Little-known reason feeling cold could be a sign you need to visit the doctors
Feeling the cold is perfectly normal, but there are some instances where it could be a sign you need to see a doctor.
With temperatures in the UK plummeting to below 0 this week and some parts of the country being hit with snow, it's no wonder many of us are struggling to stay warm even with our cosiest clothes on. It's normal to be feeling the chill when the weather is this miserable, but sometimes shivering and feeling cold can be a sign of something more serious, and it's important to know what to look for in those circumstances.
As humans are all unique, we all have slightly different tolerances to both hot weather and cold, but some medical conditions can also make us feel the changes in temperature more severely. There are a few potential causes of this that may require an appointment with your GP.
Anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia can make you feel more cold than usual. The condition occurs when there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your organs, and as a result, it can be common to feel cold. According to the NHS, people with anaemia may also experience symptoms including tiredness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and pale skin.
You will need to see a GP if you have symptoms of anaemia, and the condition can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. If you are found to be anaemic, the NHS states you will likely be given iron tablets to replace the iron that's missing from your body. You can also improve your iron intake yourself by making sure you eat the right foods, such as dark-green leafy vegetables, dried fruits like apricots and raisins, meat, and pulses such as beans and lentils.
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Hypothyroidism
Another potential cause of feeling cold is hypothyroidism, the official term for having an underactive thyroid. This condition - caused by your thyroid gland not producing enough hormones - can slow down the metabolism, which leads to a drop in your core body temperature, meaning you may end up feeling cold all the time or having a lower tolerance to being cold.
Other symptoms to look out for include:
- tiredness
- weight gain
- constipation
- depression
- slow movements and thoughts
- muscle aches and weakness
- muscle cramps
- dry and scaly skin
- brittle hair and nails
- loss of libido (sex drive)
- pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome)
- irregular periods or heavy periods
An underactive thyroid can be successfully treated by taking daily hormone tablets to replace the hormones your thyroid isn't making. There is no way of preventing the condition, and the NHS states that although both men and women can have an underactive thyroid, it's more common in women.
Fibromyalgia
You may also feel the cold more easily if you have fibromyalgia. The long-term condition causes pain all over the body and can also include symptoms that make you feel too cold or too hot, due to an inability to regulate body temperature. According to the NHS, other symptoms to look out for are:
- increased sensitivity to pain
- muscle stiffness
- difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, which can make you feel very tired (fatigue)
- problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog"), such as difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- headaches
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- feelings of frustration, worry or low mood
The symptoms of fibromyalgia may sometimes suddenly improve or get worse. There is currently no cure for the condition, however, you should see a GP if you believe you have it, as they can prescribe treatments to relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.
For more information on fibromyalgia, you can contact Fibromyalgia Action UK, a charity that offers information to help and support those with the condition. The charity also runs a helpline on 0300 999 3333.
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