a circulation problem that prevents blood from leaking to the ends could be the cause. Kort said that cardiovascular disease can be a cause.

"It's a sign that your heart is not pumping blood efficiently or that blockage of the arteries may prevent the blood from reaching the ends," she said. "Smoking can also cause circulation problems because it contracts the blood vessels."

"Anxious people are generally colder than others," said Maryam Jahed, founder and chief operating officer of the Airo Health Anxiety Monitoring Device.

She added that this happened because when you felt anxiety, the feeling activated your amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for protecting the body and the reaction to danger. "It forces your body to put all its reserves and all its energy to protect you," she said.

Jahed also said that it could make you feel cold because your body was trying to calm you down and therefore not have enough blood circulation to keep you warm. "That's why you usually feel colder at the ends. It's harder for the blood to reach and keep you warm, "she said.

Your body mass index or weight determines whether you are cold, but the amount of fat and muscle you have is also a factor.

"The muscles are more metabolically active, which generates more heat. Grease is an insulator that can reduce the amount of heat lost, "said Campos.

Conversely, rapid weight loss or a restricted diet can be the cause of cold weather. Jacques said that since your body burns calories to produce heat, "when you limit calories, you literally reduce the fuel that keeps your body warm."

"In addition, our bodies are programmed to try to prevent famine. If you severely limit calories or reduce your weight too quickly, especially in case of diet or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, your body will try to save you from hunger by slowing down your metabolism – which means you do not burn as much energy. you are cold, "she said.

If you are tired and have a virus or are really overworked, you may feel cold as a temporary symptom of excessive stress in your body. But if you notice that you are regularly colder than others around you, or have never been cold before and are cold all the time, you should see a doctor.

If you experience a new symptom of cold associated with other symptoms such as taking or losing weight, fatigue, an increased heart rate, hair loss, constipation or shortness of breath, consult a professional. Qualified health, said Jacques.