A storm is a-raging here in the Northeast and it made us think about the “COLD,” or always being cold. There are a few of us who are hot boxes (my teenagers with their rampant hormones for one, and my friend Mary who is in a perpetual hot flash – oh cruel Mother Nature). Then there are those of us who just can’t get warm.
It’s not unusual to be cold like us, Tom Jones. It’s rather a common complaint, beyond the standard weather induced chill. We decided to do a little research. Why are some of us coldblooded, so to speak?
Possible causes:
- Hypothyroidism — Even though your thyroid may be acting in the ‘normal’ range, a person can still have symptoms related to this condition. Fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold are a few.
- Anemia — Whether it’s an iron deficiency or pernicious anemia, which is a B12 deficiency that makes iron more difficult to absorb, lack of iron makes us restless and chilled.
- Allergies — Both to food or the environment.
- Candida — Fungus inside us, eww! Oh just kidding, we all have it. Sometimes the bad fungus gets the upper hand and the symptoms can be fatigue, itching, and you guessed it, feeling cold
- Parasites — Certain bugs we pick up can feed on the nutrition in our cells and cause mal-absorption of key minerals such as iron, thereby mimicking anemia, for example.
- Low blood sugar — Calories create heat (hence the term “burning” calories). Just eating food causes a caloric burn which can raise body temperature.
- Low vitamin-D — Any vitamin or mineral deficiency can change the way the blood moves through your body which can change it’s ability to regulate temperature. Vitamin D just happens to be easiest to lose during the winter in the Northern US.
- Circadian Rhythms — When our bodies are most sleepy, our core temperature usually drops. If you’re supposed to be asleep, your sleep hormones will kick in and help lower your core temp. This happens more easily in the winter when the days are shorter and there’s less light.
- Reynaud’s disease — This is a diagnosed condition related to circulation that makes the hands and feet turn cold very easily. They also turn color when cold.
What to do about it, besides cozying up under a blanket with a good book?
Some of the causes listed require a good primary health care provider to help you regulate your body temperature. Besides professional advice? We can provide the following well reasoned anecdotes from our very active (and health science credentialed) staff:
We know from exercise science and sleep experts that exercise raises body temperature. So it stands to reason, and we’ve actually felt it, that exercise in the morning will help keep your heater running much of the day. Be sure to follow up with a good hot shower to get rid of the bone chilling sweat!
Eat healthy veggies, and a variety, so that you’ll get the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to warm your core.
Keep your sleep cycles on track to stay alert and warm when necessary, cool and sleepy when you’re supposed to be sawing zzzzz’s! By “on track” we simply mean get your 7-8 hours a night and keep your sleep schedule consistent, as much as possible (go to sleep and wake at the same time each day, even on weekends).
Finally, be prepared. Gear up. Layers matter. Layers that insulate but also help wick away moisture are best for when your temperature fluctuates.
And, a nice fire, a hot cup of tea, a cozy fleece ANYTHING, and a buddy (be it two or four legged, or both), can always take off the edge!
Check out the following science journals for more details:
http://www.scienceline.org/2006/08/ask-zielinska-cold/
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/75/2/447
Let us know how you are staying warm this winter!