Why Are You Always Cold?
By Sara Butler
It's not uncommon to feel chilly at certain times of the year. Perhaps your office always feels like you're standing on a glacier when they switch the air conditioning on in the summertime. Or maybe in the dead of winter, you feel the need to burrow under a few extra blankets to get warm. That's totally normal. But what isn't normal is feeling like an icicle when people around you feel completely comfortable. If this sounds like you, then you may wonder why you feel that way. Here are a few things your body may be trying to tell you if you're cold all the time.
Circulation Issues
If you have poor circulation, then it decreases the blood flow in your body. Some areas of the body can become very cold when this happens, such as your feet and hands, since they get less blood than the rest of your body when your circulation isn't up to snuff.
Poor circulation can go hand in hand with certain health problems that you should see a doctor about such as diabetes, hypertension, or peripheral artery disease. So don't ignore your feelings of always being cold. Talk to your doctor about it so you can make sure there's not something more serious going on.
Hypothyroidism
Often, those who have a thyroid that doesn't produce enough hormones will feel constantly cold. Your thyroid is a small gland, but it has a lot of important functions. The hormone it releases is vital to your body's metabolism and helps to regulate heart rate and body temperature. If you have a thyroid that isn't functioning as it should, then you may feel cold all the time as well as tired, and depressed.
Low Body Weight
Those who have lost a lot of weight recently or who have a low body weight may feel cold quite frequently. This is because your body uses fat to help you stay warm. When you don't have a lot of it or you've lost a lot of it, you may simply be more sensitive to the cold.
You're Anemic
Anemia, which is a condition where you do not have enough red blood cells, can be caused by many issues. It's often related to deficiency of iron and it can make you feel cold all the time. If you are anemic, you'll have other symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, and headaches.
If you're cold all the time, you may want to discuss it with your doctor to figure out the reason why.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mesa, Ariz.