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Why am I always cold?

Posted on Dec 29th 2007 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Why am I always cold when others never are? Either my thermostat is too low or my clothes are too skimpy, say Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz in a December 2007 Reader's Digest blurb.

Actually, body temperature is a little more complex than this, say the docs. But there are some possible explanations for my chilly tendencies. My muscles could be too inactive -- the body generates heat when muscles are active -- and I may be eating not enough carbohydrates (the 100 percent whole wheat variety, not the white flour kind). I could have hypothyroidism -- this slows metabolism and cuts down on body heat. My chilliness could also stem from low blood sugar, poor kidney function, or iron-deficiency anemia. Or it could be none of the above, because science has yet to completely unravel the mystery of body temperature.

Maybe my problem isn't a problem at all. Maybe I just need a warm sweater and a few extra blankets.

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15 Comment

Tags: anemia, blood, body, cold, Donaldson, food, health, heat, hypothyroidism, iron, Jacki, kidney, metabolism, nutrition, sugar, temperature

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vishaal 12-30-2007 @ 8:12AM

I quit red meat about 4 years ago and started to get VERY cold all the time...then I started to eat it for about 6 months and the cold feelings went away, however, when I gave red meat up again over a year ago, the chills came back...Iron?

Allie 1-01-2008 @ 1:05PM

Women are naturally colder than men. They always feel several degrees colder. Especially in their extremities. "Women had a higher temperature threshold at which the blood withdrew from their extremities to improve the temperature of the vital organs."

ali 1-07-2008 @ 6:17PM

that is just not true. women are naturally warmer
than men, women are always hotter than men

mary 1-01-2008 @ 3:28PM

I used to suffer from being cold all the time too - til I had a hysterectomy. So it may have to do with hormones.

I never get cold feet any more either.

Alishaundra 3-21-2008 @ 11:22AM

I have Raynaud's Phenomenon, which is why I am always cold. A lot of people do not know about the disorder, it can be serious if your fingers, toes, etc. are constantly turning blue, purple or white.

hotrodglo 1-07-2008 @ 7:49PM

I, too, am always cold. I wear sweatshirts, or long sleeve shirts with a sweatshirt on top of it, and I am still cold. I read recently that people with certain medical conditions should always keep warm. Two of them are heart disease and diabetes, and they apply to me. I started turning the thermostat up by two degrees, and it helped. I do like a cool bedroom at night because I dress warmly and pile on the heavy comforter. My hands and feet are usually cold, too, but do not turn blue, purple or pale. Other than that, I don't know why I'm always cold. Oh, yes, I had a hysterectomy when I was 37 and was always warm until the last few years.

Philip Paris 1-10-2008 @ 10:06AM

Anyone who is always feeling colder than the people surrounding him/her, should certainly have a blood test to screen for an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Currently, the best screening test is your level of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). An underactive thyroid is easily treated these days by your doctor with thyroid hormone.

sabz 1-10-2008 @ 12:03PM

Oh wow! what a helpful question, i am ALWAYS cold too!!. We are talking, sweaters, coats, sweatshirts, everything, yet i am sooo cold!! its like the warmer i dress, the colder i get!!..grrr!!... I had a blood test done, and everythng was ok!, so i dont really know what may really be causing this problem, it could have to do with food for sure. Anyhow, its a werid problem! ;)

sabz 1-10-2008 @ 11:48AM

LoveByrd 1-21-2008 @ 2:51PM

If you are checked for a thyroid disorder, ask to see the results of your TSH level. They have new guidelines now. Your doc. may be going by the old guidelines, meaning they say you don't have the condition, but you really do! Also, everybody is different, and what may be "normal" for one person, may not be normal for someone else. You can probably find more about this on WebMD.com or similiar sites.

Carole Burd 1-21-2008 @ 7:27PM

I get very cold. I bought one of those stuffed wraps and put it in the microwave for 2 minutes and start with warming my legs. When they are comfortable I put this heated wrap on my shoulders. I have a flannel blankert that covers me and the heated wrap all evening. The cold is not just a chilly thing it is painful to my joints. I am active all day so it is not like I am a couch potato

mary 1-21-2008 @ 7:27PM

I think over weight people are always warmer than slimmer ones. My husband is tall and slim and is always cold. I am short and plump and go around in short sleeves
most of the time. We battle over the thermostat constantly.

Meme 1-21-2008 @ 7:25PM

# 3 ali -- You're out of your mind. I'm cold all the time if I am inactive and my husband can sit still and sweat like he was running a marathon. If the thermostat is higher than 65 (and because of me it is) he sweats like crazy and I'm shivering. We are also not the only case of this..MEN are natually warmer than women. Why do you think a guy can give a girl who's cold his jacket and barely feel it? You're backwards, wherever you got your crazy information. Made up probably - look it up - women are naturally COLDER acording to the so far 6 sites on the Net I found..nice try anyway.

TokRyt 1-21-2008 @ 7:26PM

I stay cold all of the time, especially my feet. It really is so uncomfortable. I have had blood work done many times, it always comes out normal with exception of low iron. I take supplements but still have the cold feet. They feel like I have shoes full of ice water.

Perry 1-22-2008 @ 8:31AM

When one makes a soup of "BEAR PAWS" they will stay and feel warm for at least 5 years. This was fact as a Chinese Restaurant owner made it for me after complaining about the cold in Alaska. Never been cold since. A fur coat also helps.