Cold intolerance (2024)

FAQs

What causes an intolerance to cold? ›

Some causes of cold intolerance are: Anemia. Anorexia nervosa. Blood vessel problems, such as Raynaud phenomenon.

Lack of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency can cause anemia and lead you to feel cold. Good sources of B12 are chicken, eggs and fish, and people with iron deficiency may want to seek out poultry, pork, fish, peas, soybeans, chickpeas and dark green leafy vegetables.

Cold sensations and chills are actually a common physical symptom of anxiety. Yet another interesting physical effect of anxiety is its ability to alter how our body temperature feels.

People with hypothyroidism suffer from cold intolerance because they do not produce enough thyroid hormone to convert and utilize stored energy effectively. Therefore, there is less energy available to regulate body temperature compared to individuals with normal thyroid hormone levels.

When your body runs low on vitamin D, it affects your immunity, making you more prone to ailments like cold and flu, fever, allergies, asthma, and eczema. These are just a few among more than 80 illnesses that can be caused by problems with the immune function.

Without enough B12, you might not have enough healthy red blood cells to move oxygen around your body (anemia). That can leave you shivering and cold, especially in your hands and feet.

2. Feeling cold. Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anemia. People with anemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don't have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.

Often, this happens because of your diet. A lack of iron or vitamin-rich foods can affect your body's ability to produce these cells. Decreased red blood cells can also be a result of problems with blood production in your bone marrow. Many diseases, like leukemia, affect the way bone marrow produces blood cells.

Heat intolerance is also referred to as hypersensitivity to heat. When you have heat intolerance, it's often because your body isn't regulating its temperature properly. Your body regulates its temperature by maintaining a delicate balance between hot and cold.

What are early warning signs of thyroid problems? ›

The most common early warning signs of a thyroid problem include unexplained tiredness, constipation, dry skin, body temperature problems, weight gain, hoarseness, hair loss, and mood imbalances. These symptoms may seem unrelated, but when taken together, can amount to thyroid concerns.

In contrast, individuals with an overactive thyroid will struggle to maintain or gain weight which may cause a decline in body weight and fat, making the body more sensitive to the cold.

You may feel nervous, moody, weak, or tired. Your hands may shake, your heart may beat fast, or you may have problems breathing. You may be sweaty or have warm, red, itchy skin. You may have more bowel movements than usual.

Vitamin D is essential in keeping your immune system strong and able to ward off the bacterial or viral infection. Low Vitamin D can lead to infections such as colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Common effects associated with zinc deficiency include: Frequent symptoms of the common cold. Diarrhea. Delayed wound healing.

Estrogen triggers the mechanism that shuts down blood flow to your extremities, he explains. For this reason, research has shown women tend to feel colder during the parts of their menstrual cycle when their estrogen levels spike.